Development of innovative probiotic fermented product based on natural isolates of lactic acid bacteria for the treatment of dogs and cats suffering from diabetes
Principal Investigator: Dr Maja Tolinacki
The main goal of this project is to develop innovative probiotic fermented product for the treatment of dogs and cats suffering from diabetes, as an alternative to the use of insulin. The modern way of life in an urban environment, which often includes abundant, irregular feeding, reduced mobility and increased stress influence on development of diabetes in pets. In dogs and cats occurs mainly type 1 diabetes that develops due to the inability of the pancreas to produce insulin. Using that insulin injections in diabetes treatment is a significant problem for pet owners, an alternative approach that includes the use of probiotics may be a good solution for the treatment of diabetic pets. It is shown that the some probiotic lactobacilli strains can help in the prevention and treatment of diabetes through immunomodulation, preventing inflammation and contribute to the restoration of insulin producing beta cells of the pancreas. With this project we want to recommend pet owners probiotic product instead of using insulin injections and tablets in the treatment of diabetes, which is only possible if the product is available to everyone, easy to use, and have a competitive price. Currently there are no suitable probiotic products for dogs and cats on the market. Fermented product that will be developed during this project will be the first domestic probiotic product for dogs and cats produced solely from domestic raw materials and specific natural isolates of LAB that have probiotic properties from the laboratory collection. Probiotic potential of natural isolates of LAB was characterized during the previous and current projects financed by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Republic of Serbia.
For this project, a grant (in the amount of 299.000 EUR) funded by the European Union and the Republic of Serbia, was obtained through the Program of Science and Economy cooperation, conducted by the Innovation Fund of Republic of Serbia.