Press release Alga-Care is investigating the potential of microalgae to combat fatty liver disease: a growing problem affecting 1 in 3 Belgians

ILVO, VUB, and UAntwerp are joining forces to search for natural compounds from microalgae that can help prevent fatty liver disease. It is estimated that 1 in 3 Belgians now suffers from fatty liver disease, a major and rapidly growing risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, kidney failure, and liver cancer. In total, the partners will screen 600 algae samples and test them on laboratory liver cells. A handful of the most promising compounds will also be tested on mice. After three years, the potential for developing a dietary supplement, nutraceutical, or medication should be clear.

On April 17, Flemish Minister-President Matthias Diependaele kicked off the project by commissioning a new 300-liter algae bioreactor at ILVO in Ostend:

“Alga-Care showcases Flanders at its best: cutting-edge research rooted in scientific excellence, yet firmly focused on commercialization and societal impact. What is growing here in Ostend in an algae reactor could make a difference tomorrow for the health of hundreds of thousands of people. By connecting marine and biomedical knowledge and involving industry from the very start through our flagship clusters, we are building innovation in Flanders that yields economic and social returns.”

Flemish Pioneering Work in the Fight Against Lifestyle Diseases

Fatty liver disease, or “steatotic liver disease,” is a rapidly growing health risk in Belgium, primarily linked to our modern, sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy eating habits, and increasing pollution. When we consistently consume more calories than we burn, the liver stores the excess as fat. When that fat oxidizes or “rusts,” it can lead to inflammation and scar tissue (fibrosis), ultimately causing permanent damage to the liver. Alga-Care is investigating whether microalgae contain substances that can counteract oxidation in the liver or that improve the fat composition in the liver, as not all fats are equally susceptible to oxidation.

The Power of Algae: From Cultivation to Anti-Rust Nutraceutical?

Previous research by Professor Wim Vanden Berghe (University of Antwerp) showed that the seagrass Thalassia contains bioactive compounds that may protect against skin cancer. This inspired the researcher to explore other marine life, leading him to microalgae, among other things. Microalgae are single-celled organisms that can be easily cultivated on a large scale, unlike seagrass and larger seaweeds. They require only basic nutrients and (sun)light to grow under controlled conditions.

Prof. Wim Vanden Berghe, head of the Cell Death Signaling research group (UAntwerp): ““Moreover, throughout evolution, microalgae have been able to survive under the most extreme conditions. As a result, they have developed some of the most sophisticated mechanisms for self-protection. We are only now beginning to tap into this source of raw materials for pharmaceutical applications.”

Step 1: Culturing and screening microalgae

Alga-Care’s research consists of three key steps. In total, ILVO will conduct experiments on the cultivation of approximately 20 microalgae under various conditions, such as temperature, light, and ozone. This variation is expected to yield 600 algae samples, which ILVO will chemically characterize and screen for the presence of thousands of bioactive compounds.

Johan Robbens, algae expert and coordinator of Alga-Care (ILVO): ““After extraction, we will further refine the selection to ultimately identify about 50 compounds with potential for treating fatty liver disease. But we’re starting with a selection of microalgae that we know grow quickly and contain a wide variety of bioactive compounds, or that grow more slowly but produce highly valuable compounds.”

Above is the 300-liter algae reactor at ILVO in Ostend: the green liquid consists of microalgae, and their composition changes when light intensity, nutrient sources, and temperature are varied. This is also being studied.

Step 2: lab testing on liver cells

VUB and UAntwerp will then test the 600 algae samples on laboratory liver cells. UAntwerp has human cells that can be used to quickly assess the effect of the algae on liver cells: do they indeed have an antioxidant effect, and are they non-toxic? They will then also be tested on “mini-livers” at VUB. From a single mouse liver, VUB can create 750–1,500 mini-livers that retain the full functionality of a liver for several weeks. Some of these mini-livers will be fed a “Western diet” (high in sugar) to test whether the algae samples effectively protect against fat accumulation and scarring.

Above, you can see the results of a rapid test using human cells in the UAntwerp lab: on the left, you see living cells immediately after treatment; in the middle, the green color indicates that rust is forming after a few hours; and on the right, you see dead cells. These tests quickly show whether a treatment provides protection against rust or not.

Above are illustrations of the mini-livers at VUB: various cell types are taken from a single healthy mouse liver to form clusters or mini-livers with the same functionality as the original liver. They are highly effective at mimicking fat accumulation, scarring, and liver damage—the various stages of fatty liver disease.

This second phase of the project aims to assess the potential and feasibility of algae as a dietary supplement or medicine on a laboratory scale using various in vitro liver models. Two existing, potent antioxidants will be used as references.

Prof. Leo van Grunsven, head of the Liver Cell Biology research group (VUB): “"The major advantage of working with liver models and mini-livers in the lab is that we can test the algae’s potential much faster, more cost-effectively, and with fewer laboratory animals. We need a hundred times fewer mice, and it takes only a few months to get an initial idea of the algae samples’ potential."

Step 3: testing on mice with fatty livers

Finally, VUB and UAntwerp will test five to ten of the most promising algae extracts on mice with fatty livers. They will also investigate the optimal method of administration: orally in the feed, intravenously, or a combination of both. A great deal of attention will therefore be paid to proper formulation, as the extracts must act on the liver cells and not elsewhere in the body.

Prof. Wim Vanden Berghe, head of the Cell Death Signaling research group (UAntwerpen): “"The hope is that, after three years, we will have a proof-of-concept for a 'nutraceutical'—a health-promoting dietary supplement that can be taken as a preventive measure. We know that diet and increased physical activity also help prevent fatty liver disease, but given the fast-paced Western lifestyle, there is a need for this type of preventive measure."

Future perspective: industrial valorization

The project aims for rapid industrial commercialization by engaging the marine and biomedical sectors through the flagship clusters The Blue Cluster and BioVia. The Blue Cluster represents marine sectors such as aquaculture for microalgae production, while BioVia represents hospitals and companies that can work on a proof-of-concept. Several investment firms are also participating in the user group.

Johan Robbens, algae expert and coordinator of Alga-Care (ILVO): “"If the results are promising, we can move forward quickly. In the case of a nutraceutical, an additional 3 to 5 years of development time will be needed; in the case of a drug, that’s when the long process of clinical trials begins, and we’re looking at a follow-up phase of approximately 15 years."

ILVO will also make all the information from the screening of the 600 samples available in a new, open database. This should facilitate future research into other potential medical, cosmetic, nutritional, and animal feed applications involving microalgae.