Nutrition and Metabolism
The reasearch of the Group is primary focused on analyzing of foods‘ components effects on health, including the studies of nutrients mechanisms of action. The scientific investigations include the following several directions:
- Assesment of the dietary intake of different groups of respondents has been implemented using validated questionnaires in accordance with the EU Menu methodology. At the same time, existing data on food and meals in the national and regional database, which are created in previous years as a results of the Group's work in this area, are constantly being updated;
- Analysis of dietary intake of fatty acids and their metabolism, is examined by dermining fatty acid compositions in circulation (plasma/serum) and tissues (in animal model studies). The effects of the intake of exogenous substances on the status of fatty acids, especially those with antioxidant properties potential have been intensivly studied, too;
- The biological effects of plant bioactive components-polyphenols as well as their metabolites have been examined using in vitro models. Their binding to and influence on the structure and antioxidant properties of albumin, on the function of platelets, i.e. the activation and aggregation of platelets with white blood cells using the flow cytometry method, on parameters which indicate muscle fatigue during intense physical activity have been in focus of the Group recent researches.
NEXT THREE YEARS
Further studies in the aforementioned scientific research directions as well as greater involvement in research on the nutritional properties of the foods themselves are planned expecting that the innovative food products will be created which would improve the quality of the population’s nutrition in the coming period. At the same time, the current knowledge about the influence of the some components of the diet on health could be expanded as the result of planned future studies. The main innovations considering research in next period would be:
- the future studies in which the content of nutrients like fatty acids, phospholipids and polyphenols, as well as micronutrients (primarily zinc) in foods would be analyzed, are planned with aim to improve the quality of available data about their content;
- the panel of biomarkers of lipid metabolism and status as well as those related to the development of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases could be significantly expanded;
- it is expected that new in vitro models will be introduced for testing the antioxidant properties of various food components and their interactions with molecules present in circulation.
Head of the Research Group
Group Members
Latest PROJECTS
- European Food Safety Authority (EFSA): Support to National Dietary Surveys in Compliance with the EU Menu methodology (sixth support) “The children’s survey”, including subjects from three months up to 9 years old
- European Food Safety Authority (EFSA): Support to National Dietary Surveys in Compliance with the EU Menu methodology (sixth support) “The adults’ survey”, including subjects from 10 to 74 years old
- Harnessing the potential of underutilized crops to promote sustainable food production (DIVERSICROP)
- European partnership for a sustainable Future of Food Systems- FutureFoods
- Tackling micronutrient malnutrition and hidden hunger to improve health in the EU- Zero_HiddenHunger_EU
Latest RESEARCH PAPERS
- Knez M, Ranić M, Gurinović M. Underutilized plants increase biodiversity, improve food and nutrition security, reduce malnutrition, and enhance human health and well-being. Let’s put them back on the plate! Nutr Rev. 2023 Aug 29:nuad103. doi: 10.1093/nutrit/nuad103. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37643733.
- Šarac I, Debeljak-Martačić J, Takić M, Stevanović V, Milešević J, Zeković M, Popović T, Jovanović J, Vidović NK. Associations of fatty acids composition and estimated desaturase activities in erythrocyte phospholipids with biochemical and clinical indicators of cardiometabolic risk in non-diabetic Serbian women: the role of level of adiposity. Front Nutr. 2023 Jul 20;10:1065578. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1065578. PMID: 37545582; PMCID: PMC10397414.
- Milešević J, Lilić S, Vranić D, Zeković M, Borović B, Glibetić M, Gurinović M, Milićević D. Dietary Intake of Salt from Meat Products in Serbian Population. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Feb 26;20(5):4192. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20054192. PMID: 36901203; PMCID: PMC10001836.
- Zeković M, Bumbaširević U, Živković M, Pejčić T. Alteration of Lipid Metabolism in Prostate Cancer: Multifaceted Oncologic Implications. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Jan 11;24(2):1391. doi: 10.3390/ijms24021391. PMID: 36674910; PMCID: PMC9863986.
- Vidović N, Knez M, Ranić M, Faid F, Jović D, Glibetic M, Takić M. Comparative assessment of erythrocyte sphingolipid levels as potential cardiovascular health markers in women from Libya and Serbia: a small-scale study. Libyan J Med. 2023 Dec;18(1):2264568. doi: 10.1080/19932820.2023.2264568. Epub 2023 Oct 7. PMID: 37804002; PMCID: PMC10561568.
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