Nutrition for health promotion

A brief description of the area

Adequate nutrition is essential for the prevention, treatment and control of diseases. The relationship between food, nutrition and health is a complex, dynamic process involving the influence of biological, psychological, environmental, social, cultural, behavioural and economic factors.

A brief description of major research

Exploring eating habits through cross-sectional studies to identify the main differences in eating habits, nutritional status, exercise, psychological, inflammatory and metabolic status between adults of normal body weight, overweight adults and adults with obesity.

To explore and study different eating habits in order to determine the tangible and measurable effects of nutritional interventions on certain indicators and predictors of health for both the adult population and adolescents.

To study the links between diet and other lifestyle factors and the intestinal microbial community.

To study the preparation of appropriate nutritional interventions in the work environment and their implementation for the largest possible group of users.

To make recommendations for maintaining health.

Research into the effects of educating people and the influence on nutritional status and health.

Prof. Darja Barlič Maganja (SICRIS, ResearchGate)
Assist. Katja Bezek (SICRIS, ResearchGate)
Assoc. Prof. Maša Černelič Bizjak (SICRIS, ResearchGate)
Špela Bužinel, mag. dietet.
Tanja Črešnovar, mag. dietet. (SICRIS )
Bernarda Habe, mag. dietet. (SICRIS )
Assist. Tadeja Jakus (SICRIS, ResearchGate)
Assoc. Prof. Zala Jenko Pražnikar (SICRIS, ResearchGate)
Assoc. Prof. Mihaela Jurdana (SICRIS, ResearchGate)
Assist. Prof. Saša Kenig (SICRIS, ResearchGate)
Assist. Prof. Boris Kovač (SICRIS, ResearchGate)
Katja Kramberger, mag. farm. (SICRIS, ResearchGate)
Assist. Prof. Nina Mohorko (SICRIS, ResearchGate)
Karin Šik Novak, mag. dietet. (SICRIS, ResearchGate)
Assist. Prof. Ana Petelin (SICRIS, ResearchGate)
Luka Trapara, dipl. dietet.
Assist. Prof. Tamara Poklar Vatovec (SICRIS, ResearchGate)
Assist. Prof. Mojca Stubelj (SICRIS, ResearchGate)
Assoc. Prof. Boštjan Žvanut (SICRIS, ResearchGate)

MOHD SHUKRI, Nurul Husna, WELLS, Jonathan C. K., EATON, Simon, MUKHTAR, Firdaus, PETELIN, Ana, JENKO PRAŽNIKAR, Zala, FEWTRELL, Mary. Randomized controlled trial investigating the effects of a breastfeeding relaxation intervention on maternal psychological state, breast milk outcomes, and infant behavior and growth. The American journal of clinical nutrition, ISSN 0002-9165, [in press] Jun. 2019, vol. 109, iss. 6, str. 1-10, ilustr. https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/ajcn/nqz033/5510581?redirectedFrom=fulltext.

KENIG, Saša, PETELIN, Ana, POKLAR VATOVEC, Tamara, MOHORKO, Nina, JENKO PRAŽNIKAR, Zala. Assessment of micronutrients in a 12-wk ketogenic diet in obese adults. Nutrition, ISSN 0899-9007. [Print ed.], Nov./Dec. 2019, vol. 67/68, str., ilustr. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0899900719300760?via%3Dihub.

PETELIN, Ana, TEDESCHI, Paola, JURDANA, Mihaela, JENKO PRAŽNIKAR, Zala, et al. Total serum antioxidant capacity in healthy normal weight and asympomatic overweight adults. Experimental and clinical endocrinology & diabetes, ISSN 1439-3646. 10.1055/s-0043-107783.

MOHORKO, Nina, JENKO PRAŽNIKAR, Zala, PETELIN, Ana. Leucine and lysine intakes are highly associated with serum adiponectin levels in asymptomatic adults. Minerva endocrinologica, ISSN 0391-1977, sept. 2016, vol. 41, no. 3, str. 302-313, ilustr. http://www.minervamedica.it/en/journals/minerva-endocrinologica/article.php?cod=R07Y2016N03A0302&acquista=1.

MOHORKO, Nina, PETELIN, Ana, JURDANA, Mihaela, BIOLO, Gianni, JENKO PRAŽNIKAR, Zala. Elevated serum levels of cysteine and tyrosine : early biomarkers in asymptomatic adults at increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome. BioMed research international, ISSN 2314-6141, 2015, vol. 2015, art. ID 418681, str. 1-14, graf. Prikazi.

BIZJAK, Mojca, JENKO PRAŽNIKAR, Zala, KOROUŠIĆ-SELJAK, Barbara. Development and validation of an electronic FFQ to assess food intake in the Slovene population. Public health nutrition, ISSN 1368-9800, 2014, vol. 17, iss. 8, str. 1729-1737, ilustr.

ČERNELIČ BIZJAK, Maša, JENKO PRAŽNIKAR, Zala. Body dissatisfaction predicts inflammatory status in asymptomatic healthy individuals. Journal of health psychology, ISSN 1461-7277, 2018, vol. 23, no. 1, str. 25-35, ilustr. http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1359105316672923.

The head of the dietary laboratory is Assist. Prof. Mojca Stubelj.

Dietetic laboratory equipment
Indirect Calorimeter Medgem	For measurement of Resting Energy Expenditure (REE).
Indirect Calorimeter RMR Quark	For accurate measurement of Resting Energy Expenditure (REE) and respiratory ratio (R), through the measurement of oxygen consumption (VO2) and carbon dioxide production (VCO2).
Tanita MC-980 MA analyser	For body composition results using bio-electrical impedance analysis (BIA) technology: body weight, muscle mass, fat mass, bone mass, lean body mass, total body. For body composition results using bio-electrical impedance analysis (BIA) technology: body weight, muscle mass, fat mass, bone mass, lean body mass, total body.
Metal skinfold caliper	For assessment of the skinfold thickness, and prediction of percentage of body fat.
Software PRODI 5.8 EXPERT	For energy and nutrient intake calculation, and menu planning.
Portable Density Meter	Enables evaluation of key chemical composition parameters such as soluble solids in foods, fruit quality, fruit juices, diet formulas and products for patients with dysphagia

The head of the biochemical laboratory is Assist. Prof. Ana Petelin, Head of the Microbiological Laboratory, Assist. Katja Bezek.

Equipment of the biochemical and microbiological laboratory
Biochemistry analyzer	Biochemistry analyser offers consolidated testing from a broad menu of clinical chemistry applications. This analyzer has the capacity for ion-selective electrode (ISE) determination of sodium, potassium, and chloride in serum, plasma, and urine. In addition, measurement of triacylglycerol’s, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, glucose, bilirubin, and different enzymes can be performed.
Reflotron	Reflotron, an immediate clinical chemistry system which allows the measurement of different parameters from whole blood, plasma or serum.
Photochem	Photochem, an antioxidant analyzer, allows the analysis of the antioxidative capacity of water-soluble or lipid-soluble substances with the PCL method.
Spectrophotometer Tecan The Spectofotometer Tecan	a multimode plate reader, enables determination by ELISA method and implementation of many other colorimetric methods.
Refrigerated centrifuge	Instrument ideal for centrifugation of samples that may be also temperature sensitive. Many feature interchangeable rotors and adaptors to accommodate a wide range of sample volumes and speeds.
Fluorimeter	Optical density measurement or fluorescence for the determination of plant bacteria in a cell.
Incubator CO₂	Enable cultivation and Incubation of cell cultures in the appropriate atmosphereEnable cultivation and Incubation of cell cultures in the appropriate atmosphereLaminar flow hoods for cell cultures A carefully enclosed bench designed for creating aseptic environment in laboratory conditions when working with cells.
Laminar flow hoods for bacteria	A carefully enclosed bench designed for creating aseptic environment in laboratory conditions when working with bacteria.
Microfluidic system for cells	Microfluidic Perfusion System delivers microenvironment control for live cell imaging experiments.
Mikropretočni sistem	Spremljanje bakterij ali celic pod kontroliranimi pogoji, raziskovanje različnih vplivov na razmnoževane mikroorganizmov
Fluorescentni mikroskop Olympus s pripadajočo kamero za opazovanje in snemanje	Opazovanje mikrobioloških in celičnih preparatov obarvanih z različnimi flour. barvili, imunoflourescenčne metode za določanje viabilnosti, apoptoze…
Inverted Olympus IX51 microscope	microscope equipped with the most common fluorescent filters. It enables observation of microbial and cell preparations stained with different dyes.
Sistem za elektroforezo	Elektroforeza, omogoča ločevanje in določanje pomnoženih delov DNA, omogoča določanje prisotnosti in količine proteinov
Real time PCR	A technique used to monitor the progress of a PCR reaction in real time. At the same time, a relatively small amount of PCR product (DNA, cDNA or RNA) can be quantified.
Multiskan Sky Microplate Spectrophotometer	A UV/Vis microplate reader designed to be convenient and easy to use for virtually any photometric research application, especially DNA, RNA and protein analysis
Abbott i-stat Alinity	Enables measurements of pH, gasses, Haematocrit, Haemoglobin, certain electrolytes and other markers in arterial or venous whole blood
iBlot 2 Gel Transfer Device	Is a dry transfer device that performs western blotting transfer efficiently and reliably, within seven minutes, and without the need for liquid buffers. The iBlot 2 system is compatible with both polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) and nitrocellulose membranes and has comparable performance to traditional wet-transfer methods in a fraction of the time. The iBlot 2 Gel Transfer Device is an integral part of the iBlot 2 Dry Blotting System, which consists of the transfer device and consumable transfer stacks that contain the required buffers and transfer membrane (nitrocellulose or PVDF).
Flask-trap aspirator FTA 2-i	Aspirator with trap flask FTA-2i is designed for aspiration or removal of liquid from reaction vessels
Homogenizer for the preparation of food samples	BagMixer® 400 P is an easy-to-use and powerful lab blender. Adapted to all kinds of applications and with a guarantee of optimal bacterial extraction or e.g. preparing the food sample for further physical and chemical analysis

MOJ IZZIV III Interdisciplinarni pristop pri obravnavi prekomerno hranjenih otrok in mladostnikov s poudarkom na dvigu zdravstvene pismenosti cele družine

Influence of nutrition and functional food on health parameters (Internal research program).

V4-2004: Management strategies and control of Salmonella Infantis infections in broiler flocks (CRP project ARIS)

EU MENU Slovenia – Support to National Dietary Surveys in Compliance with the EU Menu methodology – fourth support (National project)

GUEST UP (National project) – HOSTING FOREIGN EXPERTS AND PROFESSORS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PRIMORSKA – GUEST UP

J3-8209 Bilirubin as a protective factor against the development of chronic degenerative diseases: serum biomarker and pharmacological modulation (Basic project ARRS)

MOJ IZZIV III Interdisciplinarni pristop pri obravnavi prekomerno hranjenih otrok in mladostnikov s poudarkom na dvigu zdravstvene pismenosti cele družine

Influence of nutrition and functional food on health parameters (Internal research program).

EU MENU Slovenia – Support to National Dietary Surveys in Compliance with the EU Menu methodology – fourth support (National project)

J4-7608 Control of contamination of poultry meat with campylobacters in slaughterhouse (Basic project ARRS)

Multidisciplinary approach in the treatment of obesity (Self-financed project)

Interdisciplinary approach in dealing with over-fed children and adolescents (National project)

Bilateral project ARRS SLO-SRB: Innovative fermentation of cereals and pseudocereals for functional bakery products

Bilateral project ARRS SLO-SRB: New dietary food product for physically active people

SCHOOL POT (National project)

J3-8209 Bilirubin as a protective factor against the development of chronic degenerative diseases: serum biomarker and pharmacological modulation (Basic project ARRS)

P4-0092 – Animal Health, Environment and Food Safety

P1-0386 – Conservation biology, from molecules to ecosystem

EATMOT Psycho-social motivations associated with food choices and eating practices

ALMICROBHOL – EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION ON GUT MICROBIOTA COMPOSITION IN ADULTS (ERAB GRANT)

TRANS2CARE Transregional Network for Innovation and Technology Transfer to Improve Health Care (INTERREG SLOVENIA – ITALY 2007 – 2013)

PKP: SMOOTHIE – Smoothie for health

PKP: FONDA – Culinary Tips for Cooking Healthy Fish and Cooking Recipes for the Fish Farm FONDA

PKP: KREPKO – Influence of kefir consumption on metabolic syndrome indicators

PKP: MEDEX – The effects of royal jelly on systemic inflammation

PKP: ČILI – Chili analysis

PKP: DIETA – The influence of low carbon hydroatate nutrition on health indicators

ŠIPK: FUNKCIONAL – The possibility of using useful discards of food and waste of primary processing for the preparation of functional foods

PKP: PROICECREAM – Development and testing of ice cream with the addition of probiotic microbial cultures

ŠIPK: OKOUČINKOVIT – Preparing a model for evaluating sustainable development and the environmental efficiency of educational institutions