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Functional foods

A brief description of the area

Functional foods are foods that have been shown to influence one or more target functions in the body in a way that improves health and well-being or reduces the risk of disease through regular consumption. In order to better assess the effects and use of recommendations for functional foods, European Union Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 was adopted to harmonize the provisions laid down by law in the Member States concerning nutrition and health claims, thereby establishing a common regulation ensuring the effective use of food information with implications for human health.

A brief description of major research

Functional food research covers both the design and preparation of new potentially functional foods and the assessment of the impact of new or established functional foods or bioactive substances on the nutritional status of individuals and various health indicators.

Clinical studies investigate the influence of various functional or potentially functional foods such as buckwheat, kefir, royal jelly, chili peppers, coffee and other functional foods on specific health indicators in individuals with low-grade chronic inflammation or those with elevated total and LDL cholesterol or those with one, two or three components of the metabolic syndrome and others.

We are studying bioactive substances present in Mediterranean plants, one of which is the immortelle. The research is initially carried out on cell lines and then continued in clinical trials.

We also study the interactions between bioactive compounds and microorganisms.

We study olive and grape marc, which has a high content of compounds with antioxidant potential. At the same time we are researching the possibility of using food waste and primary processing waste for the preparation of functional foods.

We develop innovative nutritional products and potentially functional foods.

We develop and search for biomarkers for functional foods.

ŠPORIN, Monika, AVBELJ, Martina, KOVAČ, Boris, SMOLE MOŽINA, Sonja. Quality characteristics of wheat flour dough and bread containing grape pomace flour. Food science and technology international, ISSN 1082-0132, 2018, vol. 24, no. 3, str. 251-263, ilustr., doi: 10.1177/1082013217745398.

PETELIN, Ana, KENIG, Saša, KOPINČ, Rok, DEŽELAK, Matjaž, ČERNELIČ BIZJAK, Maša, JENKO PRAŽNIKAR, Zala. Effects of royal jelly administration on lipid profile, satiety, inflammation, and antioxidant capacity in asymptomatic overweight adults. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine, ISSN 1741-427X, 2019, vol. 2019, str. 1-11, ilustr. https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2019/4969720/abs/, doi: 10.1155/2019/4969720.

KENIG, Saša, BARUCA ARBEITER, Alenka, MOHORKO, Nina, BIZJAK, Mojca, ČERNELIČ BIZJAK, Maša, BANDELJ, Dunja, JENKO PRAŽNIKAR, Zala, PETELIN, Ana. Moderate but not high daily intake of chili pepper sauce improves serum glucose and cholesterol levels. Journal of functional foods, ISSN 1756-4646. [Print ed.], 2018, vol. 10, iss. 44, str. 209-217, ilustr. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1756464618301002, doi: 10.1016/j.jff.2018.03.014.

MIŠAN, Aleksandra, PETELIN, Ana, BIZJAK, Mojca, JAKUS, Tadeja, JENKO PRAŽNIKAR, Zala, et al. Buckwheat – enriched instant porridge improves lipid profile and reduces inflammation in participants with mild to moderate hypercholesterolemia. Journal of functional foods, ISSN 1756-4646. [Print ed.], 2017, vol.36, št.6, str. 186-194, ilustr.

DI GIROLAMO, Filippo Giorgio, MAZZUCCO, Sara, SITULIN, Roberta, MOHORKO, Nina, JENKO PRAŽNIKAR, Zala, PETELIN, Ana, TENCE, Marcello, PIŠOT, Rado, NAVARINI, Luciano, BIOLO, Gianni. Roasting intensity of naturally low-caffeine Laurina coffee modulates glucose metabolism and redox balance in humans. Nutrition, ISSN 0899-9007. [Print ed.], 2016, vol. 32, iss. 9, str. 928-936, tabele, graf. prikazi. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2016.02.001, doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2016.02.001.

BEZEK, Katja, KURINČIČ, Marija, KNAUDER, Elvira, KLANČNIK, Anja, RASPOR, Peter, BUCAR, Franz, SMOLE MOŽINA, Sonja. Attenuation of adhesion, biofilm formation and quorum sensing of Campylobacter jejuni by Euodia ruticarpa. Phytotherapy research, ISSN 0951-418X, Sep. 2016, vol. 30, iss. 9, str. 1527-1532, ilustr., doi: 10.1002/ptr.5658.

KENIG, Saša, KRAMBERGER, Katja, PETELIN, Ana, BANDELJ, Dunja, BARUCA ARBEITER, Alenka, MIKLAVČIČ VIŠ-NJEVEC, Ana, PEETERS, Kelly, MOHORKO, Nina, ŠIK NOVAK, Karin, JENKO PRAŽNIKAR, Zala. Helichrysum italicum ssp. italicum infusion promotes fat oxidation in hepatocytes and stimulates energy expenditure and fat oxidati-on after acute ingestion in humans: a pilot study. Plants, ISSN 2223-7747, 2021, vol. 10, iss. 8, str. 1-15, ilus-tr. DOI: 10.3390/plants10081516. [COBISS.SI-ID 71614723]

KENIG, Saša, KRAMBERGER, Katja, ŠIK NOVAK, Karin, KARNJUŠ, Igor, BANDELJ, Dunja, PETELIN, Ana, JENKO PRAŽNIKAR, Zala. Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don and Helichrysum arenarium (L.) Moench infusions in reversing the traits of meta-bolic syndrome: a double-blind randomized comparative trial. Food & function: linking the chemistry and physics of food with health and nutrition. 2022, vol. 12, str. 18412-18424, ilustr. ISSN 2042-6496. https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2022/fo/d2fo00880g#!divRelatedContent, https://doi.org/10.1039/D2FO00880G, DOI: 10.1039/d2fo00880g. [COBISS.SI-ID 112804611]

KRAMBERGER, Katja, BARLIČ-MAGANJA, Darja, JENKO PRAŽNIKAR, Zala, REŽEN, Tadeja, ROZMAN, Damjana, PRAŽNIKAR, Jure, KENIG, Saša, et al. Whole transcriptome expression array analysis of human colon fibroblasts culture treated with He-lichrysum italicum supports its use in traditional medicine. Journal of ethnopharmacology. [Print ed.]. 2022, letn. 296, št. 3, str. 1-10, ilustr. ISSN 0378-8741. DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2022.115505. [COBISS.SI-ID 113401603]

PETELIN, Ana, ŠIK NOVAK, Karin, HLADNIK, Matjaž, BANDELJ, Dunja, BARUCA ARBEITER, Alenka, KRAMBERGER, Katja, KENIG, Saša, JENKO PRAŽNIKAR, Zala, et al. Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don and Helicrysum arenarium (L.) moench infusion consumption affects the inflammatory status and the composition of human gut microbiota in patients with traits of metabolic syndrome : a randomized comparative study. Foods. 2022, vol. 11, št. 20, str. 1-17, ilustr. ISSN 2304-8158. https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/11/20/3277, DOI: 10.3390/foods11203277. [COBISS.SI-ID 126490627]

POREDOŠ, David, JENKO PRAŽNIKAR, Zala, KOZINC, Žiga. Acute effects of beetroot juice supplementation on iso-metric muscle strength, rate of torque development and isometric endurance in young adult men and women: a randomized, double-blind, controlled cross-over pilot study. Nutrients. 2022, vol. 14, iss. 22, str. 1-13, iiustr. ISSN 2072-6643. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/22/4759, DOI: 10.3390/nu14224759. [COBISS.SI-ID 128874243]

GUINÉ, Raquel Pinho Ferreira, ČERNELIČ BIZJAK, Maša, et al. Are comsumers aware of sustainability aspects rela-ted to edible insects? : results from a study involving 14 countries. Sustainability. 2022, vol. 14, iss. 2, str. 1-18, ilustr. ISSN 2071-1050. https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/21/14125/pdf, DOI: 10.3390/su142114125. [COBISS.SI-ID 128560643]

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

BI-RS/23-25-039 Sustainable food for healthy future

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

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

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

EISuFood: Study about food habits and knowledge about edible insects as sustainable foods (International project)

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

VALCER Waste recovery: potential of using the cherry core (EU PROJ/IPV/ID&I/00)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I0-0035 – Infrastructure group of University of Primorska

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

P4-0092 – Animal Health, Environment and Food Safety

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

P1-0386 – Conservation biology, from molecules to ecosystem

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

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

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

TRAFOON – Traditional Food Network to improve the transfer of knowledge for innovation (EU 7th Framework Programme)

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

PKP: SMOOTHIE – Smoothie for health

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

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

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

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

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

PKP: ČILI – Chili analysis

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

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

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