Dietetics research focuses on the links between nutrients, nutrition and health. Because this relationship is complex, our research also touches on biological, psychological, environmental, social, cultural, behavioural and economic factors. Furthermore, we are studying the impact of different diets, dietary regimes and education on health indicators in healthy individuals as well as in individuals with chronic diseases in all age groups. A large part of our activities is dedicated to the development and testing of innovative and functional foods in vitro and in vivo, in order to verify the beneficial effect of a potentially functional food on a specific health indicator.
The main areas of research
In recent years, our research and projects have been primarily focused on:
– Finding risk factors for overweight and obesity in children and adolescents and in the adult population
– To search for biological and other markers in relation to nutritional status and the development of obesity, metabolic syndrome and sarcopenia
– Investigating the effects of different dietary interventions and different ways of educating individuals on nutritional status and health indicators
– Analysing dietary intake, nutritional status, health indicators and other lifestyle factors according to dietary pattern (vegan vs. vegetarian vs. omnivore, etc.)
– Investigating the gut microbial community
– Developing innovative foods with a potential impact on a specific health indicator
– Testing a diverse range of bioactive substances in specific cell models (in vitro) and their antimicrobial activity
– Testing of bioactive substances and innovative and functional foods on the health of subjects through clinical studies (in vivo)
– Investigating energy availability in elite and recreational athletes
– Developing methodologies for sensory analysis
– Investigating psychosocial motivations related to food choices and/or eating habits (exploring the different psychological and social motivations that determine people’s eating patterns)
Department members
- Assoc. Prof. Ana Petelin, PhD (SICRIS, ResearchGate)
- Lect. Špela Bužinel (SICRIS)
- Prof. Maša Černelič Bizjak, PhD (SICRIS, ResearchGate)
- Assist. Tanja Črešnovar (SICRIS)
- Assist. Nebojša Đurišić, MD, Specialist, PhD (SICRIS)
- Assist. Bernarda Habe (SICRIS)
- Assist. Prof. Tadeja Jakus, PhD (SICRIS, ResearchGate)
- Assoc. prof. Zala Jenko Pražnikar, PhD (SICRIS, ResearchGate)
- Prof. Mihaela Jurdana, PhD (SICRIS, ResearchGate)
- Assist. Prof. Boris Kovač, PhD (SICRIS, ResearchGate)
- Assist. Prof. Katja Kramberger, PhD (SICRIS, ResearchGate)
- Assist. prof. Katja Kranjc, PhD (SICRIS)
- Assoc. Prof. Tamara Poklar Vatovec, PhD (SICRIS, ResearchGate)
- Assoc. Prof. Mojca Stubelj, PhD (SICRIS, ResearchGate)
- Assist. Karin Šik Novak, PhD (SICRIS, ResearchGate)
