This study offers a comprehensive analysis of the anthropometric and nutritional status among Serbian adults aged 18–64 years, using the data from the EFSA EU Menu food consumption survey conducted between 2017 and 2022. Based on a nationally representative sample of 1139 participants, this research utilized validated 24 h dietary recalls and anthropometric measurements. The results indicate significant dietary imbalances, characterized by a heavy reliance on energy-dense foods, such as grains, fats, and meat, with an underrepresentation of fruits, vegetables, and dairy. Men exhibited a higher total energy intake, obtaining more energy from meat and fats, while women consumed more fruits and vegetables but often did not meet the recommended protein intake. Approximately 67.8% participants had a insufficient dietary fiber intake, and 15.4% did not meet the protein recommendations, particularly women. Anthropometric measurements showed a high prevalence of overweight and obesity, especially among men. These findings highlight critical deficits in dietary adequacy and, from a clinical practice perspective, underscore the necessity for the formulation of policies, targeted public health strategies aimed at improving dietary habits, and provide evidence for the development of national dietary guidelines and clinical guidelines to support preventive healthcare strategies, especially in the management of diet-related conditions, such as obesity and metabolic disorders.

The present study examined the effects of aerobic training alone or combined with chokeberry juice on membrane lipid status and activities of antioxidant enzymes in non-athlete women. Participants were randomly assigned into the training group performing aerobic training three times per week; the chokeberry-training group followed the same training regime and additionally consumed 100 ml of chokeberry juice per day and the control group neither trained nor consumed the juice. Blood samples were collected at baseline and the end of the eight-week-long intervention. Membrane fatty acids’ composition was analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography, while the activities of antioxidant enzymes were measured by spectrophotometry. As a result, the n-3 fatty acids’ content was significantly higher in the chokeberry-training (median (interquartile range) of 5.96 (1.65) %) compared with the control group (5.12 (0.87) %), while saturated fatty acids’ content was lower in the chokeberry-training (40.14±1.19 %) than in the training group (42.59±2.29 %). We detected significantly higher activity of superoxide dismutase in the training (2224 (2170) U/gHb) compared with the chokeberry-training (1252 (734) U/gHb) and control group (1397 (475) U/gHb). Our study indicates that supplementation with chokeberry juice may induce favorable changes in cell fatty acid composition and antioxidant response in women performing aerobic training.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS), one of the major global health concerns, represents a cluster of cardiometabolic risk factors along with chronic low-grade inflammation and oxidative stress as essential features. Lifestyle changes, including the health quality of the foods, are recommended as the initial interventions for the management and eventual reversal of metabolic syndrome. Considering the heterogeneity of the studies in evaluating the health benefits of polyphenol-rich foods, there is a lack of quantitative and even qualitative analysis of their potential impact on this pathophysiological condition. This review aimed to provide a coherent, clinically oriented appraisal of the potential role of polyphenol-rich juices and beverages in the management of metabolic syndrome and related cardio-metabolic conditions. Twenty-three human intervention studies, encompassing randomized controlled, crossover, and parallel-group designs, as well as non-randomized or uncontrolled intervention studies that prospectively evaluated a defined beverage. The collective evidence indicates polyphenols could improve anthropometric parameters and blood lipid levels, while data on insulin and blood pressure seemed inconsistent and limited. Regarding the antioxidant effects, most beverages beneficially affected lipid peroxidation and total antioxidant activity. Findings across the studies portray polyphenol-rich juices and beverages as consistent, though not uniformly potent, modulators of low-grade inflammation in cardiometabolic contexts. To draw any firm conclusions, future trials are recommended. These should adopt consistent polyphenol quantification and dosage applied, standardize analyzed parameters including inflammatory and oxidative stress panels, stratify participants by baseline status and medication use, and extend follow-up to evaluate reliability and clinical significance.

Background and objectives: Increasing rates of adult overweight (60.7% population) and diet-related cardiovascular diseases (52% population) in Serbia alarmingly call for a change in dietary patterns. To be able to identify problems and solutions, harmonized and comparable food consumption data are needed. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) provided support and guidance, through the EU Menu program, for conducting the Serbian National Food Consumption Survey on adults from 10 to 74 years old, including pregnant women and vegetarians in the period of 2017–2022. This work gives an overview of the quantity, energy intake, and distribution across different food groups, which are all basic parameters of dietary patterns, aiming at comparing the actual diet with recommendations—the EAT Lancet Commission Report. Methods: Food consumption data were collected from 3018 participants: 856 adolescents aged 10–17 years, 1155 adults aged 18–64 years, 581 elderly subjects aged 65–74 years, 145 pregnant women, and 281 vegetarians, using two inconsecutive days repeated 24 h dietary recall. The advanced nutritional software, Diet Assess and Plan (DAP), was applied for data storage, processing, and reporting, while the Serbian Food composition database was used as a resource for food composition information of the foods and recipes consumed in the survey. Results: In the adult population, quantitatively, the most consumed foods are as follows: vegetable and vegetable products (312 g/day), milk and milk products (247.7 g/day), fruit and fruit products (245.7 g/day), grain and grain products (215.8 g/day), and meat and meat products (166.08 g/day). Liquids—water and non-milk beverages—were consumed 1511 g/day on average. However, the mean distribution of energy intake differs significantly. The main source of energy comes from grain and grain products (637.5 kcal/day (29.3%TE)), meat and meat products (355.4 kcal/day (16.3%TE)), fats and oils (271 kcal/day (12.4%TE)), and milk and milk products (261.3 kcal/day (12%TE)). Discussion: The energy distribution and consumed quantities of some food groups indicate that actual diet, comprised of processed grains, meat, and fatty food, is not meeting reference healthy diet recommended in EAT Lancet Commission Report, and present a risk factor for the development of overweight, obesity, and diet-related cardiovascular diseases in the Serbian population.

Background and objectives: Since the beginning of the 20th century, more than 75% of genetic diversity has been lost. As a result of this homogenization, thousands of cultivated and wild food plants are no longer used, although they have high nutritional value. This work aims to develop recipes for new dishes and bring biodiversity to the plate in a way that consumers desire. Methods: Prototypes of new foods were prepared in the experimental kitchen. Each recipe was blind-tasted, evaluated, and ranked according to its organoleptic quality using a systematic approach. Both independent professional taste experts and lay public representatives were involved in the sensory evaluation of dishes. After the initial sensory evaluation (discrimination and hedonic scoring tests) in Serbia, the following recipes were selected for further evaluation in four other countries—Greece, Hungary, France, and Turkey: Dandelion and Tomato Salad; Buckwheat and Grass Pea Stew with Eggplant; Baked Eggplant and Potato à la Papa Alexie; Lentils as a Starter and Buckwheat Pockets Filled with Walnuts and Dried Fruit. The recipes were tested by 132 lay public representatives and 24 professionals. Results and Discussion: Of the five dishes tested, Buckwheat Pockets Filled with Walnuts and Dried Fruit were the most popular, followed by Baked Eggplant and Potato à la Papa Alexie and Dandelion and Tomato Salad. Although cultural differences and individual preferences play a role, none of the dishes was considered unacceptable or undesirable, and most were rated as likable to very likable. In line with the feedback, the optimization of the recipe design was discussed to optimize the sensory perception of the new dishes and to achieve a stimulating and satisfying taste and smell with appropriate texture and mouthfeel. The sensory evaluation showed that the new dishes offered, based on the underutilized foods studied in this project, were highly recognized and well received by consumers. Finally, a recipe book was created that includes a detailed explanation of the preparation methods and a comprehensive presentation of the relevant nutritional information of the new food dishes.

Physical activity could lead to dehydration and post-exercise proteinuria. In several animal studies, it has been noticed that aronia juice consumption shows favorable effects on the kidney function. Therefore, the primary aim of this study was to examine the influence of acute aronia juice supplementation before simulated half-marathon races on serum protein profiles that reflect both changes induced by dehydration and proteinuria in ten recreational runners. The serum protein profiles were determined before (T0), 15 min (T1), 1 h (T2), and 24 h after the race (T3), and were presented as a percentage abundance of HSA and non-albumin fractions (γ, β2, α1, and α2) obtained through the densitometric analysis of gels after the separation of serum proteins via native electrophoresis. Before the first race, our recreational runners had decreased percentages of α1- and α2-globulins and increased percentages of γ-globulins compared to the literature values for healthy subjects. At time points T2 and T3, after simulation of the half-marathon races, the significant increase (p < 0.05) in γ fraction percentages was noticed after the placebo, but not the acute aronia juice treatment. According to the obtained results, long-term physical activity in recreational runners induces changes in serum protein profiles, probably due to the protein loss of low-weight proteins after exercise. At the same time, this study has shown that the acute consumption of aronia juice before intensive physical activity could exert a beneficial effect on post-exercise proteinuria.