Nikola Prvulović

Dr. Nikola Prvulović

Group for Nutritional Biochemistry and Dietology, Institute for Medical Research, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Beograd, Serbia
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Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

8Years (2019-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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21 September 2023 in Frontiers in Public Health
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Nikola PrvulovićNikola Prvulović
Nikola Prvulović
MDMiodrag Djordjević
Miodrag Djordjević
SPSaša Pantelić
Saša Pantelić
Introduction: After 2000, there are more obese than underweight people in the world. We face a rapid increase in average global warming of 1.5°C, reported as a syndemic problem of three interconnected epidemics: obesity, global warming, and undernutrition. We aimed to analyze the impact and association between global warming and obesity in children and differences by gender across Europe after 2000.Methods: We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and Embase databases. The considered population were children aged 6–14. Only cross-sectional studies that defined obesity by the IOTF cutoffs and the subjects’ place of residence, used to determine precise climate zones, were included. We assessed the prevalence of obesity and overweight using a random-effects and the Mantel–Haenszel fixed-effect method when heterogeneity was greater/lower than 50%. We did a subgroup analysis for prevalence across gender, obesity, and overweight, two decades, regions, countries, and the Köppen–Geiger climate zones. Random effects of the meta-regression were used to study the global warming impact and differences in trends across European countries by gender for both conditions separately.Results: We identified 114 studies that included 985,971 children from 39 European countries. A significant difference between genders was in favor of obese girls 4.78 (95% CI: 3.85–5.93) versus boys 5.76% (95% CI: 5.11–6.48, p = 0.03), respectively, but not for overweight children. Most of the obese girls were in South Europe 7.51% (95% CI: 6.61–8.51) versus East Europe 2.86% (95% CI: 23–3.12), versus boys in South Europe 8.66% (95% CI: 7.68–9.74) and North Europe 3.49% (95% CI: 2.90–4.19), respectively. The “cold” Köppen–Geiger climate zone, with lowest temperatures, has the largest trend rise between two decades of 2.8% and 1.53% for obese girls and boys, and 5.31% and 1.81% for overweight girls and boys, respectively, followed by the smallest number of obese girls 3.28% (95% CI: 2.17–4.92) and boys 3.58% (95% CI: 2.39–5.33), versus the zone with the highest temperatures “hot” for girls 7.02% (95% CI: 6.30–7.82) and for boys 8.23% (95% CI: 7.55–8.96), respectively. The meta-regression proved global warming has a significant impact on the distribution of obesity and overweight across climate zones, R2 = 0.52 and R2 = 0.22. No significant gender differences, or significant interaction, was noted.Conclusion: Our meta-analysis provides a comprehensive overview of the association between and impact of global warming on obesity. This impact increases obesity among children in Europe throughout all climate zones, and emphasizes an urgent call for further preventive methods in schools, since obesity differences continue their trend of disappearing into the future.Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021282127, identifier: CRD42021282127.

31 May 2022 in Symmetry
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Nikola PrvulovićNikola Prvulović
Nikola Prvulović
MČMilan Čoh
Milan Čoh
Dražen ČularDražen Čular
Dražen Čular
MTMario Tomljanović
Mario Tomljanović
Goran SporišGoran Sporiš
Goran Sporiš
SFSuzana Žilič Fišer
Suzana Žilič Fišer
Analyzing asymmetry from biomechanical parameters of the lower extremities has become a standard practice for accurate assessment of athletic performance, injury prevention, and rehabilitation. The aims of this study were (1) to determine differences between explosive strength and asymmetry of the lower extremities using kinetic parameters of the CMJ jump test in young female athletics, and (2) to investigate correlation between speed and asymmetry, as speed and kinetic parameters. The two groups of nine female sprinters (mean ± SD; G1-age 15.6 ± 1.34 years, height 170.1 ± 0.57 cm, body mass 62.54 ± 7.73 kg, and BMI 21.6 ± 2.05; G2-age 16.2 ± 1.3 years, height 168.4 ± 0.61 cm, body mass 57.69 ± 3.12 kg, and BMI 20.37 ± 1.38) performed the CMJ test without using an arm swing, as well as a 100 m test. Two tensiometric platforms were used for the kinetic parameters and asymmetry. Asymmetry was calculated by an AI equation, and the values of the takeoff velocities and jump height parameters were obtained by integral formula and the trapezoidal rule of impulse-momentum methods. The results show differences in four kinetic parameters: height (G1- 26.82 ± 3.56 cm, vs. G2- 17.45 ± 2.01 cm), concentric impulse, (G1- 96.05 ± 16.95 N⋅s, vs. G2- 68.41 ± 4.77 N⋅s), takeoff velocity, (G1- 2.29 ± 0.14 m/s, vs. 1.83 ± 0.12 m/s), and concentric velocity, m/s (G1- 1.5 ± 0.175 m/s, vs. 1.17 ± 0.122 m/s), as well as a negative strong and very strong correlation between asymmetry and kinetic parameters for three parameters: Peak Force (G1- r = −0.878, and all subjects r = −0.633), Eccentric Impulse of left leg (G1- r = −0.865) and Concentric Impulse of right leg (G2- r = −0.878), (p <.05). The younger sprinters did not show the principle of muscle activation in the form of a longer preparatory phase of contact time, eccentric and concentric phase, as well as a force impulse that is optimal. There was no correlation between asymmetry and sprint performance.

13 June 2025 in Applied Sciences
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RRRadivoje Radakovic
Radivoje Radakovic
DMDejan Martinovic
Dejan Martinovic
Borko KatanicBorko Katanic
Borko Katanic
Karuppasamy GovindasamyKaruppasamy Govindasamy
Karuppasamy Govindasamy
Nikola PrvulovićNikola Prvulović
Nikola Prvulović
Viorel Petru ArdeleanViorel Petru Ardelean
Viorel Petru Ardelean
This study investigated physiological differences in cardiorespiratory and metabolic performance parameters between professional football players from top- (TR) and mid-ranked teams (MR) in the Serbian Super League. A total of 55 male outfield players (TR: n = 29; MR: n = 26) were assessed in March 2022 using a maximal multistage treadmill protocol and lactate analysis. The key cardiorespiratory variables included maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max), heart rate at the anaerobic threshold (HR AT), and recovery heart rate metrics, while the metabolic variables focused on lactate concentrations and efficiency indices. The results indicate that the TR players achieved significantly lower HR AT values (162 ± 10.26 vs. 168.77 ± 7.28 bpm; p = 0.017) and demonstrated superior second-minute recovery (%Re 2′: 66.62 ± 14.08% vs. 34.53 ± 9.13%, p < 0.001). In contrast, the MR players exhibited higher VO2max (62.65 ± 4.48 vs. 60.06 ± 3.29 mL/kg/min; p = 0.017) and greater cardiorespiratory efficiency scores. The lactate parameters were comparable between the groups, except for the metabolic efficiency index (Index ME), which were favorable among the TR players (p = 0.011). These findings highlight that while MR players possess higher aerobic capacity, TR players demonstrate superior physiological recovery and metabolic control, reflecting adaptations to different tactical demands and match intensities. The results offer practical implications for individualized training design and performance monitoring in elite football settings.

17 February 2021 in Facta Universitatis. Series: Physical Education and Sport
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Nikola PrvulovićNikola Prvulović
Nikola Prvulović
ALAna Lilic
Ana Lilic
Miljan HadzovicMiljan Hadzovic
Miljan Hadzovic
Changes and deformities to the feet are frequent among athletes. The aim of this review paper is to determine the prevalence of foot deformities among athletes with various backgrounds, as well as to determine the influence of the deformities on motor task performance. The compiled studies were published between 2002 and 2018. The following electronic databases were used for the search: PubMed, MEDLINE, Google Scholar, EBSCO. The identified studies had to satisfy the following criteria: that they included athletes and that the subject of analysis were the differences in foot deformities in relation to performing motor tasks. Research papers on this topic were reviewed and analyzed. They are clearly organized in tabular form, with a clear outline of the details of the research. The results of 16 research papers are summed up. The most prevalent deformity among athletes is flat feet (pes planus). The studies indicate the various deformities which are prevalent in particular sports, and determine the changes in the feet of the athletes, in particular for the foot which plays a decisive role in certain sports. Individuals with flat feet scored lower results compared to individuals with normal arches in terms of time and reaction speed when performing motor tasks.

19 October 2024 in Symmetry
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Nikola PrvulovićNikola Prvulović
Nikola Prvulović
MPMilena Zuza Prastalo
Milena Zuza Prastalo
ALAna Lilic
Ana Lilic
SPSaša D Pantelić
Saša D Pantelić
Borko KatanicBorko Katanic
Borko Katanic
Vesna VucicVesna Vucic
Vesna Vucic
Asymmetries in sports are common and can lead to various issues; however, different training programs can facilitate change. This study aimed to assess the effects of opposing plyometric programs on tensiomyography lateral symmetry (TMG LS)/inter-limb asymmetry in female athletes’ lower-body muscles, alongside kinematic and body composition parameters. Twenty female subjects from basketball, volleyball, and track and field (sprinting disciplines) were divided into two experimental groups (n = 10 each). Two six-week plyometric programs (two sessions/week) were implemented: the first program (E1) focused on eccentric exercises, depth landings, while the second (E2) emphasized concentric exercises, squat jumps. TMG assessed LS in six muscles: vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, biceps femoris, semitendinosus, gastrocnemius lateralis, and gastrocnemius medialis. A kinematic analysis of the countermovement jump (CMJ) and body composition was conducted using “Kinovea; Version 0.9.4” software and InBody 770, respectively. The results showed significant increases in LS percentages (E1—VL 9.9%, BF 18.0%, GM 10.6% and E2—BF 22.5%, p < 0.05), and a significant large effect in E1 for VL, and in E2 for BF, p < 0.01). They also showed that E1 had a significant effect on VL, and that E2 had a significant large effect on BF (p < 0.01). E1 also led to increased lean muscle mass in both legs (left: 1.88%, right: 2.74%) and decreased BMIs (−0.4, p < 0.05). Both programs improved LS, with E1 enhancing muscle mass and lower-body positioning in CMJ. We recommend future studies use varied jump tests, incorporate 3D kinematic analysis, include male subjects, and examine more muscles to enhance TMG LS analysis.

1 June 2020 in Facta Universitatis. Series: Physical Education and Sport
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Miljan HadzovicMiljan Hadzovic
Miljan Hadzovic
LJLjiljana Jelenković
Ljiljana Jelenković
BJBojan Jorgić
Bojan Jorgić
ALAna Lilic
Ana Lilic
Nikola PrvulovićNikola Prvulović
Nikola Prvulović
The aim of this review research was to determine the effects of the physical activity (PA) on obesity among the elderly. To compile existing studies on the effects of PA on obese elderly individuals, PubMed, SCIndeks, PEDro, J-GATE, DOAJ and Google Scholar electronic databases were searched. By analyzing and applying the set criteria, the final analysis included 20 studies, and the positive influence of the PA on the obesity of the elderly was confirmed. The greatest effect on the decrease in body mass was achieved by the simultaneous application of a combination of exercise programs and dietary regimen for a period of 6 months. It was concluded that combined programs of aerobics, weight training, flexibility and balance exercises for a period of at least 12 weeks lead to a mild decrease in body mass and the amount of fat mass, while maintaining and increasing lean body mass mostly in the form of muscle tissue. PA is an effective mean in reducing obesity, and thus its use among the elderly is recommended.