Vuk Stevanović

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.

Lumbar disc herniation, a growing condition, significantly impacts work productivity, mental health, and quality of life. It alters functional movement patterns and causes improper compensatory body positioning, leading to muscle dysfunction. Physical exercise is a key treatment for chronic cases. This case study examined a 37-year-old male with moderate triple lumbar disc herniation and degenerative disc changes at L3-L4, L4-L5, and L5-S1. The subject followed a 10-week home-based exercise program performed 4 to 5 times weekly for 45 minutes per session. The program consisted of variations of body-weight exercises, supplemented with additional equipment, and progressively increased in intensity and volume, targeting hip joint mobility and strengthening of deep back, abdominal, and thigh muscles. Initial and final assessments included the Pain Detect test, the Short Form Health Survey-36 on quality of life, Manual Muscle Testing (MMT), Functional Movement Screen (FMS), and body composition analysis. Questionnaires indicated significant pain reduction and improvements in physical condition and psychosocial well-being. MMT improved from 4 to 5, FMS from 2 to 3, and body composition showed positive changes: weight (+1.5%), body water (+3.4%), skeletal muscle (+2.8%), and body fat (-6.6%). The subject reported substantial pain reduction, improved physical condition and psychosocial well-being, as well as enhanced muscle strength, functional movement patterns, and body composition. This case study highlights the program’s effectiveness in treating lumbar disc herniation and enhancing quality of life. Additionally, the program is suitable for preventing lumbar disc herniation and improving overall quality of life in the broader population.

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.

Lumbar disc herniation, a growing condition, significantly impacts work productivity, mental health, and quality of life. It alters functional movement patterns and causes improper compensatory body positioning, leading to muscle dysfunction. Physical exercise is a key treatment for chronic cases. This case study examined a 37-year-old male with moderate triple lumbar disc herniation and degenerative disc changes at L3-L4, L4-L5, and L5-S1. The subject followed a 10-week home-based exercise program performed 4 to 5 times weekly for 45 minutes per session. The program consisted of variations of body-weight exercises, supplemented with additional equipment, and progressively increased in intensity and volume, targeting hip joint mobility and strengthening of deep back, abdominal, and thigh muscles. Initial and final assessments included the Pain Detect test, the Short Form Health Survey-36 on quality of life, Manual Muscle Testing (MMT), Functional Movement Screen (FMS), and body composition analysis. Questionnaires indicated significant pain reduction and improvements in physical condition and psychosocial well-being. MMT improved from 4 to 5, FMS from 2 to 3, and body composition showed positive changes: weight (+1.5%), body water (+3.4%), skeletal muscle (+2.8%), and body fat (-6.6%). The subject reported substantial pain reduction, improved physical condition and psychosocial well-being, as well as enhanced muscle strength, functional movement patterns, and body composition. This case study highlights the program’s effectiveness in treating lumbar disc herniation and enhancing quality of life. Additionally, the program is suitable for preventing lumbar disc herniation and improving overall quality of life in the broader population. How to cite: Randow de Almeida, K., Kapeleti, M., Stevanović, V., Mrdaković, V., & Macura, M. Enhancing quality of life through physical exercise in a patient with triple lumbar disc herniation: A longitudinal case study. Exercise and Quality of Life. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.31382/preprint.000009

The present cross-over study investigated whether a half-marathon race might impose changes in lipid profile, muscle function, hematological parameters, and oxidative status in 10 amateur male runners and whether polyphenol-rich aronia juice may counteract these potential alterations. Subjects (age 30.8 ± 2.3 years) ran a simulated half-marathon race (21.1 km), after they had consumed breakfast with 200 mL of aronia juice/placebo on two occasions separated by one week. Blood samples were taken at baseline, 15 min, 1 h, and 24 h after the run.  Results revealed a significant increase in the levels of total, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides immediately after the run (by 6.97%, 9.23%, and 38.46%, respectively), which tended to return to the baseline values after 24 hours. The activity of lactate dehydrogenase increased significantly after the race and started decreasing 24h after the race, still being 16.18% higher compared with the baseline. The run induced a marked increase in total number of leukocytes, and granulocytes, with an eventual return to the baseline levels. The obtained results suggest that a half-marathon run is intense enough to cause lipid mobilization, muscle damage and compromise the immune response in recreational male runners. Acute aronia juice intake was not sufficient to attenuate the observed changes.

Intensive physical activity (PA) can lead to proteinuria and, consequently, serum protein profiles in athletes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of acute aronia juice consumption before a simulated half-marathon race on serum protein profiles in recreational runners. The pilot study was designed as a single-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study, with 10 male participants who consumed aronia juice (containing 1.3 g polyphenols) or placebo before the race. The blood levels of total proteins, albumin, the non-albumin fractions gamma, beta, alpha2 and alpha1, as well as renal function parameters, were determined before and 15 min, 1 h and 24 h after the race. The significant changes in urea, creatinine and uric acid levels were noticed at selected time points in both groups. In the placebo group, a significant decrease in total proteins (p < 0.05) was observed 24 h after the race, along with an increase in gamma fraction abundance (p < 0.05). In addition, urea and uric acid levels returned to baseline only in the aronia group 24 h after the race. Thus, according to the results obtained, acute aronia juice supplementation before intensive PA could influence the transient change in renal function and PA-induced protein loss in recreational runners.

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.

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.

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.

Aronia melanocarpa berries and their products are rich dietary sources of antioxidant compounds with polyphenolic structures, including anthocyanins, flavonoids, procyanidins and phenolic acids. Physical activity (PA) can lead to oxidative stress and reduced thiol group of human serum albumin (HSA-SH). HSA-SH is the key component of the antioxidant system for maintaining serum thiol homeostasis. In this study, the main goal was to examine the effect of aronia juice supplementation before a race on thiol homeostasis in 10 recreational runners, in a single blind crossover placebo-controlled study. Total serum thiols, HSA-SH group content and reactivity, and free fatty acids (FFAs)/HSA ratios were determined before, 15 min (T1), 1 h (T2) and 24 h (T3) after the simulation of a half-marathon race and the consumption of aronia juice (AG) or placebo (PG) before the race. Reduced thiols content and the pseudo-first order kinetic constant of the HSA-SH group’s reactivity were determined using 5,5′-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) reagent. Accordingly, PA led to transient oxidative stress, which decreased the HSA-SH group’s content in T1 compared to the baseline, and when compared to the AG (p < 0.01, and p < 0.05, respectively), but there was no significant change in total thiol content. At the same time, the HSA-SH group’s reactivity and FFA/HSA ratio increased significantly in T1 and T2 in both groups compared to corresponding baseline values. The positive effect of acute aronia juice consumption on the oxidative stress by reducing oxidative damage of HSA-SH group during PA was revealed in the study. Also, this study indicated that HSA-SH content is a more reliable parameter for the evaluation of oxidative stress during PA than the analysis of total serum thiols.