Manja Zec, PhD, Senior Research Associate

 

 

 

Center of Research Excellence in Nutrition and Metabolism, Institute for Medical Research, University of Belgrade

Tadeuška Košćuška 1, Belgrade 11000, Serbia

manjazec@gmail.com

manja.zec@imi.bg.ac.rs

Focus Areas

Precision Nutrition & Nutrigenetics, Fatty Acids, Polyphenols, NCDs, Biostatistics

Professional Background

2019-to date: Research Associate Professor, Center of Research Excellence in Nutrition and Metabolism, Institute for Medical Research, University of Belgrade, Serbia

Apr-May 2020: Scientific Associate during COVID-19 pandemics, Laboratory for SARS-CoV-2 Molecular Diagnostics, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia

2012-2019: Research Associate, Center of Research Excellence in Nutrition and Metabolism, Institute for Medical Research, University of Belgrade, Serbia                                                                           

Jul-Sep 2018: Visiting Scientist, Nutrition Department, King’s College London, London, UK 

2015-2017: Post-Doctoral Fellow, Center of Excellence for Nutrition, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa

2011-2012: Clinical Research Associate, Parexel International    

2009-2011: Research Assistant, Laboratory for Experimental Pharmacology, Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia

Educational Background

2015-2017: Post-Doctoral Fellow, Center of Excellence for Nutrition, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
2011: PhD thesis defended “Molecular mechanisms of anti-cancer activity of selenosemicarbazone metal complexes”, Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia
2007-2010: PhD studies, Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade
2007: Master thesis defended “Incidence C677T MTHFR polymorphism in cervical carcinoma patients”, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Institute for Human Genetics
2001-2007: Master and Graduate studies, Faculty of Molecular Biology and Physiology, University of Belgrade, Serbia

Scientific Publications

Stojković Lj, Jovanović I, Živković M, Zec M, Đjurić T, Životić I, Kuveljić J, Kolaković A, Kolić I, Đorđević A, Glibetic M, Alavantić D, Stanković A. The Effects of Aronia Melanocarpa Juice Consumption on the mRNA Expression Profile in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells in Subjects at Cardiovascular Risk. Nutrients 2020, 12(5), 1484.

Knez M, Pantović A, Zeković M, Pavlović Z, Glibetić M, Zec M. Is There a Link between Zinc Intake and Status with Plasma Fatty Acid Profile and Desaturase Activities in Dyslipidemic Subjects? Nutrients 2020, 12(1), 93.

Ojwang AA, Smuts CM, Zec M, Wentzel-Viljoen E, Kruger IM, Kruger HS. Comparison of dietary and plasma phospholipid fatty acids between normal weight and overweight black South Africans according to metabolic health: The PURE study. Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids 2019, 102039.

Zec M, Zeković M, Jeremić-Zec G, Šarac I, Glibetic M, Gurinović M, Nutritional status and social determinants in a random sample of subjects residing in South-Eastern Serbia: towards personalized nutrition practice. Pirotski Zbornik 2019; 44, 189-224.

Zec M, Schutte AE, Ricci C, Baumgartner J, Kruger IM, Smuts CM. Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Are Associated with Blood Pressure and Hypertension over 10-years in Black South African Adults Undergoing Nutritional Transition. Foods 2019, 8 (9), 394.

Ojwang AA, Kruger HS, Zec M, Ricci C, Pieters M, Kruger IM, Wentzel-Viljoen E, Smuts CM. Plasma phospholipid fatty acid patterns are associated with adiposity and metabolic syndrome in black South Africans: A cross-sectional study. CardioVascular Journal of Africa 2019, 30(4), 228-238. 

Vidović N, Faid F, Pantović A, Nikolić M, Debeljak-Martačić J, Zeković M, Milešević J, Mohamed Drah M, Zec M. Vitamin D and cardio-metabolic biomarkers: small-scale comparative study between Libyan migrants and resident women in Serbia. Libyian Journal of Medicine 2019, 14:1.

Pokimica B, García-Conesa MT, Zec M, Debeljak-Martačić J, Ranković S, Vidović N, Petrović-Oggiano G, Konić-Ristić A, Maria Glibetić M. Chokeberry Juice Containing Polyphenols Does Not Affect Cholesterol or Blood Pressure but Modifies the Composition of Plasma Phospholipids Fatty Acids in Individuals at Cardiovascular Risk. Nutrients 2019, 11(4), 850.

Pantović A, Zec M, Zeković M, Obrenović R, Stanković S, Glibetić M. Vitamin D Is Inversely Related to Obesity: Cross-Sectional Study in a Small Cohort of Serbian Adults. Journal of the American College of Nutrition 2018, 1-10.  

Ricci C, Baumgartner J, Zec M, Kruger HS, Smuts CM. Type of dietary fat intakes in relation to all-cause and cause-specific mortality in US adults: an iso-energetic substitution analysis from the American National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey linked to the US mortality registry. British Journal of Nutrition 2018, 119(4):456-463.  

Zec M, Debeljak Martačić J, Ranković S, Pokimica B, Tomić M, Ignjatović Dj, Glibetić M, Popović T. Effects of Aronia Melanocarpa juice on plasma and liver fatty acids phospholipids composition in Wistar rats. Acta Veterinaria 2017, 67(1), 107-120. 

Kardum N, Konić Ristić A, Zec M, Kojadinović M, Petrović Oggiano G, Zeković M, Kroon PA, Glibetic M. Design, formulation and sensory evaluation of a polyphenol-rich food placebo: an example of Aronia juice for food intervention studies. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition 2017, 1-8. 

Čavić M, Krivokuća A, Boljević I, Brotto K, Jovanović K, Tanic M, Filipović L, Zec M, Mališić E, Janković R, Radulović S Pharmacogenetics in cancer therapy – 8 years of experience at the Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia. JBUON 2016; 21(5):1287-1295. 

Knez M, Stangoulis JC, Zec M, Debeljak-Martačić J, Pavlović Z, Gurinović M, Glibetić M. An initial evaluation of newly proposed biomarker of zinc status in humans-linoleic acid: dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (LA: DGLA) ratio. Clinical Nutrition ESPEN 2016; 15:85-92. 

Zec M, Srdić-Rajić T, Krivokuća A, Janković R, Todorović T, Andjelković K, Radulović S. Novel selenosemicarbazone metal complexes exert anti-tumor effect via alternative, caspase-independent necroptotic cell death. Medicinal Chemistry 2014; 10(8):759-771. 

Kardum N, Petrović-Oggiano G, Takić M, Glibetić N, Zec M, Debeljak-Martačić J, Konić-Ristić A. Effects of Glucomannan-Enriched, Aronia Juice-Based Supplement on Cellular Antioxidant Enzymes and Membrane Lipid Status in Subjects with Abdominal Obesity. The Scientific World Journal 2014.

Kardum N, Takić M, Šavikin K, Zec M, Zdunić G, Spasić S, Konić-Ristić A. Effects of polyphenol-rich chokeberry juice on cellular antioxidant enzymes and membrane lipid status in healthy women. Journal of Functional Foods 2014; 9:89-97.

Zec M, Srdić-Rajić T, Konić-Ristić A, Todorović T, Anđelković K, Filipović-Lješković I, Radulović S. Anti-metastatic and anti-angiogenic properties of potential new anti-cancer drugs based on metal complexes of selenosemicarbazones. Anticancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry 2012; 12(9):1071-80.

Srdić-Rajić T, Zec M, Todorović T, Anđelković K, Radulović S. Non-substituted N-heteroaromatic selenosemicarbazone metal complexes induce apoptosis in cancer cells via activation of mitochondrial pathway. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 2011; 46(9):3734-47.

Eshkourfu R, Čobeljić B, Vujčić M, Turel I, Pevec A, Sepčić K, Zec M, Radulović S, Srdić-Radić T, Mitić D, Andjelković K, Sladić D. Synthesis, characterization, cytotoxic activity and DNA binding properties of the novel dinuclear cobalt (III) complex with the condensation product of 2-acetylpyridine and malonic acid dihydrazide. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry 2011; 105:1196-1203.

Bjelogrlić S, Todorović T, Bacchi A, Zec M, Sladić D, Srdić-Rajić T, Radanović D, Radulović S, Pelizzi G, Anđelković K. Synthesis, structure and characterization of novel Cd(II) and Zn(II) complexes with the condensation product of 2-formylpyridine and selenosemicarbazide. Antiproliferative activity of the synthesized complexes and related selenosemicarbazone complexes. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry 2010; 104:673-682.

Conference Proceedings and Abstracts of Relevance

Zec M, Smuts CM, Schutte AE, Kruger H, Stojković Lj, Ojwang AA, Živković M, Stanković A, Glibetic M.  Are individual circulating fatty acids promising cardiometabolic biomarkers? Findings from a cohort study and a randomized intervention study towards personalized nutrition strategies based on nutrigenetics. 6th meeting of European section and 7th meeting of North American section of the International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences. 11-14 September 2019, Vrnjačka banja, Serbia. P 249.

Pokimica B, Zec M, Garcia Conesa M-T, Ranković S, Petrović Oggiano G, Debeljak Martačič J, Ravić B, Glibetić M. The effects of aronia juice on serum oxidized low- density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in adults with one or more cardiovascular risk factors. The Fourth International Congress of Serbian Society for Mitochondrial and Free Radical Physiology, 28-30. September 2018, Belgrade, Serbia, p. 100.

Kolić I, Stojković Lj, Jovanović I, Stanković A, Zec M, Glibetić M, Alavantić D, Živković M. Polyphenol-rich Aronia melanocarpa juice modulates transcriptome profile of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in adults at mild cardiovascular risk. IUBMB Advanced School on Nutrition, Metabolism and Aging, Belgrade, Serbia 2018. Book of Abstracts, p. 32

Pokimica B, Zec M, Kardum N, Konić Ristić A, Glibetić M. Aronia melanocarpa juice decreases body mass index and diastolic blood pressure in overweight adults. World congress on nutrition and obesity prevention source, Barcelona, Spain, 16-18 November 2017, Book of Abstracts, p. 117

Zec M, Pokimica B, Stojković Lj, Debeljak-Martačić J, Živković M, Stanković A, Glibetić M. FADS2 variants are inversely associated with arachidonic acid status upon 4-week consumption of polyphenol-rich aronia juice – a pilot study in 88 Serbian subjects. COST FA1403. 3rd scientific workshop. 20th-26th September 2017, Thessaloniki, Greece. Book of Abstracts

Kruger HS, Schutte AE, Botha S, Moss SJ, Ojwang AA, Zec M, Kruger IM. Lifestyle factors protective of metabolically healthy overweight/obesity over 10 years in black South Africans. 15th World Congress on Public Health, Melbourne, Australia, April 05th-07th 2017. Book of Abstracts. OR120, 1624-1636.

Jelenković A, Zec M, Obrenović R, Zeković M, Pokimica B, Glibetić M. The associations of serum vitamin D status with cardiovascular risk factors in healthy adults.  The 13th Congress of Nutrition, organized under auspices of Federation of European Nutrition Societies (FENS), Belgrade, Serbia, October 26th-28th 2016 (p.248)

Pokimica B, Debeljak-Martačić J, Zec M, Ranković S, Popović T, Petrović-Oggiano G, Zeković M, Ravić B, Tomić M, Glibetić M. 2016. Aronia melanocarpa juice decreases plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and increases plasma phospholipid vaccenic acid in Wistar rats. The 13th Congress of Nutrition, organized under auspices of Federation of European Nutrition Societies (FENS), Belgrade, Serbia, October 26th-28th 2016, Abstract Book (p. 271)

Zec M, Richter M, Baumgartner J, Schutte A, Smuts C. (2016). Plasma fatty acids as biomarkers of hypertension development over 5-years: a longitudinal study in black South Africans. Journal of Hypertension, 34, e283. 26th Scientific Meeting of the International Society for Hypertension, 24th-29th September 2016, Seoul, Korea

Zec M, Richter M, Baumgartner J, Kruger R, Schutte A, Smuts CM. Association of plasma long-chain fatty acids with blood pressure and arterial stiffness over 5-years: a longitudinal study in black South Africans. 12th Congress of the International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids, 05th-09th September 2016, Cape Town, South Africa. Oral presentation.

Zec M, Richter M, Baumgartner J, Kruger R, Schutte A, Smuts C. Plasma stearic acid is protective towards systolic and diastolic blood pressure: a longitudinal study in black South Africans over 5-years. 2nd World Public Health Nutrition Association Congress. 30th Aug-02nd Sep 2016, Cape Town, South Africa. Book of Abstracts.

Ojwang AA, Zec M, Kruger HS, Wentzel-Viljoen E, Richter M, Smuts CM. Association of dietary and plasma phospholipid fatty acids with obesity in black South African population. 12th Congress of the International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids, 05th-09th September 2016, Cape Town, South Africa. Book of Abstracts.

Zec M, Richter M, Baumgartner J, Kruger R, Schutte A, Smuts C. Plasma stearic acid is protective towards systolic and diastolic blood pressure: a longitudinal study in black South Africans over 5-years. 2nd World Public Health Nutrition Association Congress. 30th Aug-02nd Sep 2016, Cape Town, South Africa. Book of Abstracts.

Kardum N, Konić Ristić A, Zec M, Kroon P, Glibetić M. The design and sensory testing of a placebo formulation for a polyphenol-rich Aronia juice with evaluation of potential impact on platelet function. 7th International Conference on Polyphenols and Health (ICPH 2015), 27th-30th October 2015, Tours, France (P1044, p.300)

Pokimica B, Zec M, Debeljak-Martačić J, Konić-Ristić A, Kardum N, Popović T, Kojadinović M, Ranković S, Glibetić M. Aronia Melanocarpa Juice Improves Plasma Fatty Acid Status in Human Adults with low cardiovascular risks. Serbian society for mitochondrial and free-radical physiology, III Congress in Redox Medicine: Reactive species signaling, analytical methods, phytopharmacy, molecular mechanisms of disease. 25th-26th September 2015, Belgrade, Serbia. Book of Abstracts.

Kojadinović M, Pokimica B, Zec M, Kardum N, Konić-Ristić A, Glibetić M, Arsić A. Polyphenol-rich pomegranate juice exerts antioxidative effect through decrease in GPx activity in metabolic syndrome subjects. Serbian society for mitochondrial and free-radical physiology, III Congress in Redox Medicine: Reactive species signaling, analytical methods, phytopharmacy, molecular mechanisms of disease. Book of Abstracts. 25th-26th September 2015, Belgrade, Serbia. Book of Abstracts.

Kardum N, Konić Ristić A, Petrović-Oggiano G, Takić M, Zec M, Spasić S, Glibetić M. Beneficial effects of aronia juice-based supplement consumption on cellular antioxidant enzymes and membrane lipid status in subjects with abdominal obesity. 7th International Conference and Exhibition on Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods (ISNFF 2014), 14th-17th October, 2014, Istanbul, Turkey (P263, p304)

Konić Ristić A, Srdić-Rajić T, Kardum N, Zec M, Hollands W, Shikha S, Kroon P, Glibetić M. Modulation of platelet function with dietary polyphenols- A promising strategy in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. 7th International Conference and Exhibition on Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods (ISNFF 2014), 14th-17th October, 2014, Istanbul, Turkey (O87, pg. 127)

Zec M, Peruničić-Peković G, Rašić-Milutinović Z, Rovčanin B, Novaković I. PON1 192 polymorphism and lipid profile in hypertensive patients with or without CKD. Joint COST BM0904/7th IAS HDL Workshop. 24th-26th March 2014, Rome, Italy. P27

Rašić-Milutinović Z, Zec M, Peruničić-Peković G, Rovčanin B, Novaković I. Is PON1 Q192R polymorphism risk factor for diabetic complications-preliminary study? Joint COST BM0904/7th IAS HDL Workshop. 24th-26th March 2014, Rome, Italy. P26

Anđelković K, Sladić D, Mitić D, Filipović N, Zec M, Radulović S, Todorović T. Synthesis, characterization, cytotoxic and antioxidative activity of d-metal complexes with 2,6- diacetylpyridine bis(selenosemicarbazone). COST Action CM1106, Chemical Approaches to Targeting Drug Resistance in Cancer Stem Cells, 1st Working Group Meeting, 21-22 Feb 2013, Porto, Portugal. Book of Abstracts P12, page 62

Sladić D, Anđelković K, Todorović T, Filipović N, Mitić D, Zec M, Radulović S. Anti-metastatic and anti-angiogenic properties of potential new anti-cancer drugs based on metal complexes of selenosemicarbazones. COST Action CM1106, Chemical Approaches to Targeting Drug Resistance in Cancer Stem Cells, 1st Working Group Meeting, 21-22 Feb 2013, Porto, Portugal. Book of Abstracts P12, page 58

Srdić-Rajić T, Konić Ristić A, Arsić A, Zec M, Stojanović F, Kardum D. Effect of acute intake of aronia melanocarpa juice on antioxidative status and platelet function – ex vivo study. 11th European Nutrition Conference-FENS. Annals of nutrition and metabolism, 2011; vol. 58 (suppl 3); 339-339

Zec M, Srdić-Rajić T, Anđelković K, Radulović S. Development of novel selenosemicarbazones’ complexes in targeting apoptotic signal pathways in human metastatic breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-361. IMPAKT Breast Cancer Conference, ESMO, 2011, Brussels, Belgium.  Annals of Oncology 2011; 22 (55-55)

Ilić V, Zec M, Paripović L, Tufegdžić I, Ninković A, Bekić Z. Correlation between MTHFR polymorphisms and toxic effects/delayed MTX clearance after HD-MTX in children with osteosarcoma. VIII Congress of Balcan Union for Oncology (BUON) 2010; 15(1):21

Chapters and Modules

Zec M, Glibetic M. 2018. Health Benefits of Nut Consumption. Reference Module in Food Science. Elsevier, pp. 1–13.

Participation at Projects of Relevance

European Food Safety Authority (EFSA): Support to National Dietary Surveys in Compliance with the EU Menu methodology (sixth support) “The adult’s survey”; Reference number: OC/EFSA/DATA/2016/03; Parma, Italy; 2017–2022

European Food Safety Authority (EFSA): Support to National Dietary Surveys in Compliance with the EU Menu methodology (sixth support) “The children’s survey”, including subjects from three months up to 9 years old; Reference number: OC/EFSA/DATA/2016/02; Parma, Italy; 2017–2022

The Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study: South African cohort

COST Action: FA1403 POSITIVe: Interindividual variation in response to consumption of plant food bioactives and determinants involved, under Horizon 2020; 2014-2018; EU FP7-KBBE-funded Collaborative Research Project: Beneficial effects of dietary bioactive peptides and polyphenols on cardiovascular health in humans; 2013-2017

Variety of National Projects funded by Serbian Ministry of Science

Academic Contributions

Laboratory Supervisor – PhD student at the University of Belgrade, Serbia; Assistant Supervisor – a PhD student at the North-West University, South Africa; Assistant Supervisor– an Honors’ student at the North-West University, South Africa; Ad Hoc Lecturing activities at North West University, South Africa

Awards and Grants

London, 2018: Short Term Scientific Mission (STSM) grant, Grant Holder under COST Action: FA1403

Potchefstroom, 2015-2017: PostDoctoral Research Fellowship (2-years); North-West University, South Africa

Seoul, 2016: ISH New Investigator Poster Presentation Awards, 1st Prize, International Society of Hypertension

Seoul, 2016: Special Grant Travel Award for 26th ISH Meeting, International Society of Hypertension

Stellenbosch, 2016: Travel Award for 12th ISSFAL Meeting, International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids

Belgrade, 2008-2011: PhD stipend for talented students; Serbian Ministry of Science and Education

International Memberships

ISSFAL – International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids; ISH – International Society of Hypertension

Languages

English – Bilingual proficiency, Certificate in Advanced English (CAE), University of Cambridge, ESOL Examinations; Spanish – Working proficiency; Russian – Elementary proficiency; Serbian – Native


Dr Maria Glibetic

SOULFOOD Serbia

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