Objective: The objective of the present study was to examine the external validity of an FFQ designed to estimate dietary vitamin D intake compared with a plasma biomarker and three repeated 24 h dietary recalls in women of reproductive age in Serbia, where there is no exposure to food fortified with vitamin D. The method of triads was applied. Design: In a cross-sectional study, 422 women completed the Women and Reproductive Health FFQ (WRH-FFQ) during the winter months. From a representative subgroup (n 44), three 24 h dietary recalls and anthropometric parameters were collected as well as a fasting blood sample for vitamin D biomarker analyses. Correlation coefficients were calculated between each of the dietary methods. Validity coefficients, as a correlation between the measured and estimated 'true' exposure, were calculated using the method of triads. Bland-Altman plots were also constructed. Setting: Three major universities in Serbia. Subjects: Healthy young women (n 422) aged 18-35 years. Results: The WRH-FFQ estimate of vitamin D intake for all participants was 4·0 (SD 3·3) µg/d and 3·1 (SD 2·3) µg/d for the subgroup. Bland-Altman plots for these intakes showed high agreement. Validity coefficients for the FFQ, 24 h recall and biomarker were ρ QI = 0·847 (95 % CI 0·564, 0·928), ρ RI = 0·810 (95 % CI 0·537, 0·997) and ρ BI = 0·499 (95 % CI 0·190, 0·840), while the correlation coefficients were 0·686, 0·422 and 0·404. Conclusions: The FFQ applied in the present study is a valid tool for assessing dietary vitamin D intake in women living in Serbia, a region without mandatory vitamin D food fortification.Method of triadsMaintenance of optimal nutritional status in women of reproductive age can help to ensure normal fetal development (1) . It has been shown that vitamin D has important benefits during fetal and neonatal development (2) . Vitamin D, a fat-soluble vitamin, can be attained through diet, supplements or exposure to sunlight. The primary function of vitamin D is to control Ca homeostasis and in doing so aid absorption of Ca from the intestine and ensure adequate bone metabolism (2) . Vitamin D status before and during pregnancy is implicated in fetal growth (3) . In addition, vitamin D is important for the prevention of adverse pregnancy outcomes including pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes mellitus (4)(5)(6) .The RDA for vitamin D set by the US Institute of Medicine (IOM) is 15 µg/d for ages 1-70 years with no additional amount during pregnancy or lactation (7) . As many as 41 % of all pregnancies worldwide are unplanned (8) .To ensure that the general population and women of childbearing age consume enough vitamin D prior to becoming pregnant, many countries have introduced mandatory vitamin D fortification of food, which is not the case in Serbia. To date voluntary fortification in Serbia is limited to one milk product and imported products.Mapping low intakes of vitamin D and other micronutrients across Europe with a focus on Central Eastern European (CEE) countries showed no diff...

Beer was chosen as a teaching tool to maximize students’ class participation and systemize and enhance their knowledge of chemistry. Viewing beer as a complex mixture allowed the students to learn how to directly apply their chemistry knowledge. Before the “Beer Unit” students were instructed to research beer and acquire data on beer composition and properties. They were also asked to propose a hypothesis about possible chemical links between the components of beer and suggest qualitative analytical experiments. During the laboratory and classroom periods, the students performed experiments, analyzed the results, tested their hypotheses, and solved problems. The multilevel approach generated more discussion topics and acquisition of new chemistry knowledge. The students were also encouraged to point out negative consequences caused by uncontrolled consumption of beer. As a result of this unit, the students obtained the correct answers during chemistry classes, and they gained powerful arguments for discussions and were able to make proper health and life choices.

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In the present study, we examined the effects of fish oil supplementation in 3 months old male Wistar rats on changes in plasma and liver lipid metabolism and oxidative stress parameters. Twenty Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups of ten animals: control group and intervention group, treated for 6 weeks with fish oil capsules containing 45 mg eicosapentanoic acid and 30 mg docosahexanoic acid. After intervention, biochemical parameters in plasma [triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and total cholesterol, urea, creatinine and uric acid], fatty acid (FAs) profile of liver phospholipids and parameters of oxidative stress in liver [activity of catalase, superoxide dismutase and paraoxonase (PON1), concentration of nitrites, lipid peroxidation (LPO), free thiol (SH) groups and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) izoenzymes were determined. Treatment with fish oil improved FAs profile of liver phospholipids, increasing n-3 FAs and decreasing n-6/n-3 ratio. Significant decrease in plasma TG and LDL concentration, and increase in the level of HDL and uric acid were found in intervention group at the end of the study. Catalase activity, LPO, and nitrites concentration in liver were significantly decreased, after the supplementation, together with elevated PON1 activity. Applied treatment significantly improved plasma lipid profile, liver FAs composition and parameters of oxidative stress in male Wistar rats.

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