Nutrition labelling of pre-packaged foods in Belgrade, Serbia: current situation.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the presence of nutrition labels on pre-packaged food products, as well as to analyse the types of presentation. DESIGN: This was a descriptive study. The following characteristics were analysed: (i) presence and placement of the nutrition declaration (either as front-of-pack (FOP) or back-of-pack (BOP)); (ii) content of the presented information; (iii) presence of nutrition and health claims; and (iv) legibility of the written information. Settings Three different types of retailers in Belgrade, Serbia. SUBJECTS: A total of 2138 pre-packaged food products from ten categories. RESULTS: A nutrition declaration was found on 65.9% of all tested products. It was displayed on the back of the packaging of 62.7% of products and on the front of the packaging of 19.1% of products. BOP was the most commonly observed in breakfast cereals, soft drinks, milk and instant soups (in total over 90%), and the least common in meat products (21.5%). FOP was predominantly displayed on breakfast cereals (65.0%) and the least frequently on milk products (2.4%). The 'Big 4' (energy value, protein, carbohydrate and fat contents) and the 'Big 4 with additional information' figured on 40.9% of products. The 'Big 8' ('Big 4' plus sugar, saturated fat, fibre and sodium contents) and the 'Big 8 with additional information' were present less frequently (20.5%). Nutrition claims and health claims appeared on very few products (6.6% and 6.3%, respectively). The proportion of products with insufficient legibility was 31.5%. CONCLUSIONS: Nutrition labelling in Belgrade, Serbia is not satisfactory. Mandatory regulations may be the best way to improve the current situation.

Dietary habits as a risk factor of gallstone disease in Serbia.

Gallstone formation is a multifactorial disease, caused by the interaction of genetic and enviromental factors. In order to prevent gallbladder stone disease, it is useful to detect modifable risk factors, which contribute to its development. The aim of this study is to analyze the potential relationship between nutrition and the development of gallstone disease, and to establish the possibility for its prevention. The study examined 114 patients; 55 of them suffered from gallstone disease, while 59 were healthy controls who were age- and sex- matched. Diagnosis of gallbladder stone disease was made by ultrasonography. Diet was established using a 24-hour dietary recall method. In the multivariate model, high energy intake (OR = 9.720, p < 0.001) and overnight fasting period (12 hours and longer) (OR = 4.285, p = 0.005) were the most important predictors of gallstone disease, after adjustment for Body Mass Index. These factors can be altered in order to prevent gallstone disease.

Ultrasound diagnosis of gallbladder polyps.

The most frequent benign gallbladder polyps are cholesterol polyps. Next in frequency were adenomas, which may have malignant potential. The aim of this study was to assess the possibility of ultrasonography in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of cholesterol polyps compared to adenomas. Patients were examined during the period from October 2006. to December 2008. In Department of Ultrasound, Clinic for Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Belgrade. The group of 54 patients analyzed consisted of 30 women (56%) and 24 men (44%). Most (59%) had solitary polyps. In 92.6% of patients the size of polyps was below 10 mm. 74% of respondents were over 50 years. Ultrasonography is the method of choice and gold standard in diagnosis of gallbladder polyps. Based on echoic properties cholesterol polyps can not be distinguished from adenomas. Malignant alteration of polyps also could not be detected. Appropriate ultrasonographic characteristics such as size of polyps, appearance of a broad base that sits on the wall, concomitant lithiasis findings and patient age may be indicative for malignancy.