Foods for special medical purposes on the Serbian market: Types and characteristics

Abstract

Foods for special medical purposes are products intended for the complete or partial nutrition of individuals with a limited, reduced, or impaired capacity to ingest, digest, absorb, metabolise, or excrete ordinary food or certain nutrients, as well as for patients with specific nutritional requirements that cannot be met by modification of the normal diet alone. This study aimed to provide insight into the prevalence, types, and chemical composition characteristics of these products available on the Serbian market. According to the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Serbia’s database, among about 900 products, the majority are nutrition ally incomplete with high doses of vitamins, minerals, and other bioactive compounds. Among nutritionally complete products, enteral formulas with standard or adapted nutrient composition intended for oral or tube feeding are predominant, particularly in patients with malnutrition. A specific category includes infant products, such as formulas for preterm infants, lactose-free and hypoallergenic formulas, as well as products intended for individuals with phenylketonuria and other metabolic disorders. The analysis of declared composition indicates that these products often contain, in addition to standard nutrients, prebiotics, specific fatty acids, and other bioactive compounds, including novel food ingredients, to modulate immune response and inflammation. Foods for special medical purposes are available in pharmacies, while certain products are intended exclusively for use in healthcare institutions; the growing market of these products, together with innovations in their formulations, highlights the need for continuous education of healthcare professionals and consumers on their importance and appropriate use.