Pharmacology and Nutrition

The boundaries between pharmacology and nutrition are sometimes less clear than you might think.  Traditionally, nutrition has primarily been focusing on health maintenance and the prevention of deficiencies. Pharmacology on the other hand usually deals with drugs/medicines or vaccines, which are intended to cure or prevent some form of disease, trauma, or at least a medical complaint. However, it is clear that our diet, the nutrients and the natural bio-actives we are consuming or taking - by coincidence or on purpose – can help to prevent- or even cure disease. Also from a scientific and commercial point of view, “pharma” and “food” are keeping an eye on each other, and at several points there exists a grey zone in between them. Here we also find products like food-supplements and medicinal foods.

The focus of this course will be more on pharmacology than on nutrition. The majority of the students taking the course will be following many food and nutrition-related courses during the rest of their study program. Studying the basic principles of pharmacology will help them to better understand the molecular mechanisms of bio-active compounds in the diet and interpret scientific research in this field. In addition, for those students who are interested in clinical research or in a career in pharmaceutical research and development, the course provides a basis and an introduction to “the pharma language”.

This course starts with an introduction of the basic concepts of pharmacology and the different classes of medicinal compounds that are in use. Differences and similarities between drugs, nutrients and dietary supplements will be addressed, as well as the way these are discovered and developed into products. Attention will also be given to the consequences of drug formulations for dose-regimen and effect(s). Examples from clinical therapy will be used to illustrate pharmacotherapy. We will also discuss possible interactions between nutrients and drugs. Next, we will see how this can work in practice. At the same time, we make the link with nutrition again when we will evaluate nutritional supplements in working groups.

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:

• Explain and recognize basic processes of pharmacokinetics in relation to the effects of drug
• Explain the mechanisms and/or effects of drug interactions, food-drug interactions, formulations and routes of administration, and evaluate how these are related to drug effects and dose-adjustments
• Perform and interpret pharmacokinetic calculations and evaluate how this relates to drug effects and dose adjustments
• Experimentally determine and interpret basic parameters of enzyme-kinetics, pharmacological inhibition of enzyme activity, and pharmacokinetics
• Explain and recognize the basic principles of receptor states, drug-receptor interactions, and intracellular signaling
• Explain and recognize differences and similarities between drugs, food and supplements in terms of legal status and use
• Understand and explain pharmacological research methods and the way medicines are being discovered, developed and introduced to the market
• Explain and recognize how drugs are used to treat (patho)physiological conditions and functioning of the autonomous nervous system, cardiovascular system, immune system, and energy homeostasis, with emphasis on receptor-interactions and working mechanisms of drugs
• Find, interpret and evaluate (sources of-) information on medicines and food supplements that are made available through the internet, such as drug leaflets
• Critically evaluate the effectivity and safety a food supplement in the context of its health claim(s)

Mandatory Knowledge:
ZSS06100 Laboratory Safety
Assumed Knowledge:
HAP10306 Principles of Human Physiology;
CBI10306 Cell Biology;
HAP21303 Integrated Human Physiology or equivalent knowledge of (Human) Physiology at academic level;
PCC12803 General Chemistry for the Life Sciences (or equivalent).