ALIMENTI E INTERAZIONI CON I FARMACIModule MODULO 1: CHIMICA FARMACEUTICA
Academic Year 2025/2026 - Teacher: VALERIA PITTALA'Expected Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
• Describe the chemical-pharmaceutical, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic mechanisms of food-drug interactions.
• Understand regulatory guidelines (AIFA, EMA, FDA).
• How to enhance the therapeutic action of a drug and avoid potentially harmful combinations.
• Develop critical tools for the correct combination of drugs and foods.
• Describe the main foods involved in the most important food-drug interactions related to the chemical interactions involved.
Course Structure
The course activities consist of classroom lectures during which all the topics on the program will be covered in detail.
During the lectures, students are actively encouraged to take part in discussions on the topics covered.
If the course is taught in a blended or distance learning format, the necessary changes may be made to the above in order to comply with the program set out in the syllabus.
According to the RDA, Art. 12 - University Credits (CFU), the standard workload of 25 hours of total student commitment, corresponding to one credit, may include:
a) 7 hours dedicated to lectures or equivalent teaching activities and the remainder to individual study;
b) at least 12 and no more than 15 hours dedicated to classroom exercises or equivalent assisted activities (laboratories) and the remainder to study and personal review;
Information for students with disabilities and/or SLDs:
To ensure equal opportunities and in compliance with current legislation, interested students may request a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, based on educational objectives and specific needs.
You can also contact the CInAP (Center for Active and Participatory Integration - Services for Disabilities and/or SLDs) representative for our Department, Prof. Santina Chiechio.
Class schedule:https://www.dsf.unict.it/it/corsi/lm-13/orario-delle-lezioni
Required Prerequisites
a basic knowledge of organic chemistry, pharmaceutical chemistry, and toxicology; systematic human biochemistry, general pharmacology, and pharmacotherapy;
fundamental knowledge of biochemistry and human physiology;
Attendance of Lessons
Detailed Course Content
Action of food and main functional groups involved
Pharmaceutical phase with focus on chemical interactions between food and drugs
Pharmacokinetic phase with focus on chemical interactions between food and drugs
Pharmacodynamic phase with focus on chemical interactions between food and drugs
Major enzyme systems involved in the metabolism of drugs and food. Related chemical reactions
Study of potential food-drug interactions during the design and development of a drug
Anti-nutritional factors (ANFs), chemical-pharmaceutical interactions involved
Complexing and chelating agents, chemical structure, and drug-food interactions
Influence of the gut microbiota on the absorption of food and drugs
Chemical-pharmaceutical interactions between food and drugs affecting:
the central nervous system,
the cardiovascular system,
the respiratory system,
the gastrointestinal system,
anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic drugs,
anti-infective and chemotherapeutic drugs
Textbook Information
1. 1. Slides provided by the teacher
2. 2. Scientific papers provided during the lessons
3. 3. Kelly Anne Meckling. Nutrient-Drug Interactions. Taylor & Francis Group
4. 4. Luisa Mannina, Maria Daglia, Alberto Ritieni. Nutrienti e aspetti nutraceutici. Casa Editrice Ambrosiana
Learning Assessment
Learning Assessment Procedures
Exam calendar: https://www.dsf.unict.it/it/corsi/lm-13/calendario-esami
Information for students with disabilities and/or learning disabilities:
To ensure equal opportunities and in compliance with current legislation, interested students may request a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, based on the educational objectives and specific needs.
You can also contact the CInAP (Center for Active and Participatory Integration - Services for Disabilities and/or SLDs) representative for our Department, Prof. Santina Chiechio.
Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises
Describe the effect of food on the different stages of a drug's ADME, paying particular attention to the functional groups involved.
Discuss anti-nutritional factors and related chemical interactions
Discuss the effect of chelating and complexing agents on the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic phases of a drug.
Describe the most important food-drug interactions in the central nervous system.
Describe the most important food-drug interactions in the gastrointestinal system.
How to prevent potential food-drug interactions during the design and development of new drugs.