510573 - FOOD SUPPLEMENTS AND SPECIAL FOODS (A-L)

courses

ID:

510573

Duration (hours):

56

CFU:

SSD:

CHIMICA DEGLI ALIMENTI

Year:

2025

Date/time interval

Primo Semestre (29/09/2025 - 23/01/2026)

Course Objectives

At the end of the course of Food Supplements and Special Foods the student will:
1- know the basic notion of the chemistry of macro-micronutrients and food bioactive minor components;
2- know the composition of the main food supplement categories, foods for specific groups (mainly foods for special medical purposes, baby foods, gluten free products);
3- analyze and apply the current Italian and European Law regulating the above-mentioned food categories;
4- suggest health products to pharmacy customers depending on their need and health status, critically justifying th given advice.

Course Prerequisites

Basic fundamentals of General and Inorganic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry are required, concerning in particular to fat acids, sugars, and amino acid derivatives. These contents are particularly preparatory to the topics concerning the macro and micronutrients. General and Inorganic Chemistry, Mathematic and Physic Sciences, and Organic Chemistry exams are preparatory to the present course.

Teaching Methods

Frontal lessons and simulations of healthy products suggestion. The Power Point presentations are used for both frontal lessons and to summarize the reccomendations useful to Pharmacysts in the different simulated health conditions. The same presentations are available for the students in the section of the course on Kiro platform as well as the teaching material (European Guidelines and Regulations, Italian Legislative Decrees, Ministerial Guidelines) on the current legislation discussed in class. In addition, for the simulations of health product recommendation, students will be able to use software that simulates a pharmacy, allowing them to practice using virtual customers requesting supplements. This will give them the opportunity to practice recommending product use based on the individual's actual needs, health status, physiological conditions, and age. For students with specific needs, who cannot attend in presence the educational activities and who have applied for Inclusive Teaching Modalities, suitable teaching material will be provided for fruitful independent study. If required, self-learning can be supported by tutoring or supplementary teaching activities and by individual meetings, both in presence and online, scheduled according to the student needs.

Assessment Methods

The check of the learning consists of an individual oral exam suitable to evaluate the acquired skills of the course contents. The exam consists in open questions and covers no less than four different topics, two regarding the part on the chemistry of food nutrients and minor components (for this part is requested the knowledge at least of basic chemical structures of macronutrients and bioactives discussed in class), and two about the different healthy products that require a suggestion by the Pharmacist. To pass the examination, the student must have a sufficient score (18/30) in each part and the final votation will be equal to the simple arithmetic average of the two scores.

Appropriate examination methods are provided for students who fall under the categories specified for Specific Learning Difficulties (DSA) and Special Educational Needs (BES).

Texts

- F. Evangelisti, P. Restani. Prodotti Dietetici. Chimica, tecnologia e impiego. Seconda edizione, Piccin Editore, 2011 - P. Cabras, A. martelli. Chimica degli Alimenti. Piccin Editore, 2004 - P. Cappelli, V. Vannucchi. Principi di chimica degli alimenti. Conservazione, trasformazioni, normativa. Zanichelli, 2015 - H.D. Belitz, W. Grosch, P. Schieberle. Food Chemistry. Springer, 2009. - V. Silano, M. Fiorani. Integratori alimentari nell'Unione Europea. Normativa comunitaria e normative nazionali, aspetti scientifici della valutazione della sicurezza e dell'efficacia e struttura dei mercati nell'UE. Tecniche Nuove Editore, 2016. - A.F.G. Cicero, A. Colletti. Prontuario di nutraceutica ad uso umano. Edizioni Scripta Manent, 2021. -R. Cannataro, A. Bertuccioli, M. Lindinger, G. D'Antona. Prontuario sugli integratori, Piccin Editore, 2025 - EFSA Journal - Ministero della Salute platform

The program of the frontal lessons (5 CFU) includes: - Water (definition, law, activity water and food stability). - Micronutrients (mineral salts, lipo and hydrosoluble vitamins). - Macronutrients (proteins, lipids, sugars, with mention on the classification of sugar substitutes and fibers). - Food supplements: examples of the most used products (mineral and vitamin supplements, sport supplements, supplements for vegetarian and vegan people, supplements in pregnancy and breastfeeding, supplements for elderly people, botanicals, explaining some applications), and related Italian and European Law. - Foods for specific groups: in particular foods for special medical purposes (metabolic diseases that involve sugars and amino acids metabolism), baby foods - milk formulas for healthy and unhealthy infants and weaning products, gluten free products, and related Italian and European Law. - Novel foods. - Functional foods. - Formulas for enteral and parenteral nutrition. The hours of practice (1 CFU) involve the use of specific software that simulates real-life cases of potential customers who turn to the pharmacist to purchase supplements and who therefore require appropriate advice on their use and how to take them.