E3 Natural products: Ensuring responsible use

Thursday 14 September 2017
14:30-17:30
COEX Convention & Exhibition Center : Auditorium 3 hours

Organised by the FIP Special Interest Group on Natural Products, the FIP Hospital Pharmacy Section, the FIP Special Interest Group on Translational Research and Individualized Medicines and the FIP Expert Group on Ethics 

Chairs: Michiho Ito (Kyoto University, Japan), Rebekah Moles (The University of Sydney, Australia) and Maria Allinson (Keele University, UK)

Introduction

Natural products (including natural medicines and dietary supplements) sometimes have pharmacological or biological activity that can be of therapeutic benefit in treating diseases. However, many products are marketed and used without rigorous trials proving their safety and effectiveness. They are categorised differently to conventional medicines because of their complex nature and constituents. For many combining natural medicines (or dietary supplements) and conventional medicines can often result in good outcomes for symptom control of chronic conditions however most pharmacists, feel they need more evidenced-based information to support patients using these products, and furthermore more-evidence is needed if they are to be recommended by pharmacists. This session will cover issues surrounding these products quality and regulation, evidence of efficacy, prevalence of use and how to provide appropriate services to patients taking natural products as well as case studies that can describe individual patient experiences.

Learning objectives

At the conclusion of this knowledge-based session, participants will be able to:

  1. Describe the widespread use of natural medicines and dietary supplements and how they are categorised.
  2. Explain how these products are checked for quality and are regulated.
  3. Specify the current evidence available to support the use of natural medicines and dietary supplements and apply knowledge to help support patients that take them (including ethical principles).
  4. Outline the pros and cons of these medicines when used for personalised care.
  5. Prepare a course of study to improve pharmacists’ skills in selecting natural medicines and dietary supplements for patients.

Programme

14:30 – 14:35
1. Introduction by the chairs

14:35 – 15:00
2. What are natural products, how are they defined and categorised around the world?
Michiho Ito (Kyoto University, Japan)

15:00 – 15:25
3. Quality and regulation of natural products

Borut Strukelj (University of Ljubljana, Slovenia) 

15:25 – 15:50

4. Regulation of the quality of dietary supplements, a type of natural products
Marianne Ivey (University of Cincinnati, USA)

15:50 – 16:10 Coffee/tea break

16:10 – 16:35
5. Clinical evaluation of crude drug products using bioactive peptides in human body fluid
Yuhki Sato (Oita University Hospital, Japan)

16:35 – 17:00
6. Korean traditional medicine combined with conventional medicines — Lessons on how it can be done properly
Dal-Seok Oh (Korea Institute of Oriental Medicines, Republic of Korea)

17:00 – 17:25
7. Discussion on a way forward to educate pharmacists on natural products, when and when not to use them

17:25 – 17:30
8. Conclusions by the chairs