Nutrition

The course aims firstly to provide students with a solid foundation of knowledge in clinical nutrition, while developing their practical skills in applying this knowledge to patient care. 

This first objective aims to establish a solid foundation for understanding clinical nutrition as a therapeutic discipline. Students will learn to distinguish clinical nutrition from preventive nutrition, understanding its specific areas of application in the hospital and pharmacy setting. They will acquire in-depth knowledge of recommended nutritional intakes and the composition of a balanced diet, while mastering the calculation of individualised water, energy and nitrogen requirements. Learning about the mechanisms of digestion, absorption and metabolism of macronutrients will provide an essential foundation for understanding nutritional dysfunctions.

Students will also develop practical skills in the use of nutritional assessment tools, including the interpretation of biomarkers (albumin, prealbumin, CRP, etc.) and the application of validated screening scores. 

This theoretical training will be supplemented by an introduction to predictive scores and the principles of personalised medicine, preparing future pharmacists for an individualised approach to nutritional management. 

At the end of this part of the course, future pharmacists will have the scientific and technical tools they need to make an effective contribution to nutritional management, in line with current recommendations. The aim is to train professionals capable of identifying, assessing and quantifying nutritional needs in various clinical situations.

2nd Objective: To develop expertise in therapeutic nutrition and pharmaco-nutrition

The second objective of the course is to prepare students to assume their role as pharmacists throughout the patient's care pathway by integrating the nutritional dimension, while making them aware of the pivotal role played by the pharmacist within the multidisciplinary team. 

This objective will focus on acquiring in-depth expertise in therapeutic nutrition, particularly in complex pathological situations. Students will learn to master the various methods of artificial nutrition, from enteral nutrition (choice of polymeric, oligomeric and specialised formulas) to parenteral nutrition. 

They will develop an understanding of the interactions between nutrition and drugs, including physicochemical incompatibilities and pharmacokinetic changes induced by nutritional status or genetic predisposition.

Learning about improved rehabilitation after surgery (RAAC-ERAS) protocols and prehabilitation concepts will enable students to integrate the nutritional dimension into perioperative care. 

Particular attention will be paid to the nutritional management of chronic pathologies (diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, etc.) and acute pathologies (renal failure, digestive pathologies, etc.), taking into account the specific pathophysiological features of each condition. 

Students will also acquire the skills needed to advise on and monitor the use of oral nutritional supplements, pharmaconutrients, plants and plant extracts, while mastering the INAMI classifications and reimbursement criteria. 

The aim is to train pharmacists who are capable of optimising nutritional management in all clinical situations encountered, whether in hospitals or community pharmacies.

In addition, future pharmacists are encouraged to incorporate the prevention and screening of nutritional disorders into their daily practice, in particular by identifying patients at risk in the pharmacy and taking part in nutritional education campaigns.

3rd Objective: Integrate personalised nutrition and therapeutic innovations into pharmaceutical practice

The third objective prepares students for current and future developments in clinical nutrition, with an emphasis on personalised therapeutic approaches. 

Students will explore the mechanisms of hunger and satiety, including the role of regulatory hormones (leptin, ghrelin, GLP-1), in order to gain a better understanding of metabolic dysregulation. 

They will develop expertise in the nutritional management of specific populations (geriatrics, paediatrics, pregnancy, sportspeople), adapting their recommendations to the particular physiological needs of each group. 

Learning the concepts of nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics will enable future pharmacists to incorporate genetic factors into their nutritional advice, for example concerning the metabolic role of methylated vitamins B9/B12.

Students will also gain an in-depth understanding of the role of the intestinal microbiota and the therapeutic use of pre-, pro- and post-biotics. The course will include the study of plant-based medical devices and plant extracts, as well as the management of the hospital-office interface to optimise continuity of nutritional care. 

Finally, the ethical aspects of nutrition in palliative medicine will be addressed, preparing students for the complex dilemmas at the end of life and respect for patient autonomy.