Introduction
This courseware is designed to show how dietary factors may affect the metabolism of drugs in the body and, thus, affect the action of the drug. The courseware is intended for students of medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy and science. It is suggested that students have completed the Pharma-CAL-ogy Drug Metabolism base module or have a good grounding in the routes and processes of drug metabolism before attempting this module.

Aim of the Courseware
The aim of the courseware is to show how common dietary factors may affect the metabolism and clearance (and, thus, action) of drugs.

Learning Objectives
The learning objectives are best defined by the tutor concerned and will be different for different classes and depending on how the courseware is used. At the end of the module the student should be able to:

I. describe how various dietary factors affect drug metabolism
II. relate the changes in enzyme activity caused by dietary factors to enzyme concentration
III. assess how a particular diet may affect drug metabolism and action.

Courseware Content
The courseware covers the following material - the effect of the following dietary factors on metabolism of specific drug examples:

i. macronutrients: protein, carbohydrate, fat;
ii. micronutrients: vitamins (A,B group, C, E, K) and minerals (Ca, Mg, Zn, Cu, Fe, Se, I, K);
iii. ethanol;
iv. tobacco smoke.

For each factor an animated example is given and questions asked about the results obtained. The speed of animation can be varied using the SPEED button which is permanently active. There is a summary at the end of the module. The various sections can be by-passed or selected at random by returning to the MAIN MENU. The student can orientate himself within the module using the MAP function. There is a HELP button permanently active which assists the student with the use of buttons and moving through the module. The NOTEPAD can be used to make printable notes as required. A CALCULATOR function is included but need not be used to fully complete the module. A full pass through the module should take 1-2 hours depending on the student.

The package is supplied on a CD-ROM Installation Disc and can be installed to a local hard disc or network drive.