抄録
Chronic diseases such as allergy, cancer, thrombotic diseases and aging are expected to predominate in the 21st century. Prevention rather than treatment is important for these diseases, because highly selective and effective drugs such as antibiotics for pathogenic bacteria may not be easily developed. However, raising ω3/ω6 ratios of dietary oils has been found to be beneficial for the prevention of these diseases in animals, which has been supported by epidemiological studies in humans. Other food constituents and folk medicines have also been studied extensively for the effectiveness in the prevention of chronic diseases, and "physiologically functional foods" are going to be authorized in Japan. In view of a rapid progress in the development of new types of foods designed for specified chronic diseases, I emphasize the importance of "Preventive and Convalescent Pharmacy" in the medical-care required in the coming century in Japan.
