Supplement use in children is increasing with the widespread use in adult population. Especially its use is prevalent in children with chronic diseases. However, parents seem not to have enough knowledge of adverse effects of supplements and the interaction of supplements to medications. Many of parents do not inform the use of supplements to their pediatricians. On the contrary, pediatricians think that a part of their patients might use supplements, and that parents should inform the use of supplements to pediatricians in case of starting the use of supplements. Children have different metabolic activity and sensitivity to chemicals. Both parents and pediatricians should recognize the importance of supplement use. It is desirable to have educational program for analyzing advertisements.

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Acupuncture, which was originated and developed in the East Asian countries, has been globalized today. In Japan, acupuncture is more popular than the West, but lagging behind in terms of medical policy, research funding and evidence-based clinical research. Evidence-based approach such as randomized controlled trial has brought new developments in acupuncture research scene. On the other hand, clinical implication of acupuncture “system” seems to have been underestimated in evidence-based clinical research until recently.

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The nationwide survey done by study group of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan (Grant-in-Aid; 13-20) revealed that the prevalence of CAM use was 44.6% (1382 of 3100) in cancer patients. CAM was used without sufficient information by 57.3% of users with cancer and without a consultation with a doctor by 60.7% of users. Recently, the patient-oriented guidebook for the CAM in cancer treatment was made by another study group of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan (Grant-in-Aid; 17-14). This paper reports the opinion and request on this guidebook. We also discusses the view towards a future revised edition.

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