Abram Hoffer

Abram Hoffer
Born(1917-11-11)November 11, 1917
Sonnenfeld, Saskatchewan, Canada
DiedMay 27, 2009(2009-05-27) (aged 91)
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
EducationUniversity of Saskatchewan
University of Minnesota
University of Toronto
Known forPromotion of orthomolecular therapy as a treatment for schizophrenia
Scientific career
FieldsSchizophrenia, Nutrition, Alcoholism
InstitutionsSaskatchewan Department of Public Health
University of Saskatchewan

Abram Hoffer (November 11, 1917 – May 27, 2009) was a Canadian biochemist, physician, and psychiatrist known for his "adrenochrome hypothesis" of schizoaffective disorders.[1] According to Hoffer, megavitamin therapy and other nutritional interventions are potentially effective treatments for cancer and schizophrenia.[2][3][4] Hoffer was also involved in studies of LSD as an experimental therapy for alcoholism and the discovery that high-dose niacin can be used to treat high cholesterol and other dyslipidemias.[5] Hoffer's ideas about megavitamin therapy to treat mental illness are not accepted by the medical community.[6]

  1. ^ Hoffer, A (1990). "The Adrenochrome Hypothesis and Psychiatry". Retrieved July 25, 2011.
  2. ^ "ACS : Orthomolecular Medicine". American Cancer Society. June 19, 2007. Archived from the original on March 29, 2008. Retrieved April 4, 2008.
  3. ^ Aaronson S; et al. (2003). "Cancer medicine". Cancer medicine 6 (Frei, Emil; Kufe, Donald W.; Holland, James F., eds). Hamilton, Ont: BC Decker. pp. 76. ISBN 1-55009-213-8.
  4. ^ Nutrition Committee and Canadian Paediatric Society (January 1, 1990). "Megavitamin and megamineral therapy in childhood. Nutrition Committee, Canadian Paediatric Society". CMAJ. 143 (10): 1009–1013. PMC 1452516. PMID 1699646.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Biochem was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference qwatch was invoked but never defined (see the help page).