Orthomolecular medicine

Orthomolecular medicine
Alternative medicine
ClaimsHealth effects of dietary supplements, particularly vitamin megadoses.
Related fieldsNaturopathy
Original proponentsLinus Pauling (coined term)
MeSHD009974
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Alternative medicine
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Orthomolecular medicine[1][2] is a form of alternative medicine that claims to maintain human health through nutritional supplementation. It is rejected by evidence-based medicine. The concept builds on the idea of an optimal nutritional environment in the body and suggests that diseases reflect deficiencies in this environment. Treatment for disease, according to this view, involves attempts to correct "imbalances or deficiencies based on individual biochemistry" by use of substances such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids, trace elements and fatty acids.[3][4][5] The notions behind orthomolecular medicine are not supported by sound medical evidence, and the therapy is not effective for chronic disease prevention;[6][7] even the validity of calling the orthomolecular approach a form of medicine has been questioned since the 1970s.[8]

The approach is sometimes referred to as megavitamin therapy,[1][2] because its practice evolved out of, and in some cases still uses, doses of vitamins and minerals many times higher than the recommended dietary intake. Orthomolecular practitioners may also incorporate a variety of other styles of treatment into their approaches, including dietary restriction, megadoses of non-vitamin nutrients and mainstream pharmaceutical drugs.[1][9] Proponents argue that non-optimal levels of certain substances can cause health issues beyond simple vitamin deficiency and see balancing these substances as an integral part of health.[10]

American chemist Linus Pauling coined the term "orthomolecular" in the 1960s to mean "the right molecules in the right amounts" (ortho- in Greek implies "correct").[11] Proponents of orthomolecular medicine hold that treatment must be based on each patient's individual biochemistry.[12][13]

The scientific and medical consensus holds that the broad claims of efficacy advanced by advocates of orthomolecular medicine are not adequately tested as drug therapies.[6] It has been described as a form of food faddism and as quackery.[14] There are specific narrow applications where mainstream research has supported benefits for nutrient supplementation,[15][16] and where conventional medicine uses vitamin treatments for some diseases.

Some vitamins in large doses have been linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and death.[17][18][19] The scientific consensus view is that for normal individuals, a balanced diet contains all necessary vitamins and minerals and that routine supplementation is not necessary outside of specific diagnosed deficiencies.[20]

  1. ^ a b c Saul AW; Hoffer A (2008). Orthomolecular Medicine For Everyone: Megavitamin Therapeutics for Families and Physicians. Laguna Beach, California: Basic Health Publications. ISBN 978-1-59120-226-4. OCLC 232131968. OL 16944688M.
  2. ^ a b McMichael AJ (January 1981). "Orthomolecular medicine and megavitamin therapy". Med. J. Aust. 1 (1): 6–8. doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.1981.tb135275.x. PMID 7207301. S2CID 27461422.
  3. ^ Hoffer A, Walker M (2000). Smart Nutrients. Avery. ISBN 978-0-89529-562-0.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference SkinnerP was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Orthomolecular medicine". orthomed.org. Archived from the original on 2011-08-27.[verification needed]
  6. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Aaronson2003 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ "NIH state-of-the-science conference statement on multivitamin/mineral supplements and chronic disease prevention". NIH Consens State Sci Statements. 23 (2): 1–30. 2006. PMID 17332802.
  8. ^ Lipton M, et al. (1973). "Task Force Report on Megavitamin and Orthomolecular Therapy in Psychiatry" (Document). American Psychiatric Association.
  9. ^ Braverman Eric (1979). "Orthomolecular Medicine and Megavitamin Therapy: Future and Philosophy" (PDF). Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine. 8 (4): 265.
  10. ^ Singh, S; Ernst, Edzard (2008). Trick or Treatment: The Undeniable Facts About Alternative Medicine. Norton. p. 320. ISBN 978-0-393-06661-6.
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference pauling1968 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Baumel Syd (August 2000). Dealing with depression naturally : complementary and alternative therapies for restoring emotional health (2nd ed.). Los Angeles: McGraw-Hill. ISBN 978-0-658-00291-5. OCLC 43641423.
  13. ^ Williams RJ (1998). Biochemical individuality: the basis for the genetotrophic concept (2 ed.). New Canaan, Connecticut: Keats. ISBN 978-0-87983-893-5. OCLC 38239195.
  14. ^ Jarvis WT (1983). "Food faddism, cultism, and quackery". Annu. Rev. Nutr. 3: 35–52. doi:10.1146/annurev.nu.03.070183.000343. PMID 6315036.
  15. ^ Research Newsletter-Fall/Winter 2009 Archived 2013-04-11 at the Wayback Machine. Linus Pauling Institute. Cites research by Gesch summarized in Science magazine's The Theory? Diet Causes Violence. The Lab? Prison.
  16. ^ Gesch CB, et al. (2002). "Influence of supplementary vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids on the antisocial behaviour of young adult prisoners. Randomised, placebo-controlled trial". The British Journal of Psychiatry: The Journal of Mental Science. 181: 22–28. doi:10.1192/bjp.181.1.22. PMID 12091259.
  17. ^ Satia JA, Littman A, Slatore CG, Galanko JA, White E (April 2009). "Long-term Use of β-Carotene, Retinol, Lycopene, and Lutein Supplements and Lung Cancer Risk: Results From the VITamins And Lifestyle (VITAL) Study". Am. J. Epidemiol. 169 (7): 815–28. doi:10.1093/aje/kwn409. PMC 2842198. PMID 19208726.[unreliable medical source?]
  18. ^ Brody, Jane (March 23, 2009). "Extra Vitamin E: No Benefit, Maybe Harm". New York Times. Retrieved March 24, 2009.
  19. ^ "High dose vitamin E death warning". BBC. November 11, 2004. Retrieved March 24, 2009.
  20. ^ Duff, Roberta Larson: American Dietetic Association Complete Food and Nutrition Guide, ISBN 0470912073