Orthomolecular physicians recognize the fact that the majority of the United States food supply is processed and grown in nutritionally depleted soil, and also that biochemical individuality can play a crucial role in health.

  Roger J. Williams, Ph.D.,evolved the concept of biochemical individuality. In treating his patients, he realized that each individual is unique. Although the government minimum, or recommended daily allowances (RDA), for nutrients may prevent severe deficiency disease, orthomolecular physicians say that these levels do not provide for optimal health, and people may need many more times the RDA levels. For example, studies of guinea pigs show a twentyfold variation in their requirement for vitamin C. Similar studies have been done with humans: children have been shown to have varying needs for vitamin B₆, and Canadian soldiers and Japanese prisoners of war who suffered from starvation were shown to require a much greater intake of vitamins than usual.

 Richard Kunin, M.D., of San Francisco, California, summarized the basic principles of orthomolecular medicine (in 1987):

• Nutrition is the most important thing in medical diagnosis and treatment, and nutrient-related disorders are usually curable once nutritional balance is achieved.
• Biochemical individuality is the norm in medical practice; therefore universal RDA values are unreliable nutrient guides. Many people require an intake of certain nutrients far beyond the RDA suggested range, due to their genetic disposition and/or the environment in which they live.
• Drug treatment is used only for specific indications and always mindful of the potential dangers and negative effects.
• Environmental pollution and food falsification are an inevitable fact of modern life and are a medical priority.
• Blood tests do not necessarily reflect tissue levels of nutrients.
• Hope is the indispensable ally of the physician and the absolute right of the patient.

 

 How does megavitamin therapy work ?

 

  The main task of orthomolecular medicine is creation of healthier diet. Junk foods, refined sugar, and food additives are eliminated. Every effort is made to eat nutritious foods, high in fiber and low in fat. Various vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients are supplemented, depending on the condition to be treated. The types and amounts of the nutrients are determined by blood tests, urine analysis, and tests for nutrient levels. Supplementation is based on a patient's symptoms,and, what is the most important, on results reported in medical journals, and the clinical experience of the doctor. Prescribed doses of vitamins are sometimes injected to speed the incipient response, and follow-up treatment usually consists of vitamin pills several times a day until adequate dosage is achieved. This dosage has often been called a megadose because amounts of nutrients taken are often far greater than the levels needed to prevent deficiency. As a result, orthomolecular medicine has also been called megavitamin therapy.

  There are some arguments against megavitamin treatment. They say that high doses of certain vitamins are toxic and may cause certain reactions. A major study, however, indicates that the total number of fatalities from overdoses of major pharmaceutical drugs for the period from 1983 to 1990 equals over 2,500, whereas the total number of fatalities resulting from high doses of vitamin supplements during the same period is zero.

  In that cases when symptoms arise, orthomolecular physicians reduce the dosage of the offending vitamin. Sometimes these reactions are carefully observed as an indication that the body has been saturated with the vitamin. When this occurs, the dose is lowered until the symptoms disappear and the body is supplied with optimal levels of the nutrient.