Megavitamin therapy
Encyclopedia
Megavitamin therapy is the use of large doses of vitamin
s, often many times greater than the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) in the attempt to prevent or treat disease
s. It is typically used in complementary and alternative medicine by practitioners who call their approach "orthomolecular medicine
", but also used in mainstream medicine for "exceedingly rare" genetic conditions that respond to megadoses of vitamins. In 2002, a review of these conditions identified about 50 that respond to "high-dose vitamin therapy". Further understanding of these conditions is expected to play a part in the emerging field of nutrigenomics
.
Nutrients may be useful in preventing and treating some illnesses, but the conclusions of medical research are that the broad claims of disease treatment by advocates of megavitamin therapy are unsubstantiated by the available evidence. Critics have described some aspects of orthomolecular medicine as food faddism
or even quackery
. Research on nutrient supplementation in general suggests that some nutritional supplements might be beneficial, and that others might be harmful; several specific nutritional therapies are associated with an increased likelihood of the condition they are meant to prevent.
, E
, and B3 in large doses. Beginning in the 1930s, the Shutes in Canada developed a megadose vitamin E therapy for cardiovascular and circulatory complaints, naming it the "Shute protocol". Tentative experiments in the 1930s with larger doses of vitamin C were superseded by Fred R. Klenner
's development of megadose
intravenous vitamin C treatments in the 1940s. William Kaufman published articles in the 1940s that detailed his treatment of arthritis with frequent, high doses of niacinamide.
In 1954, R. Altschul and Abram Hoffer
applied large doses of the immediate release form of niacin
(Vitamin B3) to treat hypercholesterolemia
. In a 1956 publication entitled Biochemical Individuality, Roger J. Williams
introduced concepts for individualized megavitamins and nutrients. Megavitamin therapies were also publicly advocated by Linus Pauling
in the late 1960s. In 1956, experimental results suggested niacin could be useful in the treatment of high cholesterol, results that were confirmed in 1986.
. Although megavitamin therapies still largely remain outside of the structure of evidence-based medicine
, they are increasingly used by patients, with or without the approval of their treating physicians.
In 2008, researchers established that higher vitamin C intake reduces serum uric acid
levels and may be useful in the prevention of gout
.
The proposed efficacy of various megavitamin therapies has been contradicted by results of one clinical trial. A review of clinical trials in the treatment of colds with small and large doses of Vitamin C has established that there is no evidence for its efficacy. After 33 years of research, it is still not established whether vitamin C can be used as a treatment for cancer.
High doses of vitamin A and D are known to be toxic, whereas others have no recommended maximum dosage or tolerable upper intake level
.
Vitamin
A vitamin is an organic compound required as a nutrient in tiny amounts by an organism. In other words, an organic chemical compound is called a vitamin when it cannot be synthesized in sufficient quantities by an organism, and must be obtained from the diet. Thus, the term is conditional both on...
s, often many times greater than the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) in the attempt to prevent or treat disease
Disease
A disease is an abnormal condition affecting the body of an organism. It is often construed to be a medical condition associated with specific symptoms and signs. It may be caused by external factors, such as infectious disease, or it may be caused by internal dysfunctions, such as autoimmune...
s. It is typically used in complementary and alternative medicine by practitioners who call their approach "orthomolecular medicine
Orthomolecular medicine
Orthomolecular medicine is a form of complementary and alternative medicine that seeks to maintain health and prevent or treat diseases by optimizing nutritional intake and/or prescribing supplements...
", but also used in mainstream medicine for "exceedingly rare" genetic conditions that respond to megadoses of vitamins. In 2002, a review of these conditions identified about 50 that respond to "high-dose vitamin therapy". Further understanding of these conditions is expected to play a part in the emerging field of nutrigenomics
Nutrigenomics
Nutrigenomics is the study of the effects of foods and food constituents on gene expression. It is about how our DNA is transcribed into mRNA and then to proteins and provides a basis for understanding the biological activity of food components...
.
Nutrients may be useful in preventing and treating some illnesses, but the conclusions of medical research are that the broad claims of disease treatment by advocates of megavitamin therapy are unsubstantiated by the available evidence. Critics have described some aspects of orthomolecular medicine as food faddism
Food faddism
The phrases food faddism and fad diet originally referred to idiosyncratic diets and eating patterns that promote short-term weight loss, usually with no concern for long-term weight maintenance, and enjoy temporary popularity...
or even quackery
Quackery
Quackery is a derogatory term used to describe the promotion of unproven or fraudulent medical practices. Random House Dictionary describes a "quack" as a "fraudulent or ignorant pretender to medical skill" or "a person who pretends, professionally or publicly, to have skill, knowledge, or...
. Research on nutrient supplementation in general suggests that some nutritional supplements might be beneficial, and that others might be harmful; several specific nutritional therapies are associated with an increased likelihood of the condition they are meant to prevent.
Multivitamin vs megavitamin
Megavitamin therapy must be distinguished from the usual 'vitamin supplementation' approach of traditional multivitamin pills. Megavitamin doses are far higher than the levels of vitamins ordinarily available through western diets. Multivitamin supplementation has been demonstrated to have negligible effect in treating cancer. A study of 161,000 individuals (post-menopausal women) provided, in the words of the authors, "convincing evidence that multivitamin use has little or no influence on the risk of common cancers, cardiovascular disease, or total mortality in postmenopausal women".History
In the 1930s and 1940s, some scientific and clinical evidence suggested that there might be beneficial uses of vitamins CVitamin C
Vitamin C or L-ascorbic acid or L-ascorbate is an essential nutrient for humans and certain other animal species. In living organisms ascorbate acts as an antioxidant by protecting the body against oxidative stress...
, E
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is used to refer to a group of fat-soluble compounds that include both tocopherols and tocotrienols. There are many different forms of vitamin E, of which γ-tocopherol is the most common in the North American diet. γ-Tocopherol can be found in corn oil, soybean oil, margarine and dressings...
, and B3 in large doses. Beginning in the 1930s, the Shutes in Canada developed a megadose vitamin E therapy for cardiovascular and circulatory complaints, naming it the "Shute protocol". Tentative experiments in the 1930s with larger doses of vitamin C were superseded by Fred R. Klenner
Fred R. Klenner
Frederick Robert Klenner, was an American medical researcher and doctor in general practice in Reidsville, North Carolina. From the 1940s on he experimented with the use of vitamin C megadosage as a therapy for a wide range of illnesses, most notably polio. He authored 28 research papers during...
's development of megadose
Vitamin C megadosage
Vitamin C megadosage is the consumption of vitamin C in doses comparable to the amounts produced by the livers of most other mammals and well beyond the current Dietary Reference Intake...
intravenous vitamin C treatments in the 1940s. William Kaufman published articles in the 1940s that detailed his treatment of arthritis with frequent, high doses of niacinamide.
In 1954, R. Altschul and Abram Hoffer
Abram Hoffer
Abram Hoffer was a Canadian biochemist, physician and psychiatrist. Hoffer developed a theory that nutrition and vitamins may be effective treatments for schizophrenia...
applied large doses of the immediate release form of niacin
Niacin
"Niacin" redirects here. For the neo-fusion band, see Niacin .Niacin is an organic compound with the formula and, depending on the definition used, one of the forty to eighty essential human nutrients.Niacin is one of five vitamins associated with a pandemic deficiency disease: niacin deficiency...
(Vitamin B3) to treat hypercholesterolemia
Hypercholesterolemia
Hypercholesterolemia is the presence of high levels of cholesterol in the blood. It is not a disease but a metabolic derangement that can be caused by many diseases, notably cardiovascular disease...
. In a 1956 publication entitled Biochemical Individuality, Roger J. Williams
Roger J. Williams
Roger John Williams , was an American biochemist who named folic acid and discovered pantothenic acid, and was a member of the National Academy of Sciences and President of the American Chemical Society....
introduced concepts for individualized megavitamins and nutrients. Megavitamin therapies were also publicly advocated by Linus Pauling
Linus Pauling
Linus Carl Pauling was an American chemist, biochemist, peace activist, author, and educator. He was one of the most influential chemists in history and ranks among the most important scientists of the 20th century...
in the late 1960s. In 1956, experimental results suggested niacin could be useful in the treatment of high cholesterol, results that were confirmed in 1986.
Usage of therapy
An American cottage industry in the late 20th century, evolving megavitamin therapies are integrated with orthomolecular and naturopathic medicineNaturopathic medicine
Naturopathy, or Naturopathic Medicine, is a form of alternative medicine based on a belief in vitalism, which posits that a special energy called vital energy or vital force guides bodily processes such as metabolism, reproduction, growth, and adaptation...
. Although megavitamin therapies still largely remain outside of the structure of evidence-based medicine
Evidence-based medicine
Evidence-based medicine or evidence-based practice aims to apply the best available evidence gained from the scientific method to clinical decision making. It seeks to assess the strength of evidence of the risks and benefits of treatments and diagnostic tests...
, they are increasingly used by patients, with or without the approval of their treating physicians.
In 2008, researchers established that higher vitamin C intake reduces serum uric acid
Uric acid
Uric acid is a heterocyclic compound of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen with the formula C5H4N4O3. It forms ions and salts known as urates and acid urates such as ammonium acid urate. Uric acid is created when the body breaks down purine nucleotides. High blood concentrations of uric acid...
levels and may be useful in the prevention of gout
Gout
Gout is a medical condition usually characterized by recurrent attacks of acute inflammatory arthritis—a red, tender, hot, swollen joint. The metatarsal-phalangeal joint at the base of the big toe is the most commonly affected . However, it may also present as tophi, kidney stones, or urate...
.
The proposed efficacy of various megavitamin therapies has been contradicted by results of one clinical trial. A review of clinical trials in the treatment of colds with small and large doses of Vitamin C has established that there is no evidence for its efficacy. After 33 years of research, it is still not established whether vitamin C can be used as a treatment for cancer.
High doses of vitamin A and D are known to be toxic, whereas others have no recommended maximum dosage or tolerable upper intake level
Dietary Reference Intake
The Dietary Reference Intake is a system of nutrition recommendations from the Institute of Medicine of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. The DRI system is used by both the United States and Canada and is intended for the general public and health professionals...
.
See also
- Codex AlimentariusCodex AlimentariusThe Codex Alimentarius is a collection of internationally recognized standards, codes of practice, guidelines and other recommendations relating to foods, food production and food safety. Its name derives from the Codex Alimentarius Austriacus...
- Essential nutrientEssential nutrientAn essential nutrient is a nutrient required for normal body functioning that either cannot be synthesized by the body at all, or cannot be synthesized in amounts adequate for good health , and thus must be obtained from a dietary source...
- Health freedom movement
- Life extensionLife extensionLife extension science, also known as anti-aging medicine, experimental gerontology, and biomedical gerontology, is the study of slowing down or reversing the processes of aging to extend both the maximum and average lifespan...
- MultivitaminMultivitaminA multivitamin is a preparation intended to supplement a human diet with vitamins, dietary minerals, and other nutritional elements. Such preparations are available in the form of tablets, capsules, pastilles, powders, liquids, and injectable formulations...
- Naturopathic medicineNaturopathic medicineNaturopathy, or Naturopathic Medicine, is a form of alternative medicine based on a belief in vitalism, which posits that a special energy called vital energy or vital force guides bodily processes such as metabolism, reproduction, growth, and adaptation...
- Orthomolecular medicineOrthomolecular medicineOrthomolecular medicine is a form of complementary and alternative medicine that seeks to maintain health and prevent or treat diseases by optimizing nutritional intake and/or prescribing supplements...
- Vitamin C megadosageVitamin C megadosageVitamin C megadosage is the consumption of vitamin C in doses comparable to the amounts produced by the livers of most other mammals and well beyond the current Dietary Reference Intake...