Posted by Dental News Teamam 03, Dec - 2009
Ortho-molecular medicine – an promising new method or just another way for the nutritional supplements industry to make a quick buck?
Yet another hype of the “holistic, alternative, or ortho-molecular” medicine kind!
The term „ ortho-molecular medicine“ was coined by Linus Pauling, an American chemist (1901-1994). Ortho-molecular medicine is an alternative form of medicine based on the premise that the general population suffers from chronic vitamin and mineral deficiency and that illnesses can be prevented or healed by administering supplements.
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Around the time that Pauling was doing his research, which was between the two World Wars (around 1930) this may truly have been the case (World War I took place from 1914-1918), but now things have changed. Illnesses such as night blindness (caused by a vitamin A deficiency), rickets (vitamin D), myopathy (vitamin E), Beri-Beri (vitamin B1), Pellagra (Niacin), scurvy (vitamin C) are illnesses that few European doctors have experienced first-hand. Our hospital beds are actually full of patients suffering from „affluenza“ or illnesses common in highly developed (affluent) societies. This includes high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus II, arterio-sclerosis, obesity, fat metabolism disorders and coronary heart disease.
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Basically, we’re eating ourselves to death, but we are still under the impression that we have nutritional deficiencies … what?
Obviously just another rumour spread about by the nutritional supplements industry?
One of the reasons why ortho-molecular medicine is so successful may be that it generates such high profits. A FORSA study recently found that one out of every three people living in Germany takes nutritional supplements, adding up to an estimated annual turnover of 1 billion euros, just for vitamin and mineral supplements. Pharmaceuticals companies are also jumping on the bandwagon.
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But, like with many other alternative methods, there are as yet no truly scientific studies on the effectiveness of supplements. Still, the business of ortho-molecular training and treatment is booming. Medical associations even issue diplomas in „ortho-molecular medicine”. What are our doctors selling us – products which are not even approved by studies – meaning real studies, not „pseudo-studies“!
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No proof without scientific studies
Whether we’re talking about traditional or alternative medicine, our opinion is clear. If there is scientific support (evidence-based studies) for the success of a specific kind of treatment, then this method should be used for the benefit of the general public – but assumptions and anecdotes cannot be used to treat patients. -
Why do we still feel like we are suffering from „deficiencies“?
But people still feel empty, exhausted, and overwhelmed. Why? Is it because we are living in an increasingly competitive and profit-oriented society, where virtues such as caring and empathy are being pushed aside by bullying at the workplace and profit maximization by industries (including the medical industry)? Are the sad, tired and frustrated faces that we see in the subways, cars and buses of our cities every day a result of the way we live? Not because of a vitamin deficiency, but because we no longer pay attention to our needs, ourselves and our own inner clocks?
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One thing’s for sure, it’s not because you aren’t getting enough vitamins – have a nice (work) day!
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Responses to “Alternative medicine – ortho-molecular medicine – the latest hype?!”
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This is a shallow article. It dismisses a vast sea of scientific work for the last 70 years. This article expresses a very common attitude, so the author could be excused for parroting the party line. It defines “scientific support” in such a narrow way that the great majority of medical interventions would not pass the test. Has the dental association done large, random, placebo-controlled trials to prove that amalgam fillings are safe?
The assumption that orthomolecular medicine is based on assumptions and is not evidence-based is ignorant and ridiculous. The author has obviously not spent an hour studying the subject, and with his “peers”, is causing harm beyond description. Has he read any of the dozens of books on my shelf about the subject? Has he read any of the thousands of scientific papers on which these books are based? Has he spoken to doctors who have treated tens of thousands of people with orthomolecular substances? Has he spoken to any of the people to hear their stories? I’m sure not, because the only thing that matters to people like him are studies selected to support his world view, while ignoring studies that don’t. As Simon and Garfunkel sang, “A man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest.
Dolev Reuven Gilmore, author of “NUTRITION AND YOUR CHILD’S SOUL: DON QUIXOTE’S HEART-CRY”.
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One more thing to add. Even the article’s title, calling orthomolecular medicine “the latest hype”, shows ignorance. “Latest”? It’s been around for 70 years, even before double Nobel Prize winner and greatest chemist of the 20th century, Linus Pauling, coined the term. Abram Hoffer, MD, PhD, was using orthomolecular substances to cure schizophrenics for many years before that, and other great work was also done. Hoffer, by the way, did 9 placebo-controlled trials, but of course,these have been “discredited” by those who want to ignore this kind of thing. By giving niacin, and sometimes also vitamin C, Hoffer cured 75% of acute schizophrenics compared to just 35% of those taking placebo. If a patented drug would cure even 40% compared to 35%, the news would be blasted in headlines across the world, and the drug would rake in billion of dollars a year.
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