Editorial by Ralph K. Campbell, MD and Andrew W. Saul

(OMNS January 23, 2020) Perhaps the only advantage of getting old is being able to look back and see what worked and what didn't. Knowledge of severe vitamin deficiency diseases is an example of learning the hard way. The association of vitamin B1 (thiamine) with beriberi was perhaps the first example of the consequences of refining a food. Milling away the unattractive outer husk of the rice that contained the thiamine caused the disease. No drug could substitute for that missing, essential, "vital amine." That's how "vitamins" first got their name.

The 1930s

In the early 1930s, more such life-sustaining substances were isolated and also named vitamins. Many studies were done to determine what vitamins were in which foods, and they would subsequently be produced as supplements. The public seemed eager to learn more; vitamins were a very popular subject. Common knowledge exceeded what has been presented to most medical students. Recently, we are seeing a recognition and correction of this inadequacy in medical students' nutrition education.

Post-war

A big change took place after World War II ended: many new drugs were put on the market. Drugs are designed to either enhance or inhibit a specific biological reaction. Vitamins, as necessary cofactors for many enzymes, also do this. The difference is that the drug is designed to target a specific action, whereas a nutrient works in concert with other nutrients. This can make it difficult to assign results, good or bad, to a single nutrient. But both drugs and vitamins work under the principle of giving an amount sufficient to push the equation to the desired effect.

Dosage

Insufficient quantities of a drug, or vitamin, will not get results. As Abram Hoffer, MD, has said, neither 500 units of an antibiotic, nor 500 milligrams of vitamin C, will get results. Early studies supposedly "proving" that vitamin C was worthless used amounts too small to be of any value. Linus Pauling and other researchers have said the same: if you are going to build a house, be sure you have enough bricks. This is the basis of megavitamin prevention and treatment.

Beta carotene

Amazingly, some still claim that vitamin supplements are actually detrimental. They often refer to a gosh-awful 1994 "study" claiming that beta carotene caused lung cancer. It commenced with a foregone conclusion that beta-carotene is bad stuff. As if to guarantee that it would be found accordingly, the study used long-time smokers as subjects. It is well known that smoking, due to the carcinogenic effects of tobacco tars, is a direct cause of lung cancer. Blaming a vitamin as the cause, in spite of a myriad of studies showing that beta carotene is preventive, makes no sense. [1]

Abram Hoffer, MD, has pointed out that

"With this group of heavy smokers it is certain that a large fraction already had the cancer. . . [T]he beta-carotene group smoked one year more than the no-beta-carotene group . . . How significant is one year more of heavy smoking in increasing the number of advanced lung cancers? The authors do not discuss this."

Although Dr. Hoffer's commentary was published both in a medical journal [2] and in the Townsend Letter for Doctors [3], few physicians saw it. Perhaps too many doctors are too busy to read. All doctors are inhibited by having a very limited time for each patient a visit, plus by far too much time required to be spent on the computer with record-keeping, insurance and government mandates.

Doctors need to keep an open mind about vitamin therapy. We should avoid the mistake many politicians are following: If they don't agree with me, they are the enemy. Good medicine should at least listen to and examine the other side.

(We regret to announce that OMNS Contributing Editor and retired pediatrician Dr. Ralph Campbell has passed on at age 92. This previously unpublished editorial was completed by OMNS editor Andrew Saul. They are coauthors of The Vitamin Cure for Children's Health Problems and The Vitamin Cure for Infant and Toddler Health Problems.)

http://orthomolecular.org/subscribe.html

Views: 26

Comment

You need to be a member of 12160 Social Network to add comments!

Join 12160 Social Network

"Destroying the New World Order"

TOP CONTENT THIS WEEK

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SITE!

mobile page

12160.info/m

12160 Administrators

 

Latest Activity

Doc Vega posted a blog post
4 hours ago
pohonemas33 team commented on tjdavis's photo
Thumbnail

DejaVu

"nice very goodjob, i wish you can visit official situs pohonemas33"
11 hours ago
Sandy posted a photo
21 hours ago
Doc Vega posted a blog post
yesterday
Saint Quinn favorited Burbia's video
Friday
Doc Vega posted blog posts
Thursday
Burbia commented on tjdavis's blog post The Jewish Couple That Taught Bob Dylan Hebrew and Introduced Him to Zionism
"Haaretz put this story behind a pay wall. Sali Ariel and Terry Noble were the names of the couple…"
Wednesday
William Heckman is now a member of 12160 Social Network
Wednesday
cheeki kea commented on tjdavis's photo
Wednesday
cheeki kea commented on cheeki kea's video
Thumbnail

This Woman DESTROYED Harley-Davidson's Future Forever

"It's a sad day on the highway. But I guess the show must go on. Watch out for the ruination of…"
Wednesday
cheeki kea posted a video

This Woman DESTROYED Harley-Davidson's Future Forever

This Woman DESTROYED Harley-Davidson's Future ForeverWelcome to Ride Radar – Your Frontline Source for Motorcycle Deals, Trends & Market Mayhem.Looking for t...
Wednesday
tjdavis posted a photo
Wednesday
Burbia posted a status
"Who knew releasing the MLK files and literally deflecting, it ends up implicating himself with the Epstein Files."
Tuesday
Burbia posted a video

Dan Bilzerian DEMOLISHES MAGA Nutjob Patrick Bet-David on His Own Show

Watch as two powerhouse personalities collide in this no-holds-barred debate on one of the world’s most contentious issues. Patrick Bet-David, known for his ...
Monday
Doc Vega's 7 blog posts were featured
Jul 20
tjdavis's 2 blog posts were featured
Jul 20
Less Prone favorited tjdavis's blog post Track AIPAC
Jul 20
FREEDOMROX's blog post was featured

MRNA VACCINES: Question

Hello my fellow sojourners,I know it has been five years since the Plandemic, but one question has…See More
Jul 20
Less Prone favorited FREEDOMROX's blog post MRNA VACCINES: Question
Jul 20
cheeki kea commented on cheeki kea's photo
Jul 19

© 2025   Created by truth.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

content and site copyright 12160.info 2007-2019 - all rights reserved. unless otherwise noted