Nutrients of Orthomolecular Medicine

These nutrients used in orthomolecular medicine include both macro- and micronutrients, such as:

• Vitamins
• Minerals, trace elements
• essential fatty acids
• amino acids
• Enzymes

In some cases, not only the right amount but also the right ratio of individual components to one another is important. It is also considered essential that only those substances are used medicinally that are physiologically present in the body in the same chemical form or that can be easily converted by the body into the biologically active form.

Vitamins in Orthomolecular Medicine

The vitamins arechemical molecules, which are structurally completely different. The only thing they have in common is that they are vital substances that the body absolutely needs but cannot produce itself. They must therefore be supplied through food. If you look at vitamin D, however, this definition is incorrect because our body can also produce this vitamin itself - provided it gets enough sun.

A distinction is madefat-soluble vitamins from water-soluble ones. Vitamins A, D, E and K are fat-soluble. Many people will certainly still remember the EDEKA mnemonic. Since they are stored in the body, you should not take too high a dose, otherwise there is a risk of hypervitaminosis. For many years, people have therefore warned against taking too many fat-soluble vitamins. However, we now know that with vitamin D and also vitamin K, hypervitaminosis only occurs with extremely high doses.

The other vitamins are water-soluble, meaning they cannot be stored or can only be stored to a limited extent. They are often used in very high doses in orthomolecular medicine for therapeutic purposes. This applies in particular to vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid).

B vitamins are always confusing because of their name (nomenclature). Not all substances that were previously classified as B vitamins are still classified as such today. The B vitamins with the indices 4, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15 and 17 were discovered to be pseudovitamins. This means that they are not considered vitamins because the body can produce some of them itself or they are not essential food components. This is why the originally long list of 17 different B vitamins is now incomplete.

Today, only the following are officially considered B vitamins:

• Vitamin B1 - Thiamine
• Vitamin B2 - Riboflavin
• Vitamin B3 - Nicotinic acid (niacin)
• Vitamin B5 - pantothenic acid
• Vitamin B6 - pyridoxine, pyridoxamine and pyridoxal
• Vitamin B7 - Biotin (also Vitamin H)
• Vitamin B9 - folic acid (also vitamin B11 or vitamin M)
• Vitamin B12 - Cobalamin

Deficiencies in nutrient balance

A nutrient deficiencycan be triggered by various causes. These include, for example, a very one-sided diet or a lifestyle that involves frequent consumption of fast food. It is also often overlooked that not all of the nutrients that we take in with food are actually absorbed into the blood and thus available to the cells. The intestine can be a major barrier to the absorption of nutrients: If the intestine or digestion is not functioning properly, the nutrients are not absorbed properly.

Causes for such absorption disorders can be:

• Inflammation of the stomach or intestinal mucosa
• Lack of digestive juices
• Dysbiosis/ incorrect colonization of the intestine with bacteria and fungi

Under Dysbiosis is understood to mean an incorrect colonization of the intestine with bacteria. This means that the bacterial flora that we need to properly break down our food is at least partially displaced. Read more about intestinal cleansing here.

In addition to possible dysbiosis, there are many other possible reasons for a nutrient deficiency. Examples:

• The vitamin content of many foods decreases through storage, preparation, breeding
• A deficiency in vitamin E can be caused by a very high consumption of unsaturated fatty acids.
• Too much alcohol and some medications can cause a deficiency in vitamins and minerals.
• Caffeine often causes nutrient imbalances because it increases the excretion of important minerals such as potassium and magnesium.
• Cigarette smoke can lead to a deficiency in vitamin C and zinc.
• There is an increased need for nutrients during pregnancy, breastfeeding or growth phases.
• Increased requirements also exist in the case of many illnesses and in the case of severe physical or psychological stress. This means that stress and exercise also change requirements in such a way that deficiency symptoms can arise.

Effects of nutrient deficiency

If the body does not have sufficient nutrients available, it will experience a biochemical imbalance. This can have various consequences for the organism. In particular, vitamin deficiencies and the lack of certain minerals and trace elements such as magnesium, potassium and iron can trigger non-specific symptoms, as these substances are essential for metabolism, cell growth and the immune system. Typical signs are tiredness, increased susceptibility to infection and a lack of energy.
However, since these are very general symptoms, it often takes a long time to diagnose a nutrient deficiency.

Working methods of orthomolecular medicine

In order to prove that the body is not receiving sufficient nutrients, an examination of the blood, blood serum and/or urine is necessary. Some measuring methods can demonstrate a connection between missing trace elements and certain illnesses.
It is important to note that many factors can distort the results – e.g. cosmetics and medicines used, but above all unsuitable testing methods.

The orthomolecular substances can be administered in different ways. There are a wide variety of medicines, which can usually be taken in the form of capsules or tablets. Injections or infusions of orthomolecular substances are particularly effective. The advantage of injections or infusions is that the intestinal absorption barrier can be bypassed. This means that much higher blood levels can be achieved than when taken via the digestive tract. There are now also a large number of nutritional supplements that contain various orthomolecular substances, usually in fixed combinations.

Dietary supplements are usually designed to be suitable for independent use. Supplementary preparations can be used when there is an increased need for nutrients due to a special situation.

Therapy with drugs in the form of injections or infusions with orthomolecular substances is usually carried out by the doctor or alternative practitioner over a set period of time when a nutrient deficiency is proven or is likely due to an illness. Sometimes very high doses of nutrients are administered. The therapist's aim is to build up very high blood levels of the respective substances so that the active ingredients can actually penetrate into the areas of need in the body.

There are no general recommendations for the dosage of the substances, as this must be individually adjusted. It depends on the extent of the deficiency, the type of illness or the general state of health, but also on diet, age, lifestyle and environmental influences.

Application of orthomolecular medicine

Orthomolecular medicine can be used to treat a wide range of ailments. It is used both preventively and as a supportive treatment for chronic and acute illnesses.

These include, for example:

• increased need for nutrients (e.g. due to pregnancy)
• general nutrient deficiency
• Cardiovascular diseases
• Infections (e.g. flu)
• Arteriosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries due to deposits)
• rheumatism
• Metabolic diseases
• Skin diseases
• Diseases of the digestive system
• Strengthening the immune system
• Heavy metal contamination
• Allergies
• Food intolerances