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The Coming of Age of Orthomolecular Medicine

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Orthomolecular Medicine describes the practice of using vitamins, minerals, amino acids and other essential compounds, in therapeutic amounts, according to an individual’s particular biochemical requirements, to establish optimum health. The term “orthomolecular” was coined by Linus Pauling, PhD, two-time Nobel laureate, in his ground-breaking article in Science in 1968.

Beginnings

More than 15 years before Linus Pauling coined the word “orthomolecular”, Abram Hoff er and his colleague Humphry Osmond established the important role played by vitamins B3 and C in the treatment of schizophrenia. Pauling’s interest in the therapeutic use of nutrients, beyond alleviating defi ciency diseases, was spurred by his serendipitous reading of Hoff er’s and Osmond’s 1966 book, “How to Live with Schizophrenia.” Pauling wished to convey the idea that illnesses could be treated by correcting the concentrations of specifi c molecules in order to create the optimum molecular environment in the body. Hoff er’s work had a signifi cant infl uence on Pauling, who published “Vitamin C and the Common Cold” in 1970, bringing international attention to orthomolecular medicine. So began the rich 25-year collaboration between Hoff er and Pauling, ending with Pauling’s death in 1994.

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Steven Carter

Takes the Lead In the same year that Pauling fi rst wrote about orthomolecular psychiatry, Hoff er established the Canadian Schizophrenia Foundation, a non-profi t, charitable organization to promote the use of Orthomolecular Medicine in the treatment of mental disorders.

Fifteen years later, Hoff er invited Steven Carter to take over as Executive Director for the CSF. Carter had served as Editor of Alive Magazine and Books since 1985, increasing the magazine’s circulation from 50,000 to 150,000. Carter also edited several books while at Alive, including Udo Erasmus’s infl uential “Fats that Heal, Fats the Kill”.

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Carter relocated the CSF head offi ce from Regina, Saskatchewan, to Vancouver, BC, where there was a better environment to grow Orthomolecular Medicine. In 1992, he moved to Toronto, where he has run the head offi ce in a 1920’s house for over 20 years. With a limited budget and a staff of two, Carter developed the foundation to encompass several entities: the International Society for Orthomolecular Medicine, the Canadian Society for Orthomolecular Medicine, the Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine, the Orthomolecular Medicine Today Conference, Orthomolecular Health and most recently the Mindful: Children’s Mental Health project. He has collaborated with many other organizations including the CAND, CCNM, OSPCM, CAMH, and IONC.

In keeping with the growing reach and worldwide affi liation of Orthomolecular Medicine, the name of the CSF was changed in 2003 to the International Schizophrenia Foundation and was registered as a 501 (c) 3 charitable organization in the USA. Carter managed the successful Orthomolecular Health public awareness campaign in 2007-2009 which tallied over 275 Orthomolecular appearances in print, TV and radio, and launched a new website http://www. helpyourselfcommunity.org/ featuring the popular advertising campaign.

Today, Carter directs a small staff including: Greg Schilhab, 16-year veteran, website manager, designer, and publications production; Andrew Cuscianna, ROHP, CSOM program manager: and Patricia Drab, administrative assistant and offi ce manager. ere is also a community liaison, who runs the public education programs, manages the volunteer base and directs social media.

Serving in the multiple roles of planner, facilitator, educator, editor, publisher, and producer, Carter has worked to establish diet, nutrition and lifestyle choices as the cornerstones of optimum health, and has consistently kept professional and public attention focused on the importance of individual responsibility in health care. His commitment to Orthomolecular Medicine is demonstrated not only through his staying power but also in his ongoing eff ort to raise awareness of integrative medicine and to educate Canadians to incorporate health care approaches that may not be covered by the present medical system. Celebrating 25 years, Carter’s mission has been a great success and Orthomolecular Medicine is on solid ground.

Photo by Greg Schilhab
Photo by Greg Schilhab

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Serving in the multiple roles of planner, facilitator, educator, editor, publisher, and producer, Carter has worked to establish diet, nutrition and lifestyle choices as the cornerstones of optimum health, and has consistently kept professional and public attention focused on the importance of individual responsibility in health care. His commitment to Orthomolecular Medicine is demonstrated not only through his staying power but also in his ongoing eff ort to raise awareness of integrative medicine and to educate Canadians to incorporate health care approaches that may not be covered by the present medical system. Celebrating 25 years, Carter’s mission has been a great success and Orthomolecular Medicine is on solid ground.

Jonathan Prousky, ND, MSc, presenting at the Orthomolecular Medicine Today Conference
Jonathan Prousky, ND,
MSc, presenting at the
Orthomolecular Medicine
Today Conference

The Orthomolecular Medicine Today Conference (OMT) e CSF held its fi rst meeting in 1972, intended primarily for the public. Recognizing the need to educate health care professionals in the therapeutic use of nutrients, Carter changed the focus of the CSF meeting, renaming it in 1987 to “Nutritional Medicine Today”, and he introduced its current title, “Orthomolecular Medicine Today”, in 2006. Over 200 clinicians and researchers have presented at the Conference over the last 41 years, in all areas of Orthomolecular Medicine: oncology, psychiatry, cardiology, endocrinology, pediatrics, and immunology. e conference now attracts 250 people to Canada from eighteen countries, including delegates, presenters and exhibitors. e OMT features the annual Dr Abram Hoff er Memorial lecture, the Dr Rogers Prize Lecture, and the Evan Shute Memorial Lecture (see page 48 for report on the 2012 Orthomolecular Medicine Today Conference).

The International Society for Orthomolecular Medicine Founded in 1994 by Carter and Hoff er, the ISOM serves as an umbrella for the existing Orthomolecular Medical societies in 19 countries, providing a network of communication and education through the website: http://www.isom.eu/. Gert Schuitemaker, PhD, in the Netherlands served as president from 1999 – 2009, and Atsuo Yanagisawa, MD, in Tokyo, became the new President in April 2012.

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The Canadian Society for Orthomolecular Medicine (CSOM) In May 2009, the Canadian Society for Orthomolecular Medicine was formalized, with three major areas of focus: education, communication and advocacy. CSOM’s purposes are:

• Introduce the term ‘orthomolecular medicine’ to the medical community at large and gain acceptance for its value and place in medicine.

• Formalize an orthomolecular introduction in medical schools across Canada as well as a training program for physicians with a respected teaching facility or CME program.

• Develop a community of practicing orthomolecular health professionals to become spokespeople, lecturers and trainers for the next generation.

• Identify and groom key opinion leaders into Orthomolecular advocates in the fi elds of family medicine and psychiatry.

The CSOM lists 140 members including MDs, NDs, PhDs and RNCPs – a truly integrative medical society. CSOM has presented several CME courses on Depression, Anxiety, Mood Disorders, and Pediatrics and has sponsored Grand Rounds with leading lecturers in several Ontario hospitals. CSOM courses have received accreditation from the College of Family Physicians of Canada.

Jonathan Prousky ND, MSc becomes Editor of the Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine Th e Journal of Orthomolecular Psychiatry was fi rst published in 1971; the title changed to Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine in 1986. When Abram Hoff er died in May, 2009, the JOM editorial board faced the unusual challenge of fi nding a replacement for an editor who had served for 40 years. Th is diffi cult task fell to the able and willing Jonathan Prousky, ND, MSc. Prousky, who is the Chief Naturopathic Medical Offi cer at the CCNM, had interned with Abram Hoff er, and served on the Editorial board for 5 years. Prousky took over as Editor at the beginning of 2010. In April of the same year, he became the fi rst ND to be awarded the Orthomolecular Doctor of Year. Now in his third year as Editor, Prousky has set the Journal on a clear path, maintaining the spirit of his predecessor while making the peer review process more rigorous and formalizing the editing process, with the view to having the JOM be indexed, after 42 years of exclusion, by NLM’s PubMed (Medline). As managing editor, Carter works alongside Prousky and a strong editorial board from North America and Europe. Forty years of the Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine archive are available free at: http:// orthomolecular.org/library/jom/index.shtml

Striking Loblaw employees move toward headquarters

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Striking Loblaw employees move toward headquarters

Striking Loblaw employees from Northern Quebec are travelling 600 kilometres to the company’s Brampton headquarters in order to move toward negotiations.

The 40 Maxi and Loblaw employees began their expedition on June 15 from Rouyn Noranda. The walk is expected to end on July 1 with other union members expected to join the picket lines.

“They are walking about 60 kilometres a day in two or three shifts,” says Serge Fournier, CSN commerce federation president. “The employer refuses to sit down and talk. The last session for Maxi employees was September 2013.”

Loblaw expended its most recent offer in August 2013, which was rejected by around 75 per cent of union workers. The workers are fighting for better job security, hours and pay.

Genetically engineered bananas could increase vitamin A levels

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Genetically engineered bananas could increase vitamin A levels

A genetically engineered banana created to improve the diet of millions of people in Africa is set to have its first human trial, according to Australian researchers. The trial will test the alpha and beta carotene-enriched banana’s effectiveness on vitamin A levels.

The project hopes to have the bananas growing in Uganda by 2020. They are currently being sent to the U.S. to participate in the six week trial.

“Good science can make a massive difference here in enriching staple crops such as Ugandan bananas with pro-vitamin A and providing poor and subsistence-farming populations with nutritionally rewarding food,” says Professor James Dale, a project leader.

The project is being conducted by the Queensland University of Technology and is backed by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. According to Dale, once the bananas are approved for cultivation, this technology could be used for crops in other countries such as Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya and Tanzania.

Health claims for functional foods may face fewer rules in the future

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Health claims for functional foods may face fewer rules in the future

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)’s stringent rules with food health claim approval have become a standard on which to base approvals. Until early 2014, Europe has only approved 254 health claims out of a total 2,242.

Japan is another story altogether. The country’s FOSHU system approved over 1,100 health claims by early 2014. This is due to the fact that Japan is less strict in its requirements for a health claim to be approved.

Probiotics, for example, have made many claims which were rejected in Europe due to a lack of clinical evidence, yet were approved as a functional food in Japan.

According to Ronan Stafford, an analyst for Canadean, probiotic health claims should be gaining approval more frequently in the future. “Clinical trial evidence has lagged EFSA’s approvals process by six to 10 years, so within the next five years we should see more definitive outcomes on a range of ingredients.”

While the U.S. has the largest number of functional food and beverage consumers in the world, demand is growing in regions such as China, India and Brazil. These regions will begin to have an influence over the channel in the future.


Calgary Co-op starts construction on its new Strathmore location

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Longo’s opens expanded Woodbridge store

The Calgary Co-operative Association has started construction on its new Strathmore location.

The co-op is planning to have the 35,000 square foot one-stop shopping centre completed by summer 2015. In addition to selling food, it will offer a co-op wine, spirits and beer store as well as a co-op gas bar. The location will also feature more customer parking and a wider range of products.

“We’ll have a new location, but will continue to provide the same great customer service and high quality products,” says Ken Woo, CEO of the company. “We’ve simply outgrown our current location and will use this opportunity to develop a convenient shopping destination.”

The co-op has over 440,000 members and 3,500 employees, making it one of the largest retail co-ops in North America.

Cory Onell is Mondelez Canada’s new VP of sales

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Cory Onell is Mondelez Canada's new VP of sales

Cory Onell has been appointed Mondelez Canada’s new vice president of sales. Mondelez Canada is a division of Mondelez International, one of the world’s largest snack companies that features popular brands such as Christie, Nabisco and Cadbury.

Onell has 26 years of experience at companies such as Miller Brewing Company, Hershey and Sargento Foods. Most recently, Onell was the regional vice president of the Mondelez U.S. sales team.

In his new role, Onell will oversee the customer business teams and retail selling organizations. He will also be a member of the Canadian leadership team.

Are allergy-free peanuts a possibility?

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Are allergy-free peanuts a possibility?

Researchers from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University have developed a treatment with funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that they claim make peanut consumption safe for people who are allergic. However, a Canadian immunology expert says that more testing is required to determine the effectiveness of the treatment.

The treatment requires soaking roasted peanuts in a food-based “enzymatic solution.” According to the researchers, it yields peanuts that look and taste the same as regular roasted peanuts. However, this method does not involve chemicals or irradiation unlike other methods of removing allergens.

The researchers are close to bringing the products to market. The university has signed a licensing agreement with Xemerge, a company that commercializes emerging technologies in food and agriculture.

“It checks all the boxes: non-GMO, patented, human clinical data, does not change physical characteristics of the peanut along with maintaining the nutrition and functionality needed, ready for industry integration from processing and manufacturing to consumer products,” says Johnny Rodrigues, Xemerge chief commercialization officer in a statement.

Loblaw banners in Quebec make strides toward better nutrition for consumers

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Loblaw banners in Quebec make strides toward better nutrition for consumers

Melior, a provincial program with the goal to provide healthier foods for consumers, can count Loblaw banners in Quebec as new members. The program, which was launched in 2011, has members sign voluntary charters of commitment to nutritional progress and may be the first program with these goals in North America.

“Melior is receiving more and more recognition in the province. We felt it was a good vehicle to demonstrate to our consumers that we are following our mission, which is ‘live life well’,” says Anita Jarjour, Loblaw Quebec’s senior director of corporate affairs and communications.

Loblaw has reduced the sodium levels in 95 President’s Choice products by 22 per cent, and has plans to reduce sodium in 400 more products, such as sauces, dressings and baked goods, by 20 per cent through 2015. In addition, the company developed 151 new control label products that adhere to Health Canada’s sodium level requirements.

Loblaw will integrate its Guiding Stars healthy food identification program in Maxi and Maxi & Cie stores by 2016. It is currently available in Provigo, Provigo Le Marche and Loblaw stores.

Sobeys is closing down 50 locations

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Sobeys is closing down 50 locations

Empire Co. Ltd., the Nova Scotia-based owner of Sobeys, is closing down 50 stores to improve its net earnings. Approximately 60 per cent of the stores are located in Western Canada.

According to the company in a press statement, the decision will “improve net earnings as a result of cost savings; however it will result in a reduction in future sales of approximately $400 million, or 1.9 per cent of total sales.”

Empire’s fourth-quarter adjusted net earnings grew from $95.7 million last year to $131.3 million this year. Its sales rose by $1.68 billion or 39.5 per cent due to its recent purchase of the Safeway chain of grocery stores. Not including Safeway, the company’s sales rose by 2.2 per cent, while same-store sales grew by 0.2 per cent in the quarter.

300 workers are affected by the closures, but according to the company, several workers will be able to move into other unionized locations. Sobeys says its restructuring costs, including $137.1 million in severance pay, site closing and other costs, would add up to approximately $169.8 million.

Using sunscreen as a child prevents adult melanoma, according to a new study

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Using sunscreen as a child prevents adult melanoma

A study published by the Texas Biomedical Research Institute shows using sunscreen as a child ‘dramatically’ reduces malignant melanoma in adulthood.

The study was published in the peer reviewed scientific journal Pigment Cell and Melanoma. The lead author of the study, John L VandeBerg, PhD, says that the research was furthered by the fact that malignant melanoma cases are on the rise, although consumers are using sunscreen more regularly.

“While sunscreen is highly effective in preventing sunburn, this paradox has led some to question whether sunscreen is effective in preventing melanoma caused by ultraviolet light,” says VandeBerg. “It has been suggested that sunscreen enables people to receive more UV exposure without becoming sunburned, and that increased exposure to UV light has led to an increasing incidence of melanoma.”

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