Talk:Orthomolecular medicine

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Talk:Orthomolecular medicine, Edit history Jan 2006-Mar 2008

Archive

I've archived the enormous talk page, using the "move page" method to preserve the edit history. Let's start over, with a clean slate. Maybe we could discuss something simple, like whether #Orthomolecular doctors and #Orthomolecular scientists could be merged, before getting back to the complications of writing a perfect lead. WhatamIdoing (talk) 05:32, 2 April 2008 (UTC)

Notable

"Notable OM Drs & Scientists" would be okay with me. I prefer the previous 3-4 column format, too.--TheNautilus (talk) 12:09, 2 April 2008 (UTC)

What do you think about "Notable supporters"? The word "doctor" makes me itch, because it can legitimately include PhDs, but is usually received as "licensed physicians." WhatamIdoing (talk) 18:30, 2 April 2008 (UTC)

Ooooh, outed my cultural assumptions. "Notable OM Physicians & Scientists"? AFAIK, most, or at least the notable non-PhD/DSc "doctors" are MDs and foreign versions.--TheNautilus (talk) 18:50, 2 April 2008 (UTC)

I can support that. On further reflection, it has the added advantage of keeping the size of the list under control. "Supporters" could have been interpreted as "anyone with a website or quoted in a magazine article." Would you like to merge the two sections? Perhaps we could alphabetize the names, and use {{div col}} or some such template to make the information more compact? WhatamIdoing (talk) 20:47, 2 April 2008 (UTC)

Lead

I also agree that leaving the lead alone for a while in the form approved by the RfC is an excellent idea. Tim Vickers (talk) 17:08, 2 April 2008 (UTC)

Thanks for your prompt attention, I said 2 days off. I thought we should try a more neutral, less injurious version on for size, we could still talk. The "faddism" and "quackery" are not acceptable lede material, they are poisonous attacks given WP:UNDUE weight often based on highly flawed allegations & distortions, even trivially obvious in the scientific senses. Because of the historical facts on major OMM areas, although I will agree that vitriolic critics are notable in the general sense, their inflammatory misrepresentions & coverage promoting distortions & scientific misconduct that scientifically & commercially interferes & unfairly deprecates others' legitimate results should be discussed where there is space for balancing quotes, references and reader's (yawn) voluntary continued interest.--TheNautilus (talk) 17:44, 2 April 2008 (UTC)

Yes, there are some concerns with the lead, but let's give it a rest for a while. Perhaps over the weekend, we can start a fresh subpage to edit the lead -- edited just like it was the real article, until we can get a reasonable compromise that we can then paste into the article.

One suggestion in the meantime: If there's something that you want to eventually be included in the lead, would you please make sure that it's present in the main body of the article? The guidelines state that the "lead section should briefly summarize the most important points covered in an article," and I'm inclined to enforce the covered in the article bit fairly strictly. So if you want any particular point in the lead, please make sure that it's appropriately represented in the article. WhatamIdoing (talk) 18:40, 2 April 2008 (UTC)

At the moment the first paragraph summarizes "basics" and "method" (those have to go first, so the reader can grasp the subject) the second paragraph deals with the material in "history" and "criticism". The section on "popularity" isn't covered in the lead, that could go as part of a new second paragraph with the "history" summary. Tim Vickers (talk) 18:53, 2 April 2008 (UTC)

Link offensive text dif and moved text to subpage. That last sentence has never been agreed on and as far as I am concerned, has all the lede legitmacy of a KKK scholar's published scholarly opinion ca 1915-1924 on various ethnicities. That kind of last sentence is material that needs to be discussed, not the default article.--TheNautilus (talk) 19:11, 2 April 2008 (UTC)

Indeed it was discussed in the RFC, with 3/4 uninvolved editors preferring this over your version. Just because you disagree with this consensus is no reason to pretend this hasn't been discussed. I've unarchived the RfC, since this was still listed as active. Perhaps more uninvolved editors will comment. Tim Vickers (talk) 19:22, 2 April 2008 (UTC)

For poorly founded, inflammatory material, it was not clearly agreed in the manner & time I have learned to expect, where less troubled, more neutrally worded versions are available. Also there are in essence three versions. I appreciate the input but I will consider facts and policies as best as I know how. Strict numbers aren't the basis of good editing on RfCs or consensus, either, especially in partisan & conflict of interest situations. I also think that the RfC proposition was too narrow and has changed.--TheNautilus (talk) 19:29, 2 April 2008 (UTC)

Request for comment on the attribution of criticism in the lead

Which version do people prefer, in light of the NPOV policy? Tim Vickers (talk) 17:22, 21 March 2008 (UTC)

Version 1

Some therapies that meet the criteria Linus Pauling established to define orthomolecular medical therapies, such as the use of vitamins and nutrients to treat dyslipidemia, are also used in mainstream medicine. However, the scientific and medical consensus is that the broad claims of efficacy advanced by advocates of orthomolecular medicine are not adequately tested as drug therapies, where oppononents and partisans have even described it as a form of food faddism and quackery. Proponents of this approach to medicine note that some research investigating the therapeutic use of nutrients have been published in mainstream sources, and that vitamins are used in conventional medicine as treatments for some diseases.

Version 2

Some conventional therapies use nutrients, such as using niacin to treat dyslipidemia, and some research investigating therapeutic uses of nutrients has been published in mainstream sources. However, the scientific and medical consensus is that the broad claims of efficacy advanced by advocates of orthomolecular medicine are unsupported, with the American Medical Association saying that the idea that most diseases can be prevented by nutritional interventions is a myth. Orthomolecular medicine has even been described as a form of food faddism and quackery.

Involved editors comments

• I prefer version 2, since it directly cites a notable medical organisation and does not use the POV term "partisan" in describing the author of the review in Annual Reviews of Nutrition that described this form of alternative medicine as food faddism and quackery. Tim Vickers (talk) 17:22, 21 March 2008 (UTC)
• Version 1 provides a substantial summary notice that there is notable disagreement from various opponents and economic interests. Anymore detail, even with balancing quotes, overloads the lede and favors the critics by obscuring the basic coverage, description & definition of orthomolecular medicine, where so many, including its "expert" critics cannot even get orthomed's basic concepts, science, experimental/clinical evidence & history straight.--TheNautilus (talk) 17:32, 21 March 2008 (UTC)
• I find version 1 more appealing. Version 2, however, would be great if it were expanded to include the fact that Linus Pauling emphatically disagreed with the notion that his claims were unsupported. There are multiple WP:RS for this.--Alterrabe (talk) 17:54, 21 March 2008 (UTC) We could separate the debate over partisan from that about including the ACS in the lead.--Alterrabe (talk) 18:07, 21 March 2008 (UTC)

I've added a section on the history to the lead, which explains the role of Pauling in establishing this field and tried to remove the wordiness by condensing the rest of the text. Hopefully this will make the lead more readable and summarise the article better. Tim Vickers (talk) 20:49, 22 March 2008 (UTC)

Uninvolved editors comments

• OK, well I'm a bit confused about the reference to food faddism in the lead if it's not in the body of the article. If someone could explain that to me I'd appreciate it, and I'll hold off on making a judgment between the two versions until then. Thanks, Antelan^talk 20:15, 21 March 2008 (UTC)

I've added an expanded definition of that term to the "Views on Safety and Efficacy" section, added a paragraph on the history of OM to the lead, and trimmed the wordiness a little. Tim Vickers (talk) 22:24, 22 March 2008 (UTC)

Thanks. I find Version 2 more useful for the following reasons: (a) it avoids the point-counterpoint argument being set up in Version 1; and (b) it points to specific, rather than general, criticisms. Antelan^talk 23:00, 22 March 2008 (UTC)

• In terms of a well-written introduction, I don't really like either of the options. They are both wordy (for example, "opponents and partisans") and assume knowledge that the first-time reader doesn't have (like why Linus Pauling's definition matters). Furthermore, the paragraph could be accurately summarized simply as "Critics think this controversial field needs more scientific research to support its claims." I dislike option two slightly less than I dislike option one. Option one promotes the wrong standard for testing the field (you test a specific compound for a specific disease in a drug trial, not the "broad claims" of all advocates). If option one is chosen, then the word "partisans" should be struck from the first option as being POV and redundant to boot. However, I think that reading WP:LEAD and starting over entirely might be the best option. WhatamIdoing (talk) 22:41, 21 March 2008 (UTC)

Your comments on one of the recent, one paragraph lede, a previously more stable version would be appreciated. To see the wordsmithing and then some (d)evolution of the lede, it appears to start about here. I have set up the subpage for editing and comparing suggestions & changes.--TheNautilus (talk) 00:26, 22 March 2008 (UTC)

It is getting wordier and more poisonous POV pushing the lede instead of a one sentence note that there is strong disagreement to be expanded upon in the body.--TheNautilus (talk) 06:51, 23 March 2008 (UTC)

I am sort of confused since they both have criticism in the LEAD. However, I ahve to agree with Tim Vickers that I like the attribution to the AMA. I do not mind the point, counterpoint, but it might be a bit much for the LEAD. Better to save this for the body.--Filll (talk) 23:46, 24 March 2008 (UTC)

• For reliability as a source, it is necessary to mention the American Medical Association's criticism if the title includes the word "medicine". Also, consider scenarios (1) and (2): (1) an official body (AMA, FDA, etc.) does not consider the treatment scientifically tested for efficacy, and this is the general consensus in medicine (2) there is a general state of disagreement in the medical/scientific community about the efficacy. If the situation is like (1), then it has to be written differently, with no "sides of disagreement". If it's like (2), then you can have "sides" even in the lead. The reason is that there are theories rejected as unscientific in all sciences; their proponents tend to "teach the controversy", and make an impression that there is genuine disagreement within the scientific community. It is necessary for an encyclopedia to be "shielded" against attacks like these that attempt to use the site as a soapbox / for free hosting. --Vuo (talk) 16:15, 26 March 2008 (UTC)
  • Summarizing, Version 2 is better, because it is shorter and doesn't introduce "proponents" and "opponents". Everyone can be a proponent or opponent. Everyone isn't a PhD in Medicine. --Vuo (talk) 19:07, 26 March 2008 (UTC)

• Can someone list the respective sources used by the two versions ? It will greatly help me (and possibly other uninvolved editors) judge whether the statements reflect, (1) what the cited sources say and (2) whether the sources are being properly weighted and characterized. Thanks. I am too lazy to read the version in edit mode! :) Abecedare (talk) 19:58, 2 April 2008 (UTC)

This updated, shorter version (3c), with handy references, attempts to address the text and reference issues. Because of the extremely contentious nature of this area, *and the construction of the lede* it seems RS would demand a higher quality reference for such an unbalanced quote with partisan sources, where the implied imprimatur is abused at both the AMA level (for non peer reviewed references), and here, both as OR and an attack, where there peer-reviewed counterexamples, such as mainstreamed megavitamin therapies. As a source for "A controversial field deprecated by some critics..." in (3c), it would be less problematic, but strictly speaking, IMHO, WP:OR.--TheNautilus (talk) 20:57, 2 April 2008 (UTC)

Comments by Abecedare (talk · contribs)

Having gone through the cited sources, I think version 2 is better in terms of accurate and NPOV representation of the material (remember, NPOV does not mean equal weight to all sides). Following are some more detailed observations:

• Problems with version 1
  • The "he said-she-said" formulation is unsatisfactory since it fails to provide sufficient information to the reader in the main text, about who the opponents and proponents are that would enable him/her to form an educated opinion about the credibility and authoritativeness of the two sides. Naming AMA in the second version at least partially ameliorates this concern.
  • The phrase "opponents and partisans" is clearly POV.
  • "Proponents of this approach to medicine note ..." See words to avoid
  • Aranson's "There is no evidence ..." is better characterized by the word "unsupported" in Version 2, than the "not adequately tested" in Version 1. (Minor point: The sentence in version 1 is grammatically incorrect, since it implies that the claims are "not adequately tested as drug therapies").
• I am not sure that the two sources on behavioral benefits from nutrient supplements are relevant to the sentence they are used to support, since as far as I see this is not "research investigating the therapeutic use of nutrients." Note that neither of the two sources talk about "therapy".
• The role of Linus Pauling as a "significant force in promoting 'orthomolecularism'" (Jarvis, 1983) should be mentioned somewhere in the lede, though not necessarily in this paragraph.

Abecedare (talk) 21:07, 2 April 2008 (UTC)

Thanks. Your first 3 points are an interesting guide development of the future text. The 4th point is a discussion (later).

Your 5th point has two answers. One on the BJP & Economist references, version 1 above, this OMM article used to explicitly include OMM and "optimum nutrition", not just "OM medicine". "Optimum nutrition" has tended to get lost in the scuffles over the lede. Second, is that the referenced supplements are more like OMM "optimum nutrition" in five components: GLA, DHA, EPA, chromium, and molybdenum. The multivitamins and other minerals are relatively ordinary but still more than the standard "diet alone" nutrition views.

Your sixth point about Pauling's role is fine, however other references already make the point about Pauling's effect probably better. Jarvis was a frequent contributor to (tiny, WP technically unreliable) NCAHF extremism, where WP article improvement is reference improvement for more mainstream views that are in the mainstream of science writing. I hope that you will consider Menolascino's (1988) criticism as a much more scientifically informed and balanced mainstream medical reference.--TheNautilus (talk) 23:31, 2 April 2008 (UTC)

A quick response about my Linus Pauling comment: I didn't mean to suggest the exact wording for the inclusion or that Jarvis should be used to reference this fact. I only meant to indicate that the "LP-othomolecular medicine "association seems significant enough to be mentioned in the lede somewhere. Sorry for not being clearer. Abecedare (talk) 23:57, 2 April 2008 (UTC)

This is mentioned in the current version of the lead, this RfC is only considering the final and controversial paragraph of the lead. Tim Vickers (talk) 00:35, 3 April 2008 (UTC)

Comments by EdJohnston

• I came here because of the notice at WP:RSN. I am satisfied with Version 2 of the lead. I don't believe that entire pedigree of the AMA needs to be placed in evidence before we can simply give what is almost a direct quote from their statement. Relevance to the topic of this article is clear; they might be misguided but that is what they said. They didn't use the word 'orthomolecular' but they did say the thing that is attributed to them in Version 2. Orthomolecular medicine does have something to say about nutrition, and the AMA was giving a general comment on the idea that "most diseases are caused by faulty diets and can be prevented by nutritional interventions". EdJohnston (talk) 17:00, 4 April 2008 (UTC)

The AMA quotes are obsolete from flawed sources and loaded/overqualified e.g. "most" is misleading, "prevention" only is misleading too. Simply good sources for the "skeptipedia" mainstream on orthomolecular are tough to get - which is interesting since "mainstream" sources should be easy, especially for "mainstream" WP editors with better libraries and databases. Partisan AMA committees keep pushing tobacco quality research and reporting, or AMA keeps this serving this obsolete 1997 stuff after the major changes in vitamin C & D research status, I suspect AMA is going to shrink some more just for doctors' self-preservation. We need better *summaries*, not personalized or so much factional POVish sound bites. I also notice some of the recent skeptical books have ducked criticizing orthomed "megavitamin" topics (maybe they don't want to be AMA tobacco class buffoons down the road).--TheNautilus (talk) 03:39, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

I hear you criticizing the AMA but I don't hear you disagreeing either with (1) relevance, or (2) that they were correctly quoted. EdJohnston (talk) 04:01, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

I stress date of reference a great deal because several events ca 2001, particularly with increased vitmain D, say RDA of 1000-2000iu vs 200-400iu, and IV vitamin C in the research results of mainstream medicine, form sort of a line in the sand with organizations like AMA, ACS about "science" and therapeutic nutrients, 1,000,000 BC vs 4 AD and obsolete or "tobacco buffoon" quotes. Again, I do not think it appropriate to use unrebutted material in the brief lede section, especially poorly attributed statements (without "orthomed...") from less RS & current sources. In unfamiliar nutrition areas, seemingly small surface differences noticed to the unwary often reflect indications of larger differences, so indiscriminate "nutrition" quotes as orthomed are highly suspect for RS and accuracy. I think fair summary is more appropriate anyway, across the industry, similar to this second paragraph Draft version that could use some collaborative suggestions.--TheNautilus (talk) 09:23, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Comments by Hcberkowitz

I also came to this discussion via RSN, and, frankly, see serious problems with both leads. Yes, it is true niacin is used to treat certain dyslipidemias, and can be excellent for the right set of abnormal lipids, and, more important, that a patient can tolerate it in the doses used for dyslipidemia. While I fully understand the singular of anecdote is not data, my allopathic physician and I, after reviewing the literature and getting a second cardiologist opinion, decided niacin was an appropriate treatment. Unfortunately, while it did great things for my lipid profile, it gave me acanthosis nigricans, or leathery and bleeding skin that was disabling. As soon as the high-dose niacin was stopped, my skin came back to normal, and my lipids are just fine with other drugs. I emphasize drug, because the niacin doses that do have demonstrable effect are very high, and can induce toxicity.

Another problem I have with both leads is that I was unaware -- and I'm willing to stand corrected -- that Pauling had proved any medical benefit for anything. Disproved some studies for bad methodology, yes. Offered bypotheses that could be evaluated in a randomized clinical trial run by qualified clinicians, yes. Directly doing human experimentation, no.Howard C. Berkowitz (talk) 19:20, 4 April 2008 (UTC)

Pauling and a Scottish physician did perform some clinical trials. The results and their interpretation are still debated to this day.--Alterrabe (talk) 20:35, 4 April 2008 (UTC)

I am not sure what text the "proved" part concerns Pauling. Pauling was associated with molecular disease research and ameliorating metabolic errors in the 1950s that involved *withholding* certain nutrient substances. His degree of "credit" and "proof" - will have to work on it. Pauling worked with Scottish surgeon Ewan Cameron on ameliorating cancer in an area that had amongst the highest cancer rates in the (industrialized?) world at the time and half the US RDA on vitamin C in a closely controlled and observed hospital setting with intravenous and then oral vitamin C. Later Pauling worked to support Abram Hoffer on his clinical cancer series studies with complementary and oral vitamin C + other increased nutrients.--TheNautilus (talk) 03:20, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

AMA discussion

In response to your concerns about the inclusion of this source, I have posted a question at the RS noticeboard so people can discuss the issue. Tim Vickers (talk) 17:16, 2 April 2008 (UTC)

I think that RS/N is premature, as I said before , since, after naming its targets, the AMA doesn't even state "orthomolecular" anywhere - that makes it Original research or offtopic. Also many editors *are* AMA members or unfamiliar with the underlying issues that especially concern orthomolecular medicine.--TheNautilus (talk) 17:44, 2 April 2008 (UTC)

...Um... do you have any evidence that editors are AMA members? Shoemaker's Holiday (talk) 11:25, 3 April 2008 (UTC)

Yes, but presenting that would get me in trouble and be improper for several reasons. See also Doctorfinder. I think that it is easier to confirm that they routinely claim here to be physicians and often have similar views. Also note the "or" part, which is largely my OR, but the Talk pages here (and elsewhere) are my evidence.--TheNautilus (talk) 14:33, 3 April 2008 (UTC)

Well, perhaps, but aren't pretty much all American doctors AMA members by default? I mean, if we're talking about them being high-ranking AMA members able to set policy, that's one thing, but I think you're presuming professional bodies have more control over their members than is reasonable if simply having membership in an organisation which almost every American in the medical profession gets membership in by default is your evidence of bias. Also Tim Vickers, who along with you is the main editor here in the last couple weeks, is Scottish, and the American Medical Assosciation is not generally considered to have power outside of America. Shoemaker's Holiday (talk) 14:49, 3 April 2008 (UTC)

My note is mostly cautionary. The doctors are in and out. Many editors I do have to invest substantial effort in education about orthomed items to carry a conversation. Tim's interests appear to me to be antithetical to most basic orthomed claims.--TheNautilus (talk) 15:27, 3 April 2008 (UTC)

Reportedly, 15–20% of practicing physicians are AMA members. While the actual number is a bit nebulous, it's almost certainly a minority. I'm not a member, though they keep sending me enticements. The AMA looms large as a bad guy in the alternative-medical world for largely historical reasons. I doubt there are editors who are here to push a "pro-AMA" POV, though I suppose it's possible. I think it's more likely that many editors simply regard the AMA's statement as a notable and reliable source describing one element of mainstream medical opinion. Familiarity with the in-universe aspects of orthomolecular medicine isn't a requirement to edit the article. MastCell ^Talk 16:15, 3 April 2008 (UTC)

highly UNDUE wt on minor indirect reference (Jarvis) in lede

Move relevant part even remotely supported by quotes to body, "Guackery" not quoted. The 17 page 1983 paper, whose brief *criticism of Pauling and Bronson Pharmaceutical*, mentions "orthomolecularism" and "orthomolecular psychiatry" once each in passing while criticizing Pauling's book and Bronson Pharmaceuticals (Pauling's supplier). Note: This (un)"scientific" criticism rests on precisely zero (0) relevant tests (none remotely close to orthomed's dosage & frequency) of even Pauling's lowest [ vit C recommendation], still after 37 years, no relevant mainstream work published, at all! Jarvis: "Food faddism meets a persistent human desire. As Maple (54) says, "In the face of the great leveller, Death, we are all children listening fearfully for the footsteps of doom, and relieved only by the whisperings of hope. This is suggested in the opening of Nobel Laureate Linus Pauling’s book, Vitamin C and the Common Cold, a significant force in promoting "orthomolecularism" and widespread excessive vitamin C supplementation. Pauling states:

" The idea that I should write this book developed gradually in my mind during the last five years. In April 1966 I received a letter from Dr. [sic] Irwin Stone, a biochemist whom I had met at the Carl Neuberg Medal Award dinner the previous month. He mentioned in his letter that I had expressed a desire to live for the next fifteen or twenty years. He said he would like to see me remain in good health for the next fifty years, and that he was accordingly sending me a description of his high-level ascorbic-acid regimen. ...and second,

"Bronson Pharmaceuticals makes books available at discount prices to medical doctors that promote scientifically questionable theories on megavitamin therapy, orthomolecular psychiatry, and the use of vitamins to prevent colds, flu, cancer, allergies, and so forth. Of the 25 titles listed by Bronson in their 4-81 "Special Book Offer," not one appears on the list of nutrition references recommended by a respected professional association (10), while several appear on its "not recommended" list. Bronson may be..."

I have no idea what the above text refers to and can't understand the writing enough to work this out. Could you please rewrite this comment so that your meaning is clearer? Tim Vickers (talk) 16:32, 4 April 2008 (UTC)

Bronson sells firearms? Please read your messages carefully before you click the "save page" button. If your computer is set up for it, have it read the text back to you. Frequently it's easier to "hear" the problems than to see them. WhatamIdoing (talk) 17:59, 4 April 2008 (UTC)

That was a PDF cut and paste text error, fixed, thanks.--TheNautilus (talk) 18:12, 4 April 2008 (UTC)

Tim, ~70% was quoting Jarvis from *your* reference article

1. The quote from Jarvis' paper does not support the text. No "quackery" quoted, "faddism" on Pauling's lower dose C is implied by section title, but that is not the same as (all) "orthomolecular medicine", either for vitamin C or the rest.

2. The 17 page paper, twice, just barely mentions "ortho- anything" anywhere, never "orthomolecular medicine".

3. Jarvis' explanation retreats to psychological mumbo-jumbo, nary anything relevant biologically or biochemically based.

4. Jarvis' opinion & criticism rests upon *no* tests in the orthomolecular range of colds & flu. (after Hemila, 2006 - there is still no such testing). Sort of like pseudoscience...

5. This profound "mainstream" refusal to fund or test any part of the orthomolecular antiviral range has been going on not only since Pauling's book 37 years ago, but at least 60 yrs, after Fred R. Klenner's paper.^{oh yeah, your UWStL bud "purified" WP at AfD}--TheNautilus (talk) 18:12, 4 April 2008 (UTC)

70% of what? What on earth are you talking about? Tim Vickers (talk) 04:22, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

70% of "my" text[1], immediately above your first response here, are direct quotes from Jarvis' paper. I assumed you were familiar with your source text.--TheNautilus (talk) 08:51, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Your comments are becoming increasingly difficult to understand. Could you please try to use complete sentences in plain English. The distinction between an "unproven alternative medicine sold for profit" and a "quack remedy" is not one based on biochemical tests, what assay would differentiate between these two forms of words? This is an opinion and a judgement mostly on the motivation of the people peddling these pills, not a scientific assessment of the efficacy of a remedy. Your comments about the lack of data in these expert's opinions therefore misses the point entirely. This source discusses the use of "quack nutrition" to treat disease and even specifically cites Linus Pauling and "orthomolecularism" as a prominent example of this. This is the opinion of the author and it is published in a unimpeachably authoritative source - The Annual Review of Nutrition, the premier scientific review journal in the field. Tim Vickers (talk) 22:34, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

UNDUE wt & sentence construction on minor Jukes' reference in lede

Hardly anything there in Jukes article for the "less temperate..." slams in lede, UNDUE weight even if there were direct quotes in a few paragaphs. A few paragraphs where Jukes nitpicks details on Pauling's interview skills against a tape recorder and then makes an ass of himself, where time *has* moved the mainstream RDA (90+mg) and NIH's last recommendation (200 mg) way past Juke's flat "anyone" assertion of 60 mg vitamin C. Jukes monologue continues, pp 16-17:

QUACK REMEDIES FOR CANCER (~28 lines of text in three (3) paragraphs)

My involvement with laetrile, a name under which the cyanogenic glycoside, amygdalin, was illicitly peddled for treating cancer...laetrile...pangamic acid...[body of the 3 paragraphs] In general, legal action against quack remedies is a protracted process. By the time a court decision is reached, the defendants have moved on to other, greener pastures.^{[ end of 3 paragraphs)}

Vitamin C came into prominence as a universal remedy. Bogus claims for vitamin C were made as a result of its hyperenthusiastic promotion by Dr. Linus Pauling (49), and I appeared as a rebuttal witness against him in San Francisco and Santa Rosa, California.

Linus Pauling published the following account of a discussion with me(50):

I am reminded of an experience I had in 1984 on a radio medical program (on station KQED) in San Francisco. There was another guest on the program, a retired professor of nutrition from the University of California in Berkeley. I made a statement about the value of a high intake of vitamin C... The retired professor of nutrition said simply, "No one needs more than 60 mg of vitamin C per day," without giving any evidence to support his flat statement. I then presented some more evidence for my large intake, and he responded by saying, "Sixty mg of vitamin C per day is adequate for any person." After I had presented some more evidence, this retired professor said, "For fifty years I and other leading authorities in nutrition have been saying that 60 mg of vitamin C per day is all that any person needs !" There was just time enough left on the live radio program for me to say "Yes--that’s just the trouble: you are fifty years behind the times."

What actually happened is described on the official audiotape of the broadcast, May 7, 1984. (LP = Linus Pauling, DW = moderator, TJ = T. Jukes).

LP:Well, I failed to mention that if I am traveling and people are sneezing in my face and [I] get pretty tired and think that I may be coming down with a cold I go up to as much as 50 grams of Vitamin C in a day and that stops it.

DW: Do you think that is recommended for all people, Dr. Jukes, to take that much Vitamin C?

TJ: Well, I certainly don’t.

DW: Based upon your previous observations.

TJ: Based upon my previous observations and my studies of literature and my conversations with vitamin experts for about the last 50 years.

DW: All right.

LP: You know it’s too bad that these vitamin experts have been making the same statements for the last 50 years and haven’t caught up with the times yet.

TJ: Yes, but their statements are based on controlled observations. This shows a lack of agreement between what Pauling reported and what actually happened.

MEGAVITAMINS

The Food and Drug Administration proposed that an upper limit should be set on over-the-counter vitamins of 150% of Recommended Daily Allowances (RDAs) per tablet. This modest proposal was seen as a challenge by the megavitamin industry. The National Health Federation organized a letterwriting campaign to Congress for the support of the "Proxmire Bill" that specifically prevented FDA from making such a regulation. The Proxmire Bill was opposed by the American Institute of Nutrition and other scientific groups. It was supported by Prevention magazine, the National Health Federation, Linus Pauling, and Roger Williams. The Proxmire Bill passed the Senate by a vote of 81 to 10 in September 1974.

Another successful nutritional deception is the "organic food" industry. The term organic to describe food and a particular farming style was originated by the late Jerome Rodale, an electrical contractor who moved from... (same material as Jarvis, 1983 continues on Rodale etc)--TheNautilus (talk) 03:09, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Apparently Tim is having trouble reading what Jukes' short mention shows, clearly and implied. This flawed reference's short blub is being POV pushed as a sweeping indictment of (all) orthomolecular medicine in the lede in a conclusory manner. What Jukes(1990) really shows, is one of Jukes' continued personal attacks on Pauling, who here appeared to mock Jukes' expertise for longstanding lack of investigative curiosity and scientific rigor (*zero* high range vitamin C data). Here Jukes vilifies Pauling with an innuendo, where Jukes, a vitriolic personality, long despised Pauling's ultraliberal politics (many WP:V observations available on Jukes' personality, politics and his anti-Pauling antipathies), especially about banning nuclear arms tests as well as their clashes over the human range of vitamin C benefits, where Jukes never shows *any* relevant data.

If one reads Jukes' & Pauling's statements closely with the transcript fragment, it seems clear that what has likely occurred is that Jukes has snipped several earlier, relevant statements from the "damning" KQED transcript to make Pauling look bad without actually uttering the implied libel. It appears to be an innuendo, where allowing for Pauling's recall of a conversation two years earlier, Jukes' version is roughly the last half of Pauling's version.

(1) This appears to be a WP:OR violation to generally claim Jukes' section title "Quack Remedies for Cancer" that positionally sweeps in Jukes' personal attack on Pauling (mentions only his vitamin C use above 60mg/day for respiratory illnesses) is WP:RS, V for all vitamin C much less orthomed, it simply is not.

(2) Jukes' 1990 statement would not reflect current mainstream research findings, either, where (Cochrane Collection vitamin C author) Harri Hemila's papers, accepted and published, have systematically reanalyzed the misstated "mainstream" analyses of earlier vitamin C papers to show a small positive therapeutic effect, increasing with dosage of vitamin C in the range ~8x to 250x under the quoted 50 grams Pauling mentioned. (see Hemila, 2006 for a collation of Hemila's vitamin C papers)

(3) It appears likely Jukes' short blub is a demonstrable example of the systematic bias, distortions and misconduct that have been used to repeatedly attack Orthomolecular medicine and its proponents. It may be more notable as such a demonstration in the body of Jules' biography depending on the exact WP:V conversation recorded, which will probably take six weeks to get. This is not current or scientific opinion, it appears to an old, scurrilous personal attack leaping two huge steps to a POV in the lede.

(4) This use of Jukes' short personal attack appears to be a WP:NPOV and WP:SOAP violations where Tim is attempting to force an obsolete view as current *medical science* with undue weight. It is not. If this were 20 years ago, I would agree that it reflected current thinking. That time has passed. Both vitamin C questions, for cancer CMAJ (2001), PNAS (2005), CMAJ (2006),ANN INTERN MED (2004), PNAS (2007) and viral respiratory illness,Hemila papers, 1991-2006, are recognized as *open* by authoritative medical science figures.--TheNautilus (talk) 20:54, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

too wordy, inadequately supported, POVish dated lede material

In other early research in this area, orthomolecular physician Abram Hoffer was part of the group who discovered in 1955 that niacin could be used to treat dyslipidemia.[4] -- too long, too detailed, too much personality detail, and there are others from the 50s with Pauling's acknowledged *molecular medicine* that turn out to also be orthomolecular in nature.

However, the current scientific and medical consensus is that the broad claims of efficacy advanced by advocates of orthomolecular medicine are unsupported,[5][6][7] and these ideas are not accepted in mainstream clinical practice, with the American Medical Association saying that the idea that most diseases can be prevented by nutritional interventions is a myth.[8] -- 1980s QW/NCAHF type loaded statements that seriously mislead readers. Highly flawed QW/NCAHF type material from QW/NCAHF authors for the AMA references, flat earth - not current nutritional and biological science on myth, where there *are* "many" recognized diseases and conditions treatable or percentages preventable with nutrients recognized now with WP:V sources.

Less temperate critics have even classed orthomolecular medicine as food faddism or quackery.[9][10] -- not supported by text, either direct words or orthomed in general--TheNautilus (talk) 03:20, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

off topic link removal

I am moving the UK source, an off topic link, [ here] The closest approach to Orthomed was near the end the audio^~26:30. I listened to the audio, very entertaining. BenGoldacre's page and audio has nothing Orthomed, not even much there concerning orthomed. Orthomed is not about patent medicines, corn flakes, Hadacol, BG's cranks - didn't sound orthomolecular. Get this, orthomed is science based, a lot of its most effective critics have involved clear cases of scientific misconduct. This scientific misconduct might have been exposed sooner, if (1) most people weren't so experimental science illiterate, (2) medical information and media were less limited by gatekeeping before the internet.

Tim, you continually seem to confuse all "nutritionists" with orthomolecular medicine and orthomed MDs. How about we lump all Christian scientists in straight with your corporate & research scientists too.--TheNautilus (talk) 08:47, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

If you wish to remove all material from the article that does not specifically reference "orthomolecular medicine" then we would have to remove most of the references in "History and development" and all of the clinical trials for nutrients in the section on "Relation to mainstream medicine", such as those dealing with vitamin E, niacin, selenium, zinc. Insisting that a reference use the "in universe" jargon is illogical, if if a source discusses the usage in alternative medicine of megavitamins or dietary supplements than this is exactly the same as the topic covered by the jargon term "orthomolecular medicine". Tim Vickers (talk) 22:29, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

I'm with Tim on this one: we need to consider "all the facts and circumstances", not just whether or not a specific and relatively new term appears in the text. WhatamIdoing (talk) 23:11, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

Indeed, it would cause a major NPOV problem as well - imagine if an article could only use references that use the exact terminology originating from the group the article is discussing, that would be unworkable. To use a close equivalent, it would mean references discussing dilution could not be used in the article on homeopathy, only the sources that called dilution "succession". Or references that called a Nazi group's views "holocaust denial" couldn't be used if the group instead called the holocaust "The Jewish Exodus". We can't let the subjects of articles set the criteria for the inclusion of material based on their own opinions. Tim Vickers (talk) 23:24, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

If logical rigor and precision are maintained, I'm all for a liberal interpretation of what therapies make it into the orthomolecular article. But what must not happen is that therapies not endorsed as "orthomolecular" by "orthomolecular" people are used to discredit them.--Alterrabe (talk) 13:21, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

Indeed, you need to be careful about specific claims about specific treatments, it would be inappropriate to discuss herbalism here. However, when a authoritative source makes a general review of the use of nutrients in alternative medicine's attempts to treat and prevent disease, then orthomolecular medicine is part of the area covered by that review. Tim Vickers (talk) 15:23, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

You are pushing unreliable references, greatly overstating their content and currency, adding your POV into the lede. I've added another demonstration of this below.--TheNautilus (talk) 20:33, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

3 strikes and hold the mayo...another unreliable source

The brief coverage of orthomolecular medicine on Aaronson's Ch 6 of Cancer Medicine is not a technically reliable source as proposed by Tim because it is so misinformed (-ing) with several major WP:V failures on source text comparison and fact checking.

1. [Pauling's] claims that massive doses of vitamin C could cure cancer... Greatly misleading. Pauling, Cameron, Hoffer all proposed to treat cancer into longer remission periods with lifelong treatment, not a "cure".^{Vitamin C & Cancer (1979, 1993)} Orthomolecular pioneers, starting with Klenner, probably in the 50s, were often at pains to recommend receiving compatible conventional treatments with vitamin C rather than as a standalone attempt to treat or cure. Klenner, Cameron (with Pauling) and Hoffer (with Pauling) certainly followed this statement for surgery, radiation and/or many forms of chemotherapy. Both Klenner and Pauling et al, openly acknowledged that vitamin C, despite their most favorable clinical impressions of vitamin C's contribution in cancer treatment, was usually inadequate as a standalone therapy. Pauling stated that only a lucky small fraction would obtain a long term remission on Cameron's IV/oral vitamin C protocol alone.^{Vitamin C & Cancer (1979, 1993)} Two follow on points are important: (1) the vitamin C amelioration claims on both cancer and on other conventional cancer treatments themselves made vitamin C beneficial to most of patients, (2) CAM advocates are looking for alternative IV and oral chemotherapeutic adjuvant combinations, e.g. menaquinones (vitamin K2), alpha lipoic acid, tocotrienols, tocopheryl succinates, ubiquinones (coQ series), herbal extracts, etc as well as Hoffer's complementary treatment regimen.^{Healing Cancer, Complementary & Drug Treatments, Hoffer with Pauling (2004)}

1. were disproved in clinical trials,^50,51 Said "clinical trials" were correctly long identified as highly flawed or even fraudulently misrepresented. These trials at a (in)famous small city medical center are more notableVitamin C and Cancer: Medicine or Politics?, E. Richards for their failure to follow basic scientific methodology such as experimental control (inadequate residual C test frequency 1-2 orders, inadequate residual C testing of the patient population coverage by ~1 order of magnitude of patients, inadequate urinary residual test sensitivity ~2 orders of magnitude, inadequate urinary residual selectivity (interferences), medicant access control failures - available at the corner drugstore vs Cameron's confined population), multiple failures of replication (skipping the intravenous treatment phase altogether, different oral treatment chemistry, rather brief applications rather than lifetime), drastic interferences (e.g. intervening chemotherapy, cold turkey discontinuation of megadose ascorbic acid), failure to note population differences (e.g. refractory, single type cancer; Scotland vs US, genetic, environmental and nutritonal), different measures and mileposts of improvements, failure to adequately research or integrate prior literature, art, experience & advice, and failure to adequately disclose protocols, data & results. Many are not sure what the "clinical trials" (~1975-1985) really proved, but hubris, incompetence, systematic bias, scientific misconduct, breeches of social contract & specific promise seem to have had a pretty strong demonstration.--TheNautilus (talk) 20:30, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

1. There is no evidence that megavitamin or orthomolecular therapy is effective in treating any disease. At this point, mere parrot-like cant of Cassileth's sound bite, or perhaps earlier, factually challenged adversaries. Megadose niacin has long had published evidence that it treats CVD patients' dyslipidemias, with the Canner study (1986) on post heart attack survivors showing an average of two years increase in lifespan following an average of six years treatment. Also there are niacin references on rapid relief for anginal and post infarct pain. Menolascino et al (1988), pp 137 & 140-144, cites 14 "megavitamin therapies" in mainstream medicine for amino acid metabolic disorders, before he drills down to his questions & criticisms of Orthomolecular psychiatry. Further Menolascino states, This limitation of described cases [for amino acids] is not a true reflection of all the disorders in a population which are potentially treatable with specific vitamins. For example, only recently have some disorders of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism been found to respond to large dosages of specific cofactors/vitamins. (e.g. The lipid disorder, Abetalipoproteinemia, typically requires 6000^[2]-25,000^[3] iu vitamin E per day along with more A, D, K). Malabsorption syndromes are also acknowledged to require supplementation & megavitamin therapies for various forms of gastrointestinal problems.