Megadose Vitamins
- 25 August 1983
- journal article
- Published by Massachusetts Medical Society in New England Journal of Medicine
- Vol. 309 (8) , 488-490
- https://doi.org/10.1056/nejm198308253090808
Abstract
The medical use of vitamins, which began in the 18th century, can be divided into three eras: the prevention or treatment of diseases of deficiency, the treatment of vitamin-responsive inborn errors of metabolism, and the currently popular "orthomolecular" megadosage.In 1753 James Lind, a Scottish naval surgeon, proved that lemons and oranges could prevent scurvy in British sailors during lengthy voyages. Subsequently, the antiscorbutic factor was shown to be ascorbic acid. The first of 13 vitamins was thus identified. In quantities that range from micrograms to milligrams, these essential organic micronutrients are required daily to prevent a syndrome of deficiency . . .Keywords
This publication has 4 references indexed in Scilit:
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