How to Reduce Exposure to Fluoride
by Stuart Cooper, Fluoride Action Network
(OMNS Dec 12, 2014) When fluoride was first added to water in the 1940s, in an experiment to prevent tooth decay, not a single dental product contained fluoride: no fluoride toothpastes, no fluoride mouth rinses, no fluoride varnishes, and no fluoride gels. In the past 60 years, as more communities began fluoridation and one fluoride product after another entered the market, exposure to fluoride increased considerably, particularly among children.
Exposure from other sources has increased as well, such as infant formula, processed foods, soups, and beer made with fluoridated water, food grown with fluoride-containing pesticides and fumigants [1] (buy organic!), bottled teas, raisins, fruit juices, wine, mechanically deboned chicken, and pharmaceuticals that leave a fluoride metabolite, to name a few. Taken together, the glut of fluoride sources in the modern diet has created a toxic cocktail, one that has caused a dramatic increase in dental fluorosis [2] (a tooth defect caused by excess fluoride intake) over the past 60 years. The problem with fluoride, therefore, is not that we are receiving too little, but that we are receiving too much.
Here are several guides to help you reduce your exposure to fluoride. Please share them with friends and family:
Top 10 Ways to Reduce Fluoride Exposure
(http://fluoridealert.org/content/top_ten/)
Grocery Store Guide: 7 Ways to Avoid Fluoride in Beverages and Food
(http://fluoridealert.org/content/grocery_guide/)
Top 5 Ways to Reduce Fluoride Exposure From Infant Formula
(http://fluoridealert.org/content/formula/)
Considerations When Buying a Water Filter
(http://fluoridealert.org/content/water_filters/) Read more
Sunday, March 29, 2015
Saturday, March 28, 2015
No Deaths from ANY Dietary Supplement
No Deaths from ANY Dietary Supplement
Zero Fatalities from Minerals, Vitamins, Amino Acids, Herbs, Homeopathic Remedies
by Andrew W. Saul, Editor
(OMNS Jan 16, 2015) There was not even one death caused by any dietary supplement in 2013, according to the most recent information collected by the U.S. National Poison Data System. The new 251-page annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers, published in the journal Clinical Toxicology (1), shows no deaths whatsoever from any dietary supplement.
Additionally, there were zero deaths from any amino acid or herbal product. This means no deaths at all from blue cohosh, echinacea, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, kava kava, St. John's wort, valerian, yohimbe, Asian medicines, ayurvedic medicines, or any other botanical. There were zero deaths from creatine, blue-green algae, glucosamine, chondroitin, melatonin, or any homeopathic remedy.
Furthermore, there were zero deaths from any dietary mineral supplement. This means there were no fatalities from calcium, magnesium, chromium, zinc, colloidal silver, selenium, iron, or multimineral supplements. Reported in the "Electrolyte and Mineral" category were two fatalities from the medical use of "Sodium and sodium salts." These are not dietary supplements. Read more
Zero Fatalities from Minerals, Vitamins, Amino Acids, Herbs, Homeopathic Remedies
by Andrew W. Saul, Editor
(OMNS Jan 16, 2015) There was not even one death caused by any dietary supplement in 2013, according to the most recent information collected by the U.S. National Poison Data System. The new 251-page annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers, published in the journal Clinical Toxicology (1), shows no deaths whatsoever from any dietary supplement.
Additionally, there were zero deaths from any amino acid or herbal product. This means no deaths at all from blue cohosh, echinacea, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, kava kava, St. John's wort, valerian, yohimbe, Asian medicines, ayurvedic medicines, or any other botanical. There were zero deaths from creatine, blue-green algae, glucosamine, chondroitin, melatonin, or any homeopathic remedy.
Furthermore, there were zero deaths from any dietary mineral supplement. This means there were no fatalities from calcium, magnesium, chromium, zinc, colloidal silver, selenium, iron, or multimineral supplements. Reported in the "Electrolyte and Mineral" category were two fatalities from the medical use of "Sodium and sodium salts." These are not dietary supplements. Read more
Friday, March 27, 2015
Top Vitamin D Research of 2014
Top Vitamin D Research of 2014
by William B. Grant, PhD
(OMNS Feb 3, 2015) Higher vitamin D blood levels may reduce the risk of many types of disease including autoimmune diseases, cancers, cardiovascular disease, dementia, diabetes mellitus and falls and fractures.
Research into the health effects associated with vitamin D continued to be strong in 2014. The number of publications with vitamin D in the title or abstract listed at pubmed.gov increased from 3,119 in 2011 to 3,919 in 2014. Seven vitamin D researchers (listed after this report) worked together to pick the 20 papers in 2014 that made the most contribution to understanding the health effects of vitamin D in 2014.
Papers are not in priority order, but instead grouped by type of study. For the purpose of this article "vitamin D" in the blood is a measurement of 25-hydroxyvitamin D or 25(OH)D.
Do randomized controlled trials work for vitamin D?
No one refutes the fact that vitamin D is beneficial to the skeletal system. There are many studies (randomized controlled trials [RCT] and also epidemiological) that support this hypothesis. What is at odds is whether or not vitamin D is beneficial to the non-skeletal system. There are many observational (epidemiological, or association) studies that show vitamin D is beneficial, and many RCTs that show it isn't. Does that mean that vitamin D does not aid in disease prevention? Or does it mean that the RCT model does not work for nutrients?
Randomized Control Trials in 2014
Vitamin D3 supplementation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [Martineau, 2014]
A vitamin D trial in the UK in which patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were given 120,000 IU vitamin D3 every two months for a year found that vitamin D3 supplementation was protective against moderate or severe exacerbation in those with baseline 25(OH)D concentrations < 50 nmol/L (20 ng/mL) but not for those with concentrations > 50 nmol/L. Vitamin D3 supplementation had no effect on upper respiratory infections. This is consistent with previous RCTs that used high doses at infrequent intervals, every 2 months in this case; however other trials that used an adequate dose given daily have shown reduction in upper respiratory tract infections.
Vitamin D promotes vascular regeneration [Wong, 2014]
This study demonstrated that vitamin D improved cardiovascular disease. The German team investigated this effect several ways. They showed that supplementation with 4000 IU/day of vitamin D3 increased the number of circulating angiogenic myeloid cells, which promote growth and vascular regeneration necessary for a healthy cardiovascular system. A similar result was found in a mouse model, which also demonstrated restoration of impaired angiogenesis (new vessel formation) function. They also examined the mechanisms by which vitamin D acted.
Vitamin D and depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing studies with and without biological flaws. [Spedding, 2014]
This paper reported on a statistical average of many studies of vitamin D RCTs without methodological flaws and found that vitamin D supplementation resulted in a statistically significant improvement in clinical depression. However, the same analysis of vitamin D RCTs with methodological flaws found a statistically significant worsening of depression. The major flaws identified included not increasing 25(OH)D concentrations and not measuring baseline or final 25(OH)D concentrations. Vitamin D supplementation of > 800 IU/d was somewhat favorable in the management of depression. Read more
by William B. Grant, PhD
(OMNS Feb 3, 2015) Higher vitamin D blood levels may reduce the risk of many types of disease including autoimmune diseases, cancers, cardiovascular disease, dementia, diabetes mellitus and falls and fractures.
Research into the health effects associated with vitamin D continued to be strong in 2014. The number of publications with vitamin D in the title or abstract listed at pubmed.gov increased from 3,119 in 2011 to 3,919 in 2014. Seven vitamin D researchers (listed after this report) worked together to pick the 20 papers in 2014 that made the most contribution to understanding the health effects of vitamin D in 2014.
Papers are not in priority order, but instead grouped by type of study. For the purpose of this article "vitamin D" in the blood is a measurement of 25-hydroxyvitamin D or 25(OH)D.
Do randomized controlled trials work for vitamin D?
No one refutes the fact that vitamin D is beneficial to the skeletal system. There are many studies (randomized controlled trials [RCT] and also epidemiological) that support this hypothesis. What is at odds is whether or not vitamin D is beneficial to the non-skeletal system. There are many observational (epidemiological, or association) studies that show vitamin D is beneficial, and many RCTs that show it isn't. Does that mean that vitamin D does not aid in disease prevention? Or does it mean that the RCT model does not work for nutrients?
Randomized Control Trials in 2014
Vitamin D3 supplementation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [Martineau, 2014]
A vitamin D trial in the UK in which patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were given 120,000 IU vitamin D3 every two months for a year found that vitamin D3 supplementation was protective against moderate or severe exacerbation in those with baseline 25(OH)D concentrations < 50 nmol/L (20 ng/mL) but not for those with concentrations > 50 nmol/L. Vitamin D3 supplementation had no effect on upper respiratory infections. This is consistent with previous RCTs that used high doses at infrequent intervals, every 2 months in this case; however other trials that used an adequate dose given daily have shown reduction in upper respiratory tract infections.
Vitamin D promotes vascular regeneration [Wong, 2014]
This study demonstrated that vitamin D improved cardiovascular disease. The German team investigated this effect several ways. They showed that supplementation with 4000 IU/day of vitamin D3 increased the number of circulating angiogenic myeloid cells, which promote growth and vascular regeneration necessary for a healthy cardiovascular system. A similar result was found in a mouse model, which also demonstrated restoration of impaired angiogenesis (new vessel formation) function. They also examined the mechanisms by which vitamin D acted.
Vitamin D and depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing studies with and without biological flaws. [Spedding, 2014]
This paper reported on a statistical average of many studies of vitamin D RCTs without methodological flaws and found that vitamin D supplementation resulted in a statistically significant improvement in clinical depression. However, the same analysis of vitamin D RCTs with methodological flaws found a statistically significant worsening of depression. The major flaws identified included not increasing 25(OH)D concentrations and not measuring baseline or final 25(OH)D concentrations. Vitamin D supplementation of > 800 IU/d was somewhat favorable in the management of depression. Read more
Thursday, March 26, 2015
Measles and Cloudy Thinking
Measles and Cloudy Thinking
y Ralph Campbell, MD
(OMNS Mar 26, 2015) The recent measles epidemic with its scary media presentation has me asking, "What is going on here?" How much distortion of the facts is necessary in order to produce a compelling TV news story?
Apparently, an airline traveler from an unknown part of the wide world went to Disneyland in Southern California. Along came the measles virus, which produced ambiguous precursory symptoms similar to an ordinary viral bug. The media, from the onset, treated the mini-epidemic that followed with all the fear-promoting intensity of the recent Ebola crisis. So what should we expect? Is the answer an airport scanner that can keep those coming down with an infectious disease from traveling on airplanes?
Measles "epidemic"?
Medical authorities apparently had no knowledge of measles in the pre-vaccination days and unanimously recommended the only thing they knew to do: vaccinate. Nevertheless, since people no longer stay in one place, the recent "epidemic" grew to 140 cases in several States. Imagine: 140 cases in 320 million U.S. citizens. Immediately the blame game began. The epidemic spread more rapidly in California. Its liberal vaccination laws, which allowed parents to opt out of vaccinating their children, somehow made the kids of "good" (vaccinating) parents more susceptible. Sides were chosen between "vaccers," with backing of all the authoritative bodies, and "anti-vaccers," characterized as naive or thoughtless. More fear was generated by quoting worldwide mortality figures which are high in areas of the world in which nutritional deficiencies prevail. However, in the United States over the past 10 years the CDC reported zero deaths from measles. Read more
(OMNS Mar 26, 2015) The recent measles epidemic with its scary media presentation has me asking, "What is going on here?" How much distortion of the facts is necessary in order to produce a compelling TV news story?
Apparently, an airline traveler from an unknown part of the wide world went to Disneyland in Southern California. Along came the measles virus, which produced ambiguous precursory symptoms similar to an ordinary viral bug. The media, from the onset, treated the mini-epidemic that followed with all the fear-promoting intensity of the recent Ebola crisis. So what should we expect? Is the answer an airport scanner that can keep those coming down with an infectious disease from traveling on airplanes?
Measles "epidemic"?
Medical authorities apparently had no knowledge of measles in the pre-vaccination days and unanimously recommended the only thing they knew to do: vaccinate. Nevertheless, since people no longer stay in one place, the recent "epidemic" grew to 140 cases in several States. Imagine: 140 cases in 320 million U.S. citizens. Immediately the blame game began. The epidemic spread more rapidly in California. Its liberal vaccination laws, which allowed parents to opt out of vaccinating their children, somehow made the kids of "good" (vaccinating) parents more susceptible. Sides were chosen between "vaccers," with backing of all the authoritative bodies, and "anti-vaccers," characterized as naive or thoughtless. More fear was generated by quoting worldwide mortality figures which are high in areas of the world in which nutritional deficiencies prevail. However, in the United States over the past 10 years the CDC reported zero deaths from measles. Read more
Niacin and Schizophrenia: History and Opportunity
by Nick Fortino, PhD Candidate
by Nick Fortino, PhD Candidate
(OMNS Oct 27, 2014) Schizophrenia is usually treated with prescription antipsychotic drugs, many of which produce severe adverse effects (1-6); are linked to an incentive for monetary profit benefiting pharmaceutical corporations (7-13); lack sufficient evidence for safety and efficacy (9, 14); and have been grossly misused (15-20). Orthomolecular (nutritional) medicine provides another approach ...
Continue ReadingCheck out Niacin: The real story http://amzn.to/1BooAtm
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Orthomolecular Psychiatry
Orthomolecular Psychiatry
Orthomolecular psychiatric therapy is the treatment of mental disease by the provision of the optimum molecular environment for the mind, especially the optimum concentrations of substances normally present in the human body
Varying the concentrations of substances normally present in the human body may control mental disease.
Linus Pauling, Ph.D.
Main Points:
The proper functioning of the mind is known to require the presence in the brain of molecules of many different substances.
For example, mental disease, usually associated with physical disease, results from a low concentration in the brain of any one of the following vitamins: thiamine (B1), nicotinic acid or nicotinamide (B3), pyridoxine (B6), cyanocobalamin (B12), biotin (H), ascorbic acid (C), and folic acid.
There is evidence that mental function and behavior are also affected by changes in the concentration in the brain of any of a number of other substances that are normally present, such as L(+)-glutamic acid, uric acid, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (6).
Summary
The functioning of the brain is affected by the molecular concentrations of many substances that are normally present in the brain.
The optimum concentrations of these substances for a person may differ greatly from the concentrations provided by his normal diet and genetic machinery.
Biochemical and genetic arguments support the idea that orthomolecular therapy, the provision for the individual person of the optimum concentrations of important normal constituents of the brain, may be the preferred treatment for many mentally ill patients.
Mental symptoms of avitaminosis sometimes are observed long before any physical symptoms appear. It is likely that the brain is more sensitive to changes in concentration of vital substances than are other organs and tissues.
Moreover, there is the possibility that for some persons the cerebrospinal concentration of a vital substance may be grossly low at the same time that the concentration in the blood and lymph is essentially normal.
A physiological abnormality such as decreased permeability of the bloodbrain barrier for the vital substance or increased rate of metabolism of the substance in the brain may lead to a cerebral deficiency and to a mental disease.
Diseases of this sort may be called localized cerebral deficiency diseases.
It is suggested that the genes responsible for abnormalities (deficiencies) in the concentration of vital substances in the brain may be responsible for increased penetrance of the postulated gene for schizophrenia, and that the so-called gene for schizophrenia may itself -be a gene that leads to a localized cerebral deficiency in one or more vital substances.
Full Article.....very dense
Varying the concentrations of substances normally present in the human body may control mental disease.
Linus Pauling, Ph.D.
The methods principally used now for treating patients with mental disease are psychotherapy (psychoanalysis and related efforts to provide insight and to decrease environmental stress), chemotherapy (mainly with the use of powerful synthetic drugs, such as chlorpromazine, or powerful natural products from plants, such as reserpine), and convulsive or shock therapy (electroconvulsive therapy, insulin coma therapy, pentylenetetrazol shock therapy).
I have reached the conclusion, through arguments summarized in the following paragraphs, that another general method of treatment, which may be called orthomolecular therapy, may be found to be of great value, and may turn out to be the best method of treatment for many patients.
Orthomolecular psychiatric therapy is the treatment of mental disease by the provision of the optimum molecular environment for the mind, especially the optimum concentrations of substances normally present in the human body
1). An example is the treatment of phenylketonuric children by use of a diet containing a smaller than normal amount of the amino acid phenylalanine. Phenylketonuria (2) results from a genetic defect that leads to a decreased amount or effectiveness of the enzyme catalyzing the oxidation of phenylalanine to tyrosine.
The patients on a normal diet have in their tissues abnormally high concentrations of phenylalanine and some of its reaction products, which, possibly in conjunction with the decreased concentration of tyrosine, cause the mental and physical manifestations of the disease (mental deficiency, severe eczema, and others).
A decrease in the amount of phenylalanine ingested results in an approximation to the normal or optimum concentrations and to the alleviation of the manifestations of the disease, both mental and physical.
The functioning of the brain is dependent on its composition and structure; that is, on the molecular environment of the mind.
The presence in the brain of molecules of N,N-diethyl-D-lysergamide, mescaline, or some other schizophrenogenic substance is associated with profound psychic effects (3). Cherkin has recently pointed out (4) that in 1799 Humphry Davy described similar subjective reactions to the inhalation of nitrous oxide. The phenomenon of general anesthesia also illustrates the dependence of the mind (consciousness, ephemeral memory) on its molecular environment (5).
The proper functioning of the mind is known to require the presence in the brain of molecules of many different substances.
For example, mental disease, usually associated with physical disease, results from a low concentration in the brain of any one of the following vitamins: thiamine (B1), nicotinic acid or nicotinamide (B3), pyridoxine (B6), cyanocobalamin (B12), biotin (H), ascorbic acid (C), and folic acid.
There is evidence that mental function and behavior are also affected by changes in the concentration in the brain of any of a number of other substances that are normally present, such as L(+)-glutamic acid, uric acid, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (6). Read more
Orthomolecular psychiatric therapy is the treatment of mental disease by the provision of the optimum molecular environment for the mind, especially the optimum concentrations of substances normally present in the human body
Varying the concentrations of substances normally present in the human body may control mental disease.
Linus Pauling, Ph.D.
Main Points:
The proper functioning of the mind is known to require the presence in the brain of molecules of many different substances.
For example, mental disease, usually associated with physical disease, results from a low concentration in the brain of any one of the following vitamins: thiamine (B1), nicotinic acid or nicotinamide (B3), pyridoxine (B6), cyanocobalamin (B12), biotin (H), ascorbic acid (C), and folic acid.
There is evidence that mental function and behavior are also affected by changes in the concentration in the brain of any of a number of other substances that are normally present, such as L(+)-glutamic acid, uric acid, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (6).
Summary
The functioning of the brain is affected by the molecular concentrations of many substances that are normally present in the brain.
The optimum concentrations of these substances for a person may differ greatly from the concentrations provided by his normal diet and genetic machinery.
Biochemical and genetic arguments support the idea that orthomolecular therapy, the provision for the individual person of the optimum concentrations of important normal constituents of the brain, may be the preferred treatment for many mentally ill patients.
Mental symptoms of avitaminosis sometimes are observed long before any physical symptoms appear. It is likely that the brain is more sensitive to changes in concentration of vital substances than are other organs and tissues.
Moreover, there is the possibility that for some persons the cerebrospinal concentration of a vital substance may be grossly low at the same time that the concentration in the blood and lymph is essentially normal.
A physiological abnormality such as decreased permeability of the bloodbrain barrier for the vital substance or increased rate of metabolism of the substance in the brain may lead to a cerebral deficiency and to a mental disease.
Diseases of this sort may be called localized cerebral deficiency diseases.
It is suggested that the genes responsible for abnormalities (deficiencies) in the concentration of vital substances in the brain may be responsible for increased penetrance of the postulated gene for schizophrenia, and that the so-called gene for schizophrenia may itself -be a gene that leads to a localized cerebral deficiency in one or more vital substances.
Full Article.....very dense
Varying the concentrations of substances normally present in the human body may control mental disease.
Linus Pauling, Ph.D.
The methods principally used now for treating patients with mental disease are psychotherapy (psychoanalysis and related efforts to provide insight and to decrease environmental stress), chemotherapy (mainly with the use of powerful synthetic drugs, such as chlorpromazine, or powerful natural products from plants, such as reserpine), and convulsive or shock therapy (electroconvulsive therapy, insulin coma therapy, pentylenetetrazol shock therapy).
I have reached the conclusion, through arguments summarized in the following paragraphs, that another general method of treatment, which may be called orthomolecular therapy, may be found to be of great value, and may turn out to be the best method of treatment for many patients.
Orthomolecular psychiatric therapy is the treatment of mental disease by the provision of the optimum molecular environment for the mind, especially the optimum concentrations of substances normally present in the human body
1). An example is the treatment of phenylketonuric children by use of a diet containing a smaller than normal amount of the amino acid phenylalanine. Phenylketonuria (2) results from a genetic defect that leads to a decreased amount or effectiveness of the enzyme catalyzing the oxidation of phenylalanine to tyrosine.
The patients on a normal diet have in their tissues abnormally high concentrations of phenylalanine and some of its reaction products, which, possibly in conjunction with the decreased concentration of tyrosine, cause the mental and physical manifestations of the disease (mental deficiency, severe eczema, and others).
A decrease in the amount of phenylalanine ingested results in an approximation to the normal or optimum concentrations and to the alleviation of the manifestations of the disease, both mental and physical.
The functioning of the brain is dependent on its composition and structure; that is, on the molecular environment of the mind.
The presence in the brain of molecules of N,N-diethyl-D-lysergamide, mescaline, or some other schizophrenogenic substance is associated with profound psychic effects (3). Cherkin has recently pointed out (4) that in 1799 Humphry Davy described similar subjective reactions to the inhalation of nitrous oxide. The phenomenon of general anesthesia also illustrates the dependence of the mind (consciousness, ephemeral memory) on its molecular environment (5).
The proper functioning of the mind is known to require the presence in the brain of molecules of many different substances.
For example, mental disease, usually associated with physical disease, results from a low concentration in the brain of any one of the following vitamins: thiamine (B1), nicotinic acid or nicotinamide (B3), pyridoxine (B6), cyanocobalamin (B12), biotin (H), ascorbic acid (C), and folic acid.
There is evidence that mental function and behavior are also affected by changes in the concentration in the brain of any of a number of other substances that are normally present, such as L(+)-glutamic acid, uric acid, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (6). Read more
Niacin, Coronary Disease and Longevity
Niacin, Coronary Disease and Longevity
Abram Hoffer, M.D., Ph.D.
Background
In 1954, it was impossible to predict or even to think that my bleeding gums would one day, 31 years later, lead to additional useful life to people with coronary disease related to cholesterol and lipid metabolism. That year, malocclusion of my teeth had broken down the ability of my gum tissue to repair itself quickly enough. Because my bite was not correct there was too much wear and tear on tooth sockets and my gums began to bleed. No amount of Vitamin C and no amount of dental repair helped. Eventually I reconciled myself to the idea I would soon have all my teeth extracted.
But at this time I had been treating schizophrenics and seniles and a few other diseases with niacin, and I began also to take this vitamin, I gram after each meal, i.e. three grams per day. I did so because I wanted to experience the flush which comes when one first takes niacin and its gradual waning with continuing use so I could discuss this reaction more knowledgeably with my patients. There was also a legal issue - most doctors' defence against malpractice suits is that they were doing what any other similar physician would do it like circumstances. If I were sued (I have never been sued) because of unusual discomfort or because of adverse effects from niacin, I would not be able to use that defence since only a handful of physicians had ever used these large quantities of niacin. I had concluded that if the unlikely did occur and I was charged with malpractice, one of my defences would be that I had tried it myself for at least three months without suffering any serious consequences. I must admit I had not discussed this with any litigation lawyer. My reasons were therefore both practical and paranoid. I had no intention of treating myself or my bleeding gums. Read more
Background
In 1954, it was impossible to predict or even to think that my bleeding gums would one day, 31 years later, lead to additional useful life to people with coronary disease related to cholesterol and lipid metabolism. That year, malocclusion of my teeth had broken down the ability of my gum tissue to repair itself quickly enough. Because my bite was not correct there was too much wear and tear on tooth sockets and my gums began to bleed. No amount of Vitamin C and no amount of dental repair helped. Eventually I reconciled myself to the idea I would soon have all my teeth extracted.
But at this time I had been treating schizophrenics and seniles and a few other diseases with niacin, and I began also to take this vitamin, I gram after each meal, i.e. three grams per day. I did so because I wanted to experience the flush which comes when one first takes niacin and its gradual waning with continuing use so I could discuss this reaction more knowledgeably with my patients. There was also a legal issue - most doctors' defence against malpractice suits is that they were doing what any other similar physician would do it like circumstances. If I were sued (I have never been sued) because of unusual discomfort or because of adverse effects from niacin, I would not be able to use that defence since only a handful of physicians had ever used these large quantities of niacin. I had concluded that if the unlikely did occur and I was charged with malpractice, one of my defences would be that I had tried it myself for at least three months without suffering any serious consequences. I must admit I had not discussed this with any litigation lawyer. My reasons were therefore both practical and paranoid. I had no intention of treating myself or my bleeding gums. Read more
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