| Since a deficiency of vitamin B3 or niacin causes | | | | consumer advocate and board member of the |
| pellagra which is characterized by mental disturbances, | | | | National Council Against Health Fraud Inc. (NCAHF) in |
| practitioners of orthomolecular medicine or | | | | “Health Schemes, Scams and Frauds” published |
| megavitamin advocates believe that large doses of | | | | by Consumer Reports Books. |
| niacin can treat schizophrenia. | | | | Another vitamin that’s being abused by |
| A careful review made by the American Psychiatric | | | | megavitamin proponents is vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) |
| Association in the 1970s showed that this was not the | | | | which is being prescribed for premenstrual syndrome |
| case and it has deplored this practice. Later, the | | | | (PMS). This refers to a set of symptoms that begin |
| Research Advisory Committee of the U.S. National | | | | seven to 14 days prior to menstruation. Such |
| Institute of Mental Health and the Canadian Mental | | | | symptoms include nervousness and irritability, dizziness, |
| Health Association followed suit after studying the | | | | emotional instability, headaches, bloating, diarrhea, and |
| claims made by orthomolecular psychiatrists. | | | | tender, swollen breasts which have been linked to |
| "Scientific evaluation of nicotinic acid as a treatment | | | | hormone changes in the body during menstruation. |
| for schizophrenia concludes that improvement claimed | | | | Orthomolecular advocates think this can be prevented |
| by purveyors of the megavitamin therapies resulted | | | | by taking massive doses of vitamin B6 in spite of the |
| not from the vitamins but from the conventional | | | | fact that no conclusive evidence exists supporting this |
| therapy (drugs and/or psychotherapy) given at the | | | | practice. Furthermore, the risks far outweigh the |
| same time," said Drs. Harold M. Silverman, Joseph A. | | | | potential benefits of pyridoxine supplementation. |
| Romano and Garry Elmer in “The Vitamin Book: A | | | | "During the past few years, medical journals have |
| No-Nonsense Consumer Guide.” | | | | reported more than 100 cases of toxicity from B6 |
| Niacin is also being promoted as a cure for high | | | | supplementation, resulting in a condition called peripheral |
| cholesterol levels. While this is true under close medical | | | | neuritis. The reported symptoms, some of which |
| supervision, self-medication and the unrealistic | | | | resembled those of multiple sclerosis, included |
| recommendations of orthomolecular advocates can | | | | numbness and tingling in the hands, difficulty in walking, |
| have disastrous results on your health. | | | | and electric shocks shooting down the spine,” |
| "Troublesome side effects often occur, most | | | | Barrett revealed. |
| commonly the 'niacin flush' -- intense reddening and | | | | "Many medications and techniques have been tried for |
| itching of the face and upper body that usually | | | | PMS -- ranging from megavitamins to biofeedback -- |
| diminishes after several weeks. High-dose niacin can | | | | but none has had much success. A possible reason is |
| also cause gastrointestinal upset, abnormal liver | | | | that more than 150 different symptoms have been |
| function tests, elevated blood-sugar levels and, rarely, | | | | associated with PMS. Despite a fair amount of clinical |
| aerial fibrillation (rapid beating of the heart)," said Dr. | | | | investigation, its cause remains unclear," he added. |
| Stephen Barrett, a psychiatrist, prize-winning author, | | | | (Next: Will vitamin B12 give you energy? |