Abram Hoffer

Abram Hoffer (November 11, 1917 – May 27, 2009) was a Canadian biochemist, physician, and psychiatrist who is best known for his advocacy of megavitamin therapy as a treatment for schizophrenia. This approach is part of orthomolecular medicine, a branch of alternative medicine that promotes the use of nutritional supplements and vitamins at doses far exceeding those considered nutritional to prevent and treat diseases. Hoffer's work in this area, particularly with niacin (vitamin B3), has been both influential and controversial within the medical community.

Early Life and Education

Abram Hoffer was born in Saskatchewan, Canada. He pursued his higher education in biochemistry, earning a Ph.D. from the University of Saskatchewan. Later, he obtained his M.D. degree, which paved the way for his career in psychiatry and research into the biochemical bases of mental health disorders.

Career and Research

In the early 1950s, Hoffer, along with his colleague Humphry Osmond, began a series of studies on the role of nutrition in mental health. They focused particularly on schizophrenia, hypothesizing that the disorder was related to a biochemical imbalance that could be corrected with high doses of vitamins, especially niacin. This led to the development of the Adrenochrome Hypothesis, suggesting that schizophrenia was caused by the buildup of adrenochrome, a metabolic byproduct.

Hoffer's approach to treating schizophrenia with niacin and other vitamins marked the beginning of orthomolecular psychiatry. He claimed significant success in treating patients with this method, though his studies and conclusions have been criticized for lacking rigorous scientific methodology and for not being replicable by other researchers.

Throughout his career, Hoffer wrote extensively on the subject of orthomolecular medicine, authoring or co-authoring over 30 books and hundreds of articles. He served as the founding editor of the Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine, a publication dedicated to exploring the therapeutic value of vitamins and nutrients in psychiatric and general medical conditions.

Legacy and Controversy

Abram Hoffer's work has left a lasting impact on the field of alternative medicine, particularly in the area of nutritional treatments for mental health disorders. His advocacy for megavitamin therapy has inspired further research and the adoption of vitamin-based treatments by some practitioners. However, his methodologies and conclusions have been widely debated and criticized within the mainstream medical and scientific communities. Critics argue that Hoffer's research lacked the necessary controls and rigor to substantiate his claims, and subsequent studies have failed to replicate his results.

Despite the controversy, Hoffer remained a respected figure among proponents of orthomolecular medicine until his death in 2009. His work continues to be cited by those who advocate for alternative approaches to mental health treatment.

See Also

• Orthomolecular Medicine
• Schizophrenia
• Vitamin Therapy
• Alternative Medicine