What is orthomolecular medicine?
It deals exclusively with substances (molecules) that are naturally present in the human organism, and with the supply of these substances, on which man is dependent. Enzymes also belong to the field of orthomolecular medicine.
The term orthomolecular was coined by the biochemist (and double Nobel Prize winner) Linus Pauling in 1968. Ortho means right, good; molecules are the smallest building blocks of substances.
Man’s body is exclusively based on nutrients. With each nutrient intake we renew parts of our body system, and send used materials for excretion – thus ensuring a permanent "exchange of material" metabolism. The human body needs about 45 different nutrients. To achieve the best health and extensive protection against disease, all of these nutrients (ortho-molecules) must be present in the organism in the right concentration.

How to notice a nutrient deficiency?
Laboratory tests may be necessary, but do not always reflect the state of tissues and organs. An additional difficulty for clear assessment is the fact that different vitamins can be stored in the body in a completely different extent. The storage capacity ranges from a few days to several years.
A shortage, except for serious deficiencies, can certainly not be
diagnosed based on blood levels only, since even with normal blood levels, the vitamin reservoir in the cells may be emptied. In the early stages of vitamin deficiency, the reservoir of vitamins in tissues are partially emptied, but the blood levels remain unchanged. Changes in blood levels always point to already severe vitamin deficiencies.

What are the areas of application of orthomolecular medicine?
To answer this question, I would like to quote the results of some scientific studies about some frequent illnesses:

Heart disease:
In 13 of 16 surveyed European populations, it was found that a low intake of vitamin C, E, A and beta-carotene was decisive for the risk of heart attack. These were more important than cholesterol, blood pressure or smoking. However, smoking prevents absorption of these vitamins into the blood.
More than 50 clinical tests in angina and cardiomyopathy showed that 60-75% of patients treated with ubiquinone for 4 to 8 weeks had significant, even dramatic improvements of cardiac output.
In a study of angina patients in Scotland, it was found that low blood levels of vitamin E, C and beta-carotene tripled the risk of heart disease.
Even a separate supply of vitamin E shows in almost all studies extremely favorable results. A large study in the United States shows that a high intake of vitamin C (300 mg / d) and vitamin E (85 mg / d) reduces heart disease dramatically, by 40%.
A low vitamin C level increased the risk for a heart attack by 3.5 times.
A long-term study from the Netherlands showed a reduction of heart attack risk by 70% at a daily intake of 30 g sea fish.
The California-based "seven-day Adventists" lead a life without alcohol and cigarettes and do not eat meat. They live an average of seven years longer than the average American. Their risk of heart attack is only 1/7 of the remaining population. There was no relationship between blood cholesterol and heart disease any more.

Cancer:
In the early stages of cancer, the so-called "antioxidant vitamins" have a preventive effect. People with low blood levels of these vitamins get sick from cancer more frequently. The risk is especially high if several of these vitamins are lowered (potentiating effect).
The administration of beta-carotene with vitamin E reduces mortality from stomach cancer by 21%, total mortality by 15%.
In areas with high fish consumption, the number of malignant diseases was reduced. Tumorigenesis and growth are apparently inhibited by omega-3 fatty acid.

Rheumatism:
More than 10 studies have shown that clinical symptoms such as joint stiffness, number of swollen joints and pain index showed improvement when fish oil (omega-3 fatty acid) was added or when meat was replaced by fish.

Psyche and neurology:
The B vitamins and fish oil act as an antidepressant. Beta-carotene, vitamin C, A, B6, E and selenium and zinc lead to improved cerebral perfusion and increased cognitive abilities in old age. Dementia is probably accompanied by a strong increase in free radicals. The need for residential care for Alzheimer patients could be reduced by up to 13%.

Are there any side effects?
The specified limits for the intake of vitamins and trace elements are not achieved within the framework of orthomolecular therapy by far. Hence with proper dosage, side effects will not occur, or only minimally.
Basically however, with overdose, side effects may occur. Overdoses of vitamin C can cause discomfort in the gastrointestinal area. With children and pregnant women for example, overdoses of vitamins should be strictly avoided.