Guide · Orthomolecular nutrition
What is orthomolecular nutrition?
A way of understanding health from the cell: giving the organism the molecules it needs, in the right amount for each person, to prevent diseases and support health recovery.
01 · The origin
An idea by Linus Pauling
Orthomolecular medicine has its origins in the 1960s, when the scientist Linus Pauling, a two-time Nobel Prize winner, proposed that to maintain the correct physiology of cells and their basic functions, it was essential that certain molecules be present in the organism in specific amounts.1
In 1968, he gave this idea a name in the journal Science: “orthomolecular,” from the Greek orthos, meaning correct. That is, the right molecules in the right amount. This principle laid the foundation for maintaining an optimal state of health.
02 · The basis
Nutrition as a pillar
Orthomolecular medicine considers nutrition the fundamental pillar for preventing and treating diseases. That is why it uses orthomolecular nutrition as a key part of health recovery. This approach:
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01Studies biochemical causesIt looks for what is happening at the cellular level behind the symptoms: which nutrients are missing, which are in excess, and what processes are altered.
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02Relies on laboratory testsIt measures real levels of vitamins, minerals, and other markers to work with data rather than assumptions.
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03Puts the patient at the centerIt gives importance to each person’s clinical picture (their history, their symptoms, their lifestyle) and personalizes each treatment.
03 · What it does
Treat, but above all prevent
Orthomolecular nutrition does not just focus on treating diseases, but also on preventing them. It works before the problem appears, correcting imbalances that often do not cause symptoms for years.
Food talks to your genes
A key principle is that nutrients can activate or silence genes. Nutrigenomics and epigenetics study how diet influences the expression of our DNA, without changing the genetic code.3,4
Good nutrition protects DNA
A proper diet helps protect DNA, while the lack of micronutrients such as folate, B12, zinc, or vitamin C can promote DNA damage, a factor associated with serious diseases.5
Nutrients do not rewrite your genes, but they do help decide how they are read.
04 · Why it matters today
Eating is not always nourishing
Even with access to food, micronutrient deficiencies are common. In Chile, the 2016–2017 National Health Survey measured vitamin D in blood for the first time, and the deficiency turned out to be the norm.6
Sources: ISP Chile, based on ENS 2016–2017; Revista Médica de Chile, 2023.6,7
05 · What it uses
Molecules the body already knows
Orthomolecular nutrition uses substances that exist naturally in the human body and in food. In addition to a personalized meal plan, it is common to recommend supplements from three major families:
Vitamins and minerals
The cofactors that make the body’s reactions work. Magnesium alone participates in more than 300 enzyme systems.8
Amino acids and microbiota
The building blocks of proteins and the allies of the gut, where the absorption of everything else begins.
Coenzymes and more
Molecules that participate in cellular energy production and antioxidant defense.
06 · Why it works
What makes it effective
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01It starts from biochemical individualityBiochemist Roger J. Williams demonstrated that each person has different nutritional needs.9 That is why there is no single dose for everyone: the plan is adjusted to each organism.
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02It corrects what is actually missingBy measuring before intervening, nutrients are used where there is a real deficiency, which is precisely where their effect is greatest.
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03It thinks about long-term healthAccording to Bruce Ames' “triage” theory, when a micronutrient is scarce, the body reserves it for immediate survival and postpones maintenance functions, which over the years promotes age-associated deterioration.10 Optimal nourishment protects both.
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04It works with molecules inherent to the bodyVitamins, minerals, amino acids, and coenzymes that the organism recognizes and knows how to use in its natural processes.
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05It ensures the nutrient reaches its targetTaking a nutrient does not guarantee absorbing it. The form in which it is presented influences how much actually reaches the cells.
07 · In summary
Orthomolecular nutrition is a powerful tool for balancing the organism naturally, working at a cellular and molecular level to promote comprehensive and sustainable health.
At Ortomolecular Chile, we bring this principle to every formula. We work with dry liposomal technology METAZOME™, developed by Molecules Biolabs, which protects nutrients with phospholipids to favor their bioavailability. And as official distributors of Nordic Naturals in Chile, we offer omega-3 with international purity standards.
Nutrients designed for your cells.
View products →08 · Frequently asked questions
Common questions
Does orthomolecular nutrition replace conventional medicine?
No, it complements it. It focuses on nutrition and nutritional status, and works best in coordination with your doctor or nutritionist.
Do I need tests before taking supplements?
It is ideal. Measuring nutrients like vitamin D, B12, iron, or ferritin allows you to know if a real deficiency exists and adjust the dose to what you need.
Is it the same as taking a multivitamin?
No. A multivitamin is a standard formula. Orthomolecular nutrition starts from your particular needs and combines diet and specific nutrients in the doses your organism requires.
What sets a liposomal supplement apart?
In a liposome, the nutrient is encapsulated in a phospholipid layer similar to the membrane of our cells, which aims to protect it during digestion and favor its absorption.
References
Sources consulted
- Pauling L. Orthomolecular psychiatry. Science. 1968;160(3825):265–271. doi:10.1126/science.160.3825.265
- The Nobel Prize. Linus Pauling – Facts. nobelprize.org
- Waterland RA, Jirtle RL. Transposable elements: targets for early nutritional effects on epigenetic gene regulation. Mol Cell Biol. 2003;23(15):5293–5300. doi:10.1128/MCB.23.15.5293-5300.2003
- Bischoff-Ferrari HA, et al. Individual and additive effects of vitamin D, omega-3 and exercise on DNA methylation clocks of biological aging in older adults from the DO-HEALTH trial. Nature Aging. 2025;5:376–385. doi:10.1038/s43587-024-00793-y
- Ames BN. DNA damage from micronutrient deficiencies is likely to be a major cause of cancer. Mutat Res. 2001;475(1–2):7–20. doi:10.1016/S0027-5107(01)00070-7
- Instituto de Salud Pública de Chile. Vitamina D: situación actual en Chile (datos ENS 2016–2017). ispch.gob.cl
- Asociación entre bajos niveles de vitamina D y deterioro cognitivo en personas mayores chilenas: resultados de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud 2016–2017. Revista Médica de Chile. 2023. revistamedicadechile.cl
- National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. Magnesium – Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. ods.od.nih.gov
- Williams RJ. Biochemical Individuality: The Basis for the Genetotrophic Concept. New York: John Wiley & Sons; 1956.
- Ames BN. Low micronutrient intake may accelerate the degenerative diseases of aging through allocation of scarce micronutrients by triage. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2006;103(47):17589–17594. doi:10.1073/pnas.0608757103
This content is for informational purposes and does not replace consultation, diagnosis, or treatment by a healthcare professional. Dietary supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.