Fred R. Klenner
Encyclopedia
Frederick Robert Klenner, (October 22, 1907 – May 20, 1984) was an American
medical researcher and doctor in general practice in Reidsville
, North Carolina
. From the 1940s on he experimented with the use of vitamin C megadosage
as a therapy for a wide range of illnesses, most notably polio. He authored 28 research papers during his career. He was one of the originators of orthomolecular medicine
, but his work remains largely unaddressed by established medicine. Klenner is the subject or mentioned or referenced in a number of orthomolecular medicine related papers and articles. A recent book broadly updating Klenner's cumulative vitamin C work is dedicated to him and he is profiled in Medical Mavericks.
, Klenner attended St. Vincent College and St. Francis College
, where he received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in biology
. He graduated with honours and was awarded a teaching fellowship. He was also awarded the college medal for scholastic philosophy. He then took another teaching fellowship in chemistry at Catholic University
, where he studied for his doctorate in physiology
.
He graduated from Duke University
, School of Medicine in 1936. After three years of hospital training and his marriage to Annie Hill Sharp, sister of Susie Sharp
, he entered private medical practice in her hometown of Reidsville, North Carolina
. He continued to work there all his life.
In 1946, in Reidsville, North Carolina
, he delivered the "Fultz Quadruplets", the world's first recorded set of identical black quadruplets and the first quadruplets to survive in the Southern United States
. He subsequently brokered a 'corporate adoption' by Pet Milk, a Saint Louis
dairy, which provided a foster home, foster care, living expenses, a 147 acre (0.59488842 km²) farm, clothes, medical and dental care through majority in return for promotional rights. All were born under Klenner's noteworthy high vitamin C maternity regimen for over 300 births.
In 1949 Klenner published in and presented a paper to the American Medical Association
detailing the complete cure of 60 out of 60 of his patients with polio using intravenous sodium ascorbate injection Galloway and Seifert cited Klenner's presentation to the AMA in a paper of theirs. Generally, he gave 350 to 700 mg per kilogram body weight per day.
He described giving up to 300,000 milligrams (mg) per day of neutral pH sodium ascorbate. Klenner published 27 medical papers, most about vitamin C applications for over 30 diseases, two about treatment of severe neuropathies including multiple sclerosis
using aggressive supplementation. He wrote a 28th paper ca 1980, an unpublished update about MS treatment. It was posthumously summarized by Lendon Smith
in the Clinical Guide to the Use of Vitamin C.
His maxim: the patient should "get large doses of vitamin C in all pathological conditions while the physician ponders the diagnosis."
He inspired Linus Pauling
and Irwin Stone
to expand the research on the wider benefits of Vitamin C. In the foreword of the Clinical Guide, Linus Pauling wrote: "The early papers by Dr. Fred R. Klenner provide much information about the use of large doses of Vitamin C in preventing and treating many diseases. These papers are still important."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
medical researcher and doctor in general practice in Reidsville
Reidsville
Reidsville is the name of two towns in the United States:*Reidsville, Georgia*Reidsville, North Carolina...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. From the 1940s on he experimented with the use of vitamin C megadosage
Vitamin C megadosage
Vitamin C megadosage is the consumption of vitamin C in doses comparable to the amounts produced by the livers of most other mammals and well beyond the current Dietary Reference Intake...
as a therapy for a wide range of illnesses, most notably polio. He authored 28 research papers during his career. He was one of the originators of orthomolecular medicine
Orthomolecular medicine
Orthomolecular medicine is a form of complementary and alternative medicine that seeks to maintain health and prevent or treat diseases by optimizing nutritional intake and/or prescribing supplements...
, but his work remains largely unaddressed by established medicine. Klenner is the subject or mentioned or referenced in a number of orthomolecular medicine related papers and articles. A recent book broadly updating Klenner's cumulative vitamin C work is dedicated to him and he is profiled in Medical Mavericks.
Life
Born in PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, Klenner attended St. Vincent College and St. Francis College
Saint Francis University
Saint Francis University is a four-year, coeducational Catholic liberal arts university in Loretto, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1847 and conducted under the tradition of the Franciscan Friars of the Third Order Regular...
, where he received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
. He graduated with honours and was awarded a teaching fellowship. He was also awarded the college medal for scholastic philosophy. He then took another teaching fellowship in chemistry at Catholic University
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...
, where he studied for his doctorate in physiology
Physiology
Physiology is the science of the function of living systems. This includes how organisms, organ systems, organs, cells, and bio-molecules carry out the chemical or physical functions that exist in a living system. The highest honor awarded in physiology is the Nobel Prize in Physiology or...
.
He graduated from Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
, School of Medicine in 1936. After three years of hospital training and his marriage to Annie Hill Sharp, sister of Susie Sharp
Susie Sharp
Susie Marshall Sharp was an American jurist who served as the first female Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court. She was not the first woman to head the highest court in a U.S...
, he entered private medical practice in her hometown of Reidsville, North Carolina
Reidsville, North Carolina
Reidsville is a city located in Rockingham County, North Carolina. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 14,485.Originally established in the early 19th century as an outpost and stop on the stage line that ran between Salisbury, NC and Danville, VA called Wrights Crossroads,...
. He continued to work there all his life.
In 1946, in Reidsville, North Carolina
Reidsville, North Carolina
Reidsville is a city located in Rockingham County, North Carolina. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 14,485.Originally established in the early 19th century as an outpost and stop on the stage line that ran between Salisbury, NC and Danville, VA called Wrights Crossroads,...
, he delivered the "Fultz Quadruplets", the world's first recorded set of identical black quadruplets and the first quadruplets to survive in the Southern United States
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
. He subsequently brokered a 'corporate adoption' by Pet Milk, a Saint Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
dairy, which provided a foster home, foster care, living expenses, a 147 acre (0.59488842 km²) farm, clothes, medical and dental care through majority in return for promotional rights. All were born under Klenner's noteworthy high vitamin C maternity regimen for over 300 births.
Vitamin C studies
Klenner's main subspecialty was diseases of the chest, but he became interested in the use of very large doses of Vitamin C in the treatment of a wide range of illness. Many of his experiments were performed on himself. In 1948, he published his first paper on the use of large doses of Vitamin C in the treatment of virus diseases.In 1949 Klenner published in and presented a paper to the American Medical Association
American Medical Association
The American Medical Association , founded in 1847 and incorporated in 1897, is the largest association of medical doctors and medical students in the United States.-Scope and operations:...
detailing the complete cure of 60 out of 60 of his patients with polio using intravenous sodium ascorbate injection Galloway and Seifert cited Klenner's presentation to the AMA in a paper of theirs. Generally, he gave 350 to 700 mg per kilogram body weight per day.
He described giving up to 300,000 milligrams (mg) per day of neutral pH sodium ascorbate. Klenner published 27 medical papers, most about vitamin C applications for over 30 diseases, two about treatment of severe neuropathies including multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the fatty myelin sheaths around the axons of the brain and spinal cord are damaged, leading to demyelination and scarring as well as a broad spectrum of signs and symptoms...
using aggressive supplementation. He wrote a 28th paper ca 1980, an unpublished update about MS treatment. It was posthumously summarized by Lendon Smith
Lendon Smith
Lendon Howard Smith was an American OB/GYN, pediatrician, author, and television personality. He was notable for his advice on parenting and advocating children's health and eating issues...
in the Clinical Guide to the Use of Vitamin C.
His maxim: the patient should "get large doses of vitamin C in all pathological conditions while the physician ponders the diagnosis."
He inspired Linus Pauling
Linus Pauling
Linus Carl Pauling was an American chemist, biochemist, peace activist, author, and educator. He was one of the most influential chemists in history and ranks among the most important scientists of the 20th century...
and Irwin Stone
Irwin Stone
Irwin Stone was an American biochemist, chemical engineer, and author. He was the first to use ascorbic acid in the food processing industry as a preservative, and originated and published the hypothesis that humans require much larger amounts of Vitamin C for optimal health than is necessary to...
to expand the research on the wider benefits of Vitamin C. In the foreword of the Clinical Guide, Linus Pauling wrote: "The early papers by Dr. Fred R. Klenner provide much information about the use of large doses of Vitamin C in preventing and treating many diseases. These papers are still important."