Institute of Optimum Nutrition
Encyclopedia
The Institute for Optimum Nutrition (ION) was founded by British
nutritionist
and author Patrick Holford
in 1984. It was originally in London
in the United Kingdom
, but moved to Richmond, Surrey
in November 2005. The Institute for Optimum Nutrition is a UK registered charity number 1013084. Patrick Holford no longer has any involvement in the direction or running of the ION.
According to its website, ION is an "independent, not-for-profit educational charity whose principal activity is to further the knowledge and practice of optimum nutrition."
ION promotes the practice of functional medicine
, which focuses on the patient rather than the disease and on underlying causes rather than symptoms.
The ION runs courses and workshops in nutrition. They publish the Optimum Nutrition Magazine four times a year. They provide lists of Nutritional Therapists in the UK. The professional body representing Nutritional Therapists is BANT - the British Association for Applied Nutrition and Nutritional Therapy. Nutritional Therapists can also register with the Complementary and Natural Health Council (CNHC) which is supported by the Department of Health.
ION offers a Home Study Course, and a three-year Diploma in Nutritional Therapy (DipION). The DipION course is accredited by the Nutritional Therapy Council, which sets professional standards for nutritional therapy. The Institute is not an accredited Higher Education Institution, the University of Bedfordshire
previously validated its DipION as a foundation degree, but withdrew validation in 2010.
has accused the ION of basing its nutritional recommendations on weak evidence drawn from low quality research. Moreover, Prof David Colquhoun
has criticised the ION's Diploma in Nutritional Therapy, arguing that:
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
nutritionist
Nutritionist
A nutritionist is a person who advises on matters of food and nutrition impacts on health. Different professional terms are used in different countries, employment settings and contexts — some examples include: nutrition scientist, public health nutritionist, dietitian-nutritionist, clinical...
and author Patrick Holford
Patrick Holford
Patrick Holford is a British nutritionist/nutritional therapist and author. He appears regularly on television and radio in the UK and abroad. He has 34 books in print in 24 languages...
in 1984. It was originally in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, but moved to Richmond, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
in November 2005. The Institute for Optimum Nutrition is a UK registered charity number 1013084. Patrick Holford no longer has any involvement in the direction or running of the ION.
According to its website, ION is an "independent, not-for-profit educational charity whose principal activity is to further the knowledge and practice of optimum nutrition."
ION promotes the practice of functional medicine
Functional medicine
Functional medicine is a form of Western alternative medicine unrelated to the Western biomedical approaches.It focuses on treating individuals who may have bodily symptoms, imbalances and dysfunctions...
, which focuses on the patient rather than the disease and on underlying causes rather than symptoms.
The ION runs courses and workshops in nutrition. They publish the Optimum Nutrition Magazine four times a year. They provide lists of Nutritional Therapists in the UK. The professional body representing Nutritional Therapists is BANT - the British Association for Applied Nutrition and Nutritional Therapy. Nutritional Therapists can also register with the Complementary and Natural Health Council (CNHC) which is supported by the Department of Health.
ION offers a Home Study Course, and a three-year Diploma in Nutritional Therapy (DipION). The DipION course is accredited by the Nutritional Therapy Council, which sets professional standards for nutritional therapy. The Institute is not an accredited Higher Education Institution, the University of Bedfordshire
University of Bedfordshire
The University of Bedfordshire is based in Luton and Bedford, the two largest towns in the English county of Bedfordshire. The university was created by the merger of the University of Luton and the Bedford campus of De Montfort University on 1 August 2006 following approval by the Privy Council...
previously validated its DipION as a foundation degree, but withdrew validation in 2010.
Criticisms
The British Dietetic AssociationBritish Dietetic Association
The British Dietetic Association is a professional association and trade union for dieticians in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1936 and became a certified union in 1982; it is affiliated to the Trades Union Congress and the Scottish Trades Union Congress.The BDA was established in 1936...
has accused the ION of basing its nutritional recommendations on weak evidence drawn from low quality research. Moreover, Prof David Colquhoun
David Colquhoun
David Colquhoun, FRS is a British pharmacologist at University College London . He has contributed to the general theory of receptor and synaptic mechanisms of single ion channel function. He previously held the A.J. Clark chair of Pharmacology at UCL, and was the Hon. Director of the Wellcome...
has criticised the ION's Diploma in Nutritional Therapy, arguing that:
The give-away is the term Nutritional Therapy. They are the folks who claim, with next to no evidence, that changing your diet, and buying from them a lot of expensive ’supplements’, will cure almost any disease (even AIDS and cancer)...The IoN was founded by Patrick HolfordPatrick HolfordPatrick Holford is a British nutritionist/nutritional therapist and author. He appears regularly on television and radio in the UK and abroad. He has 34 books in print in 24 languages...
, whose only qualification in nutrition is a diploma awarded to himself by his own Institute. His advocacy of vitamin C as better than conventional drugs to treat AIDS is truly scary.