In nutrition and CAM, the term megavitamin therapy describes the use of large amounts of vitamins, often many times greater than the recommended dietary allowance (RDA), to prevent or treat many types of diseases. Today it is an aspect of orthomolecular medicine that also employs other nutrients such as dietary minerals, enzymes, amino acids, essential fatty acids, natural antioxidants and fermentable dietary fiber for short chain fatty acids. Historically megavitamin therapies have been stigmatized,http://www.discover.com/issues/may-05/features/vitamin-cure/?page=1 Susan Freinkel, Vitamin Cure: Can common nutrients curb violent tendencies and dispel clinical depression?, DISCOVER, Vol. 26 No. 05, May 2005 proponents say unfairly, by mainstream medical organizations and their associates.http://www.acnem.org/journal/18-1_april_1999/quackery.htm abstract Goodwin JS, et al.