Peter D'Adamo

Peter J. D'Adamo ND (born 17 July, 1956) is a practicing American naturopathic physician and the author of a book series on the blood type diet. Co-authored by health writer Catherine Whitney, D'Adamo's books suggest that appropriate diet and lifestyle depend on an individual's blood type.

Background
D'Adamo gained a Naturopathic Doctorate (ND) from Bastyr College, Seattle, in 1982, and works as a licensed naturopathic physician at the D'Adamo Clinic, based in Wilton, Connecticut. While studying for his doctorate, he decided to research the scientific basis of the work of his father, James D'Adamo, who authored the first books on the concept of blood group and diet.

In 1990, D'Adamo was awarded 'Physician of the Year' by The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians. He is Adjunct Clinical Professor for both the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, Tempe, Arizona, and the National College of Naturopathic Medicine, Portland, Oregon.

D'Adamo founded the Institute for Human Individuality (IfHI), in 2001, and is Board Chairman. IfHI is a 501(c)(3) under Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, which has as its prime goal the fostering of research in the expanding area of human nutrigenomics.

D'Adamo's wife Martha Mosko D'Adamo is the CEO of North American Pharmacal (NAP),, a company that provides nutritional supplements tailored according to blood group. The D'Adamos have two daughters, and live in New Canaan, Connecticut.

Criticism
D'Adamo remains a controversial figure in the world of diets due to his suggestion that eating meat may be a healthy option for some individuals. Vegan author Michael Klaper M.D. has criticized D'Adamo's theories on this basis, saying that:
 * To me, the promotion of diets centered around meat increases the chances of ecological catastrophes and thus jeopardizes each of our futures.

From a scientific perspective, D'Adamo's Blood Type Diet has met with several criticisms. The fundamental criticisms are, for one, that none of his hundreds of citations to others' research on blood groups directly support his claims of differential food tolerances and, secondly, that he provides no comparative clinical trials demonstrating efficacy of his diet.

Writings
D'Adamo writes self-help books on diet and lifestyle in relation to blood group, and promotes naturopathy, the system of natural medicine. He has also published some scientific articles on naturopathic subjects. The success of his first book Eat Right 4 Your Type led to subsequent publications, in which he expanded on the initial concept. He has also published some of his writings in audio-book form.

In addition to his publications, D'Adamo has developed a comprehensive web site. From his interest in lectins, D'Adamo created Lecster, which claims to be "the largest open-access searchable database of lectin characterizations, clinical correlates and citations on the Internet". D'Adamo is also the founder and Editor Emeritus of the Journal of Naturopathic Medicine.

Other publications

 * Gut Ecosystems I-III: ABO and other polymorphic systems. Townsend Letter for Doctors. 1990;88
 * Possible alteration in ABO blood group observed in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. J. Naturopath. Med. 1990; 1: 39–43
 * With Zampieron, ER. ABO bias may signal innate differences in "Natural" immunity. J. Naturopath. Med. 1991 ;2(1): 11–16
 * Chelidonium and Sanguinaria alkaloids as anti-HIV therapy. J. Naturopath. Med. 1992;3(1): 31–34
 * Combination naturopathic therapy in Primary Biliary Cirrhosis. J. Naturopath. Med. 1993,4(1): 24–25
 * Illustrated guide to the history of bedside medicine. J. Naturopath. Med. 1993(4)1: 43–51
 * Larch arabinogalactan is a novel immune modulator. J. Naturopath. Med. 1996 (6)1:33–37
 * With Kelly, GS. Metabolic and immunologic consequences of ABH secretor and Lewis subtype status. Altern Med Rev. 2001 Aug;6(4):390–405. Review. PMID: 11578255