Board-certified anti-aging and integrative cancer therapy physician; expert in orthomolecular medicine, low-carb medicine, functional & metabolic therapies.
Read Our Interview with Dr. Cheng Here
ABOUT DR. CHENG
Dr. Richard Z. Cheng is a physician and researcher with more than 30 years of clinical experience, practicing in both the United States and Shanghai, China. He integrates conventional medicine with alternative and root-cause therapies, focusing heavily on nutrition, lifestyle, metabolic health, and the therapeutic role of micronutrients.
He is the founder and director of Cheng Integrative Health Center in Columbia, SC, and president of Cheng Health Consulting, Ltd., Shanghai. He also co-founded the Low Carb Medicine Alliance of China, promoting health through diet, lifestyle, and nutrition.
In May 2022, Dr. Cheng was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the International Society for Orthomolecular Medicine for his work promoting nutritional immunity — especially during and after COVID-19. He serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Orthomolecular Medicine News Service (OMNS), contributing regularly to scientific and public education on nutrient-based therapies.
Education & Training
- Medical School: Shanghai Medical University, Shanghai, China
- Ph.D. in Biochemistry / Molecular Biology: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, USA
- Fellowship: National Cancer Institute, NIH (USA)
- Fellow, American Academy of Anti-Aging & Regenerative Medicine (A4M)
Professional Highlights & Awards
- Hall of Fame, International Society for Orthomolecular Medicine (2022)
- Co-founder, Low Carb Medicine Alliance of China
- Editor-in-Chief, Orthomolecular Medicine News Service
- Consultant / Advisor: Shenzhen Bao’an Central Hospital (China)
- Senior advisor, Society of International Metabolic Oncology
Clinical & Research Focus
Dr. Cheng’s work emphasizes a root-cause, low-toxicity, nutrition-based model of health and disease, combining:
- Orthomolecular medicine: use of vitamins, antioxidants, high-dose nutrients
- Metabolic therapies: low-carbohydrate diet, insulin regulation, mitochondrial health
- Integrative cancer therapy: targeting cancer through metabolic and nutrient-based strategies rather than relying solely on conventional chemotherapy / radiotherapy.
- Toxin reduction: minimizing exposure to environmental toxins, heavy metals, and free radicals; promoting detoxification and antioxidant defenses.
- Anti-aging: tracking both subjective wellbeing and objective biomarkers such as telomere length, mitochondrial function, and oxidative stress.
Vitamin D & Nutrient Protocol
- Dr. Cheng routinely recommends 5,000 IU/day of vitamin D, but may increase up to 10,000 IU/day, depending on patient needs.
- He monitors blood calcium, PTH, renal function, and 25(OH)D levels — especially when higher doses (>10,000 IU/day) are used.
- His target 25(OH)D range: 50–80 ng/mL (125–200 nmol/L), with some patients reaching as high as 100 ng/mL.
- He never uses calcium supplements; instead, he focuses on nutrients like magnesium, vitamin C, and vitamin K2 (especially for patients with cardiovascular risk) to support health.
Philosophy & Approach
Dr. Cheng sees health through a holistic, terrain-based lens:
- He advocates whole-food, minimally processed diets, ideally very low in ultra-processed foods and refined sugars.
- He emphasizes personal responsibility in health: reducing toxin exposure, using appropriate antioxidants, and optimizing nutrient status.
- He distinguishes between general anti-aging (preventing or reversing chronic disease) and specific anti-aging (addressing genetic or molecular limits such as telomere length).
Recent & Notable Work
- Presented on “Reversal of Coronary Heart Disease with Integrative Orthomolecular and Low Carb Medicine” for the International Society for Orthomolecular Medicine.
- Featured in a Real Health Podcast episode discussing how environmental toxins drive mitochondrial dysfunction, aging, and chronic disease.
- Published perspectives in Orthomolecular Medicine News Service (OMNS) on cancer’s root causes, proposing new frameworks for prevention and treatment.
- Clinical case reports: cancer patients treated with metabolic / orthomolecular protocols, including high-dose vitamin C and ketogenic interventions.
How He Engages with GrassrootsHealth / Public Health
- Dr. Cheng strongly supports nutrient measurement and monitoring (e.g., vitamin D, magnesium, toxic elements), aligning with GrassrootsHealth’s mission to empower people through data and self-testing.
- He contributes to educational content, shares his clinical insights, and helps bridge the gap between traditional medicine and nutrient-based preventive care.
Contact / Resources
- Website: Cheng Integrative Health Center (Columbia, SC) drwlc.com
- Blog: Integrative Orthomolecular Medicine blog by Dr. Cheng drwlc.com
- Podcast: Interview on Real Health Podcast (Environmental Toxins & Cancer) realhealthpodcast.org
- Orthomolecular Medicine News Service (OMNS): Editor-in-chief orthomolecular.org
