Taking vitamins have become second nature and rather common in today’s society. Naturally occurring nutrients in the body that sustain our systems and keep us healthy are now found on the shelves of our local pharmacies. From the days of antiquity, food and herbs were the only solutions to alleviating symptoms and addressing illnesses. Humanity has evolved tremendously and we now not only rely on the above, but are exposed to what we call vitamins, in capsules, liquids, tablets and powder form that yield the same results. Have you ever wondered about the discovery of vitamins? Who discovered them and how we have been able to fortify our cells and prevent disease with them? In this article we will explore the discovery of vitamins, the people involved and its evolution over time.
The Father of Vitamins
Let’s begin with who discovered vitamins, his name was Casimir Funk, a brilliant Polish biochemist. It all started when he read an article by Dutch Physician, Christiaan Eijkman who discovered that beriberi (a disease of the peripheral nerve that caused pain and paralysis) was happening specifically in the Orient where people consumed polished rice. Eijkman found that beriberi was less likely to happen in those who ate brown rice vs the processed, polished version. Intrigued by these findings, Funk embarked on a mission to isolate the responsible substance. His isolation was successful and vitamin B-1 was born. He published his first work on vitamins titled “Experiments on the Causation of beriberi”, in the British medical journal, The Lancet in 1912.
How the word “Vitamin” came about.
When Funk isolated this “active factor,” he believed it belonged to a class of amines, leading to the term “vital amines,” later shortened to “vitamines.” A few years later, researchers discovered that B-1 was not part of that class. However, they still needed a name for these active factors, so they shortened “vitamines” to “vitamin.”
Discovery of Vitamins Timeline
Funk spent his years advancing societies understanding of Nutrition and concluded that disease like scurvy, anemia and pellagra were all caused by a specific nutrient deficiency in the body.
Many other physicians were also on the brink of discovery and followed suit with other vitamin discoveries.
In 1914 Elmer V. McCollum and Marguerite Davis were American biochemists that discovered vitamin A
Elmer V. McCollum was also an American biochemist, who discovered Vitamin B in 1916. Scientists discovered both vitamin A and B by experimenting with rat diets.
In 1919, Edward Mellanby, an English Physiologist discovered Vitamin D and its role in preventing a disease called rickets.
In 1943, the Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded to Danish biochemist Carl Peter Henrick Dam for discovering vitamin K.
Other vitamins that came on the map during this time included vitamin C, B-1, B-2, B-3, B-6, folic acid, vitamin E and many others.
Nobel Prize
While Funk was recognized as a pioneer in vitamin discovery, he did not receive a Nobel Prize for it. Christiaan Eijkman, a Dutch physician from the Netherlands, was a awarded the Nobel Prize for his discovery of the antineuritic vitamin in 1929. They split the prize with Sir Frederick Gowland Hopkins, an English biochemist, for his discovery of growth-stimulating vitamins. It is not clear why Funk did not receive a Nobel Prize but despite this fact, his name and his work has maintained its relevancy in the discovery of vitamins.
Forward Movement
The 20th century marked the discovery of a plethora of vitamins in relation to disease. This wave of breakthroughs opened the doors to a new market of synthetic vitamin makers as the Nutraceutical industry started booming.
That boom hasn’t slowed down in today’s age and scientists continue to add to the library of discoveries. Isolated hormones, homeopathic treatments, daily multivitamins, and plant-based compounds are just the beginning of the evolving field of natural medicine.
Overall, the discovery of vitamins is credited to the work of Casimir Funk, along with many other biochemists and physicians. Discovering the link between vitamin deficiency and diseases has saved lives and upheld optimal health. We now have many options to keep our bodies healthy and strong in today’s evolved society. Next time you walk into your local pharmacist, never forget the dedicated work of the people who made it possible.
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