Who discovered vitamins?

               It is well known that vitamins are chemical substances that our body needs to stay healthy. Vitamins are found in different kinds of food. Scientists call the six kinds of vitamins as ‘A’ ‘B’ ‘C’ ‘D’ ‘E’ and ‘K’. In fact vitamin ‘B’ is a group of vitamin.

               Do you know who pioneered the discovery of vitamins? The need for vitamins was discovered accidentally by the Dutch Bacteriologist, Christiaan Eijkman (1858-1930). He first identified that chickens fed on polished rice became ill. He realized the reason that after removing the outer layer of the grains, the polished rice lacks substances now we call vitamins. His reasoning was further confirmed when Eijkman visited Indonesia in 1886 to investigate the causes of the epidemic disease ‘Beriberi’ that took a heavy toll there. He was able to show that the disease ‘Beriberi’ was caused due to a dietary deficiency. This led to the discovery of vitamins and also the recognition of vitamins as essential to health.

               Eijkman, however, did not fully realize the wider perspective of the importance of vitamins. It was Fredrick Hopkin, the British Scientist, who put forward the theory that human beings need certain amount of such substances to keep them healthy. He suggested that diseases such as rickets or scurvy could be cured by providing necessary substances in food or by other methods containing different vitamins. This was found to be true and names of vitamins were given accordingly. 

               In fact, there are several sources and uses of vitamins. For instance vitamin “A” is found in butter, milk, egg, green vegetables and fish — which are needed for fighting diseases. All “B” vitamins are needed for a healthy appetite, energy production in body to stimulate nerves and skin. They are found in yeast meat and different crops. Vitamin “C” is for purifying blood and protection from cold. It is mainly found in fruits like orange and lemon etc. For strong bone formation Vitamin “D” is necessary — it exists in cod-liver oil and egg yolks; etc. Vitamin ‘E’ is found in coarse grains and also in many other foods. “K” vitamin plays a vital role for clotting of blood thus preventing oozing out of blood from an injury. It is available plentily in items like liver and green vegetables.

               From the above facts we can simply realize the absolute necessity of vitamins that keep us mobile and healthy. For this important discovery, Christiaan Eijkman and Fredrick Hopkin were awarded the Nobel Prize in the year 1929.

The following table lists some deficiency disorders due to the lack of different vitamins:

Vitamins              Deficiency Disorders

A                                 Night Blindness

 B                                 Beriberi, Neurological problems

C                                 Scurvy

D                                 Rickets

E                                  Anaemia

K                                  Haemorrhage