Casimir Funk: The Polish Biochemist Who Discovered Vitamins

Casimir Funk: The Polish Biochemist Who Discovered Vitamins

Casimir Funk was a Polish biochemist who is best known for his discovery of vitamins. He was born in Warsaw, Poland, in 1884. He studied chemistry and biochemistry at the University of Bern in Switzerland. In 1912, he published a paper in which he proposed that certain diseases, such as beriberi, scurvy, pellagra, and rickets, were caused by a deficiency of essential nutrients in the diet. He called these nutrients "vital amines" or "vitamines."

Funk's Research:

Funk's research was based on the work of other scientists, such as Christiaan Eijkman, who had shown that beriberi could be prevented by eating brown rice instead of white rice. Funk hypothesized that other diseases could be prevented by eating foods that contained specific nutrients.

Funk's Legacy:

Funk's work helped to lead to the discovery of many vitamins, including vitamin B1 (thiamine), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin C (ascorbic acid), and vitamin D (calciferol). He is considered to be one of the pioneers of the field of nutrition.

Additional Information:

Funk was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1929, but he did not win.

Funk died in New York City in 1967.

Funk's work is still relevant today. Many people still suffer from vitamin deficiencies, and Funk's research has helped to develop effective treatments for these diseases.