~ The First Recorded Clinical Trial in 1747 ~
The history of Vitamin C is closely linked to the understanding and eventual conquest of scurvy, a debilitating and often fatal disease that
plagued sailors on long voyages for centuries.
Early Observations
As early as the 15th century, it was noted that certain foods, particularly citrus fruits, had a curative effect on scurvy. Vasco da Gama's voyages, for instance, observed this link.
In 1747, James Lind, a British naval surgeon, conducted a controlled experiment demonstrating that citrus fruits effectively prevented scurvy. He compared various treatments among sailors with scurvy and found that only those receiving oranges and lemons recovered. This is perhaps, the first recorded clinical trial.
Despite Lind's groundbreaking work, it took several decades for the British Navy to mandate citrus fruit or juice as a regular provision for sailors, earning them the nickname “limeys.”
The Dawn of Vitamin Research:
In 1912, Casimir Funk introduced the concept of “vitamins” as essential dietary components. The anti-scorbutic factor was soon recognized as a water-soluble substance, initially called “water-soluble C.”
Isolation and Identification:
In 1928, Hungarian scientist Albert Szent-Györgyi isolated a substance from animal adrenal glands, naming it “hexuronic acid.” He suspected it might be the anti-scorbutic factor.
Around the same time, in 1932, American biochemist Charles Glen King also isolated vitamin C in his laboratory and concluded it was the same as Szent-Györgyi's hexuronic acid. There was some dispute over who made the definitive connection first, possibly due to communication delays.
Working independently, Szent-Györgyi and his colleague Joseph Svirbely conducted experiments on guinea pigs (which, like humans, cannot synthesize vitamin C) and proved that hexuronic acid was indeed the anti-scorbutic factor. They renamed it “ascorbic acid,” meaning “anti-scurvy.”
Structural Determination and Synthesis:
In 1933, British chemist Norman Haworth determined the chemical structure of vitamin C. Haworth and Szent-Györgyi jointly proposed the name “ascorbic acid”
Both Szent-Györgyi and Haworth were awarded Nobel Prizes in 1937 for their work on vitamin C. Szent-Györgyi received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discoveries concerning biological combustion, with specific reference to vitamin C, and Haworth received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on the constitution of carbohydrates and vitamin C.
Further Discoveries and Applications:
Szent-Györgyi continued his research, famously identifying paprika as an exceptionally rich and easily accessible source of vitamin C, allowing for its production in larger quantities.
Since its discovery, vitamin C has been extensively studied for its various roles in human health, including its function as an antioxidant, its involvement in collagen synthesis, immune function, and iron absorption.
Today, vitamin C is recognized as an essential nutrient, and its deficiency is known to cause scurvy, characterized by symptoms like weakness, bleeding gums, and poor wound healing.
Research continues to explore the potential benefits of vitamin C in preventing and treating various diseases.
The history of vitamin C is a compelling story of scientific investigation driven by the need to combat a devastating disease. From empirical observations to isolation, structural determination, and synthesis, the journey to understanding and utilizing this essential nutrient has significantly impacted human health
* * *
William Garst is a consultant pharmacist who lives in Alachua, Florida. He is semi-retired and works part time at Lake Butler Hospital in Lake Butler, Florida. William received his pharmacy degree at Auburn University and a Doctor of Pharmacy from Colorado University. The Pharmacy Newsletter is a blog where you can find other informative columns. He may be contacted at garstcph@gmail.com.
# # #
Email editor@
alachuatoday.com
~ The First Recorded Clinical Trial in 1747 ~
The history of Vitamin C is closely linked to the understanding and eventual conquest of scurvy, a debilitating and often fatal disease that plagued sailors on long voyages for centuries.
Early Observations
As early as the 15th century, it was noted that certain foods, particularly citrus fruits, had a curative effect on scurvy. Vasco da Gama's voyages, for instance, observed this link.
In 1747, James Lind, a British naval surgeon, conducted a controlled experiment demonstrating that citrus fruits effectively prevented scurvy. He compared various treatments among sailors with scurvy and found that only those receiving oranges and lemons recovered. This is perhaps, the first recorded clinical trial.
Despite Lind's groundbreaking work, it took several decades for the British Navy to mandate citrus fruit or juice as a regular provision for sailors, earning them the nickname “limeys.”
The Dawn of Vitamin Research:
In 1912, Casimir Funk introduced the concept of “vitamins” as essential dietary components. The anti-scorbutic factor was soon recognized as a water-soluble substance, initially called “water-soluble C.”
Isolation and Identification:
In 1928, Hungarian scientist Albert Szent-Györgyi isolated a substance from animal adrenal glands, naming it “hexuronic acid.” He suspected it might be the anti-scorbutic factor.
Around the same time, in 1932, American biochemist Charles Glen King also isolated vitamin C in his laboratory and concluded it was the same as Szent-Györgyi's hexuronic acid. There was some dispute over who made the definitive connection first, possibly due to communication delays.
Working independently, Szent-Györgyi and his colleague Joseph Svirbely conducted experiments on guinea pigs (which, like humans, cannot synthesize vitamin C) and proved that hexuronic acid was indeed the anti-scorbutic factor. They renamed it “ascorbic acid,” meaning “anti-scurvy.”
Structural Determination and Synthesis:
In 1933, British chemist Norman Haworth determined the chemical structure of vitamin C. Haworth and Szent-Györgyi jointly proposed the name “ascorbic acid”
Both Szent-Györgyi and Haworth were awarded Nobel Prizes in 1937 for their work on vitamin C. Szent-Györgyi received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discoveries concerning biological combustion, with specific reference to vitamin C, and Haworth received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on the constitution of carbohydrates and vitamin C.
Further Discoveries and Applications:
Szent-Györgyi continued his research, famously identifying paprika as an exceptionally rich and easily accessible source of vitamin C, allowing for its production in larger quantities.
Since its discovery, vitamin C has been extensively studied for its various roles in human health, including its function as an antioxidant, its involvement in collagen synthesis, immune function, and iron absorption.
Today, vitamin C is recognized as an essential nutrient, and its deficiency is known to cause scurvy, characterized by symptoms like weakness, bleeding gums, and poor wound healing.
Research continues to explore the potential benefits of vitamin C in preventing and treating various diseases.
The history of vitamin C is a compelling story of scientific investigation driven by the need to combat a devastating disease. From empirical observations to isolation, structural determination, and synthesis, the journey to understanding and utilizing this essential nutrient has significantly impacted human health
* * *
William Garst is a consultant pharmacist who lives in Alachua, Florida. He is semi-retired and works part time at Lake Butler Hospital in Lake Butler, Florida. William received his pharmacy degree at Auburn University and a Doctor of Pharmacy from Colorado University. The Pharmacy Newsletter is a blog where you can find other informative columns. He may be contacted at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
# # #
Email editor@
alachuatoday.com