Casmir Funk: The Biochemist Man Who Discover Vitamins

Forget the superheroes with capes and tights, the real heroes often walk among us in white lab coats. One such hero, often overlooked but deserving a standing ovation, is Casimir Funk. This Polish biochemist wasn’t saving the world from alien invasions, but he did something arguably more profound – he revolutionized our understanding of health and nutrition by unlocking the secrets of vitamins.

Buckle up, because we’re about to embark on a journey into the fascinating world of Funk, where deficiency diseases trembled and a health revolution brewed, all thanks to a man with an insatiable curiosity and a knack for groundbreaking discoveries. So, put down that multivitamin for a moment and dive into the story of the unsung hero who coined the term “vitamin” and sparked a health revolution that continues to impact us today!

Table of Contents

Who is Casimir Funk?

Casimir Funk (1884 – 1967) was a Polish-born American biochemist who is credited with coining the term “vitamins”. He is also known as the “father of vitamin therapy. Born in Warsaw, Poland, Casimir Funk’s scientific journey took him to various countries, including France and the United Kingdom, for his research endeavors. In 1915, Casimir Funk made his way to New York State, where he would spend several years. However, he maintained close ties to Europe, traveling back and forth until World War II. After establishing himself in the United States, he officially became a citizen in 1920.

In 1912, Funk proposed the “vitamine hypothesis”

Casimir Funk identified beriberi, scurvy, pellagra, and rickets as diseases caused by a lack of specific chemical substances in the diet. Additionally, he demonstrated the cure for polyneuritis in pigeons – supplementing their diet with a concentrate made from rice bran.

Funk Published Over 140 Articles

In his articles, he is considered to have advanced the understanding of nutrition and revolutionized the way people view their health.

Founded Research Institution

Funk moved to Paris in 1927 and founded Casa Biochemica, a privately funded research institution.

Recognition

Casimir Funk’s legacy continues to be celebrated. The Polish Institute of Arts and Sciences of America (PIASA), a non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening civil society, annually honors outstanding Polish-American scientists with the “Casimir Funk Natural Sciences Award.“ As of February 2024, the award’s most recent recipient is Alexander Wlodawer, an associate at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) renowned for his expertise in structural biology. Past distinguished recipients include Nobel Laureate Roald Hoffmann, Aleksander Wolszczan, Hilary Koprowski, Peter T. Wolczanski, Wacław Szybalski, Zbyszek Darzynkiewicz, and Benoit Mandelbrot.

Further solidifying Funk’s lasting impact, Google Doodle commemorated his 140th birthday on February 23rd, 2024, collaborating with his family’s estate in various ways. Among these efforts was working with Erik Funk, Casimir’s grandson, who expressed his appreciation for Google’s recognition of his grandfather’s contributions.

How To Pronounce Casimir Funk

The Vitamin Man Who Sparked a Health Revolution

Inspired by a Dutch scientist’s discovery that brown rice protected people from a disease called beriberi, Casimir Funk embarked on a mission. He wanted to isolate the magical ingredient in brown rice that kept people healthy. His relentless pursuit led him to a groundbreaking discovery: a group of essential nutrients he named “vitamines” (later shortened to “vitamins”).

Funk, a brilliant biochemist, wasn’t just interested in beriberi. He believed similar “vitamines” existed to combat other illnesses like scurvy, rickets, and even pellagra. His 1912 book, “The Vitamines,” laid the foundation for understanding these vital nutrients.

But Funk’s journey wasn’t smooth sailing. He initially thought his “anti-beri-beri-factor” was vitamin B1 (thiamine), but later research revealed it was actually vitamin B3 (niacin). Yet, his vision of multiple “vitamines” paved the way for identifying essential nutrients like vitamins B1, B2, C, and D.

Driven by an insatiable curiosity, Funk delved into other areas too. He researched hormones, diabetes, and even the biochemistry of cancer. In 1936, he even unraveled the molecular structure of thiamine, although others had already isolated it.

Funk’s impact transcended his discoveries. From 1948, he was president of the Funk Foundation for Medical Research, which he established. He dedicated his later years to understanding cancer. Although some of his initial theories were later revised, his pioneering work laid the groundwork for modern vitamin research and revolutionized our understanding of health and nutrition.

How did Casimir Funk discover Vitamins

The biochemist was studying the effects of food ingredients on illnesses like scurvy, a condition caused by severe vitamin C deficiency, when he developed the idea for vitamins in 1911.

Casimir Funk, a Polish-American biochemist, discovered vitamins in the early 1900s:

1911

Funk isolated a concentrate from rice polishings that cured polyneuritis in pigeons. He named it “vitamine” because it appeared to be vital to life and because it was probably an amine.
1912

Funk proposed the term “vitamine” (for vital amine) for organic compounds responsible in trace amounts for the cure or prevention of beriberi, scurvy, rickets, and pellagra.
Later research

Funk studied animal hormones and contributed to the knowledge about hormones of the pituitary and sex glands. He emphasized the importance of balance between hormones and vitamins.

The Prevention and Conquest of Scurvy, Beri-beri, and Pellagra

image source – canva.com

As T.H Jukes said in his abstract, “This passage details the timeline of research required to conquer three widespread nutritional deficiencies, When human beings migrated from tropical and subtropical regions to the temperate zone, they lost their year-round supplies of vitamin C, and scurvy began to occur.

The emergence of beri-beri had a mechanical basis; the introduction of milling, which prevented the rancidity of rice and wheat, also removed the essential vitamin B1. The circumstance leading to the third deficiency disease was reliance on maize, without supplementing it with “protective” foods, such as meat, milk, and vegetables.

Under conditions of poverty, the protective foods became expensive, and pellagra appeared. Synthetic chemistry, together with improvements in the diet and in education, largely overcame scurvy, beri-beri, and pellagra, but deficiencies of vitamins A, C, and folic acid still occur widely in economically disadvantaged populations, and this is a challenge to those who wish to improve public health. The brilliant prophesies of Casimir Funk, made in 1912, were fulfilled within 25 years. Today, his word “vitamin” is universally familiar”

Through research and scientific advancements, we have overcome many nutritional deficiencies caused by cultural and economic factors, as well as a lack of knowledge. The discovery of vitamins and their addition to our diets has been a triumph of science and technology, improving the health of both humans and animals.

What Vitamin Is Used To Treat Pellagra?

Pellagra is a nutritional disorder caused by a deficiency of niacin, also known as vitamin B3. It is cured by replacing the missing nutrient. Most people begin to improve right away with niacin supplements.

Oral therapy with nicotinamide or niacin is usually effective in reversing the clinical manifestations of pellagra. Patients are often malnourished and suffer from other vitamin deficiencies, so a high-protein diet and B-complex vitamins are needed for complete restoration of health.

Symptoms of pellagra include: Dementia, Diarrhea, Dermatitis, Photosensitive dermatitis, Death. You may need additional treatment for symptoms such as skin sores and mouth sores. (This is for informational purposes only. This information does not constitute medical advice or diagnosis).

Conclusion

So, the next time you pop a vitamin, remember the “Vitamin Man” – Casimir Funk, whose unwavering curiosity and dedication unlocked the secrets of these essential nutrients, forever changing the course of human health.

Casimir Funk – Frequently Asked Questions

What did Casimir Funk discover?

He is credited with being among the first to formulate the concept of vitamins, which he called “vital amines” or “vitamines”.

Who discovered vitamins for the first time?

Casimir Funk

The discovery of the vitamins was a major scientific achievement in our understanding of health and disease. In 1912, Casimir Funk originally coined the term “vitamine”. The major period of discovery began in the early nineteenth century and ended at the mid-twentieth century.

How old is Casimir Funk now?

The Polish-born finished his career off with a book called Die Vitamine, exposing all his findings over his career. On top of all his vitamin discoveries, Funk also studied the biochemistry of peptic ulcers, diabetes, and hormones. He passed away on November 19, 1967 in Albany, New York, at the age of 83

What word did Dr Funk coin, what animal did he use in his experiment to coin this term?

At the Lister Institute, Funk prepared a pyrimidine-related concentrate of rice polishings which was curative for beriberi in pigeons. In 1912 he proposed the term “vitamine” (for vital amine) for organic compounds responsible in trace amounts for the cure or prevention of beriberi, scurvy, rickets, and pellagra.

What is the funk vitamin theory?

Funk’s concept of a group of ‘life-giving amines’ was revolutionary in 1912. The Funk model of vitamins was of simple amines as essential nutrients, each having a single mode of action in the cure of a specific disease.

10 Foods That Are High in Vitamin C

How To Improve Your Eyesight: 10 Easy Tips

Health Benefits of Cactus: What Are Its Benefits