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Fri Sep 16, 2011 11:16 am |
Today's Google logo reminds us that today would be the 118th birthday of Albert Szent-Gyorgyi, the scientist credited with the discovery of vitamin C. This credit is controversial, however...many think that others may have been "first." Szent-Gyorgyi was certainly not the only one studying the "antiscorbutic factor" at the time. Whoever was first, all of these early scientists whose labors ultimately identified and characterized this important substance are to be honored. Without this basic knowledge, the later discovery that all human beings have a genetic mutation that prevents us from making vitamin C in our bodies could not have been made. We would not know that vitamin C has numerous other important functions beyond preventing scurvy. And the means to manufacture it in annual quantities numbering millions of tons could not have been found. Isn't it interesting to think that today we can purchase a jar for a few dollars that is many times larger and more pure than the tiny amounts that these early pioneers extracted from adrenal glands collected from hundreds of animals, and then preciously guarded in their laboratories?
How interesting also is the controversy that has always been a part of the vitamin C story? Is the RDA enough? Can vitamin C prevent or treat colds? Can infusions of enormous amounts treat AIDS or cancer? Was another Nobel prize-winning scientist, namely Linus Pauling, a crackpot or a genius? Does vitamin C prevent aging of the skin? The list of controversial topics goes on and on.
Happy birthday, Albert, and honors to you and all the other early vitamin C researchers! Thank you for identifying this amazing substance, and thank you for giving us this amazing story that we can chat about online ad infinitum! |
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Sun Oct 02, 2011 5:50 am |
Great post! |
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Thu Mar 28, 2024 5:41 pm |
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