Vitamins: From Their Name to Their History – What You Should Know
Vitamins are essential nutrients for our health, but the story behind their names and discovery is far more fascinating than most people realize. Why is the B group divided into numbers? Did you know that some vitamins once had names that later disappeared? In this post, we’ll explore what vitamins are, their types and benefits, the diseases linked to deficiencies, and the quirky history behind their names. 1. What Exactly Are Vitamins, and How Did They Get Their Name? Vitamins are organic compounds that our bodies need in small amounts to function properly. Unlike carbohydrates, proteins, or fats, vitamins don’t directly provide energy. Instead, they often act as coenzymes , helping enzymes regulate essential metabolic processes. The term “vitamin” was first coined in 1912 by Polish biochemist Kazimierz Funk , who isolated a compound from rice bran that prevented beriberi (later identified as vitamin B1). He believed this was a vital amine—hence the name. Eventually, sc...