Why are vitamins named after letters?

These substances are essential for the body, but the vitamins are called very simple and easy to remember by names such as vitamins A, B, vitamin C, D . but not by long names, difficult to remember like things Other substances or drugs.

Origin of Vitamins

In 1905, Cornelius Adrianus Pekelharing, one of the first researchers to learn about animals, stated that milk contained "some unrecognized substances . in very small quantities, necessary for growth and nourish normal ".

In 1912, while studying rice, researcher Casimir Funk isolated an organic "element" that he described as an amino (like amino acid). Because it is so important to life, he combined the two words, giving the term vitamin.

The idea of ​​using the current familiar alphabet system to name vitamins could have originated from Cornelia Kennedy, because in her master's thesis in 1916, she was the first "to use the letter" A ". and "B" to designate essentials in the new diet ".

Over time, others, including Cornelia Kennedy's advisor, biochemist Elmer McCollum, who discovered vitamin A, began to incorrectly quote McCollum's original research as the source for Vitamin categories .

These B group vitamins are not necessarily named chronologically

Initially, in addition to the letters of the alphabet, vitamins are also determined to be water-soluble or fat-soluble (eg, Vitamin A soluble in fat and vitamin B dissolved in water). . In 1920, Jack Cecil Drummond suggested removing "e" in "vitamin" to distinguish vitamins from amines and eliminating always " soluble". And so, vitamins are called Vitamins A, B, C .

Origin of vitamin names

The first five vitamins discovered between 1910 and 1920 were named vitamins A, B, C, D and E. Interestingly, vitamin D was initially pooled with vitamin A until when scientists discovered it was "two separate factors that are related to each other".

When a second substance similar to vitamin B was discovered in 1920, both were renamed B1 (Thiamine - vitamin B) and B2 (Riboflavin - vitamin B2). The remaining B vitamins are grouped together under the name "B group vitamins" because they have the same composition, distributed in natural food sources and remarkably similar physiological functions .

These B-group vitamins are not necessarily named chronologically, such as vitamin B12 (Cobalamins) discovered in 1926, B5 (pantothenic acid) and B7 (Biotin) in 1931, B6 (Pyridoxine) in the year 1934, B3 (Niacin) in 1936 and B9 (Folic acid) were discovered in 1941. Other defective B vitamins were originally thought to be vitamins, but were later reclassified.

Today's vitamins switch from vitamin E to K because, like some B vitamins, substances that have been thought to be vitamins are reclassified. For example, today's vitamin F is considered essential fatty acids (omega 3 and 6). Similarly, vitamin G has been reclassified as B2 (Riboflavin), and vitamin H is now Biotin.

Today's vitamins switch from vitamin E to K because, like some B vitamins, substances that have been thought to be vitamins are reclassified

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), "vitamin A deficiency is the leading cause of preventable blindness in children". In fact, the WHO estimates that there are 250 million children and a large number of pregnant women with vitamin E deficiency worldwide.

In the past 30 years in the United States, the arm fracture in boys has increased by more than 32% and in girls by more than 50%, and researchers "suspect the main reason is because children do not receive enough calcium, which is essential for strong bones ". According to recent reports, over 60% of boys in adolescence, and 80% of teenage girls are deficient in calcium.

Notably, despite having calcium-rich foods like milk, in the US, in 2009, 75% of adults and adolescents suffered from vitamin D deficiency. This is worrisome because "lack of lead vitamin D to rickets (weak, soft bones) in children and osteoporosis in the elderly, but scientists believe that vitamin D deficiency can also cause heart attack, diabetes and cancer . ".

Iron deficiency, often leading to anemia, is also a global health problem. WHO estimates that "2 billion people - more than 30% of the world population - suffer from iron deficiency anemia".

In a recent survey of 1,000 adult Americans, scientists found that 64% of Americans take vitamin supplements. Among those surveyed, 78% think vitamins help improve performance or sports performance.

Trading in nutritional supplements, including vitamins, is a big business in the United States. According to the Wall Street Journal, sales of these drugs reached "nearly $ 23 billion last year."