Vitamin B12

The discovery of Vitamin B12 is closely tied to the quest to understand pernicious anemia, a condition characterized by a decrease in red blood cells. In the early 20th century, researchers George Whipple and George Minot observed that consuming raw liver led to improvements in pernicious anemia. This led to the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1934 for their work.

In the 1940s, chemists isolated the active component responsible for treating pernicious anemia, and it was named Vitamin B12. Scientists also discovered that the stomach produced a substance called intrinsic factor, necessary for the absorption of Vitamin B12 in the intestines.

Vitamin B12 contains cobalt, and its structure was elucidated by Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin, who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1964 for her work. The identification of Vitamin B12 marked a significant milestone in understanding the role of cobalt in human nutrition.

Today, both Vitamin B9 and B12 are recognized for their essential roles in various bodily functions, including DNA synthesis, red blood cell formation, and neurological health. They are vital components of a balanced diet, and deficiencies can have significant health consequences. The history of these vitamins reflects the collaborative efforts of researchers in advancing our understanding of nutrition and human health.