Vitamin A

The history of Vitamin A is tied to the discovery of substances essential for preventing night blindness. In the early 20th century, researchers Elmer McCollum and Marguerite Davis conducted studies on rats and discovered that certain dietary components were crucial for maintaining normal vision. Later, the Hungarian biochemist Albert Szent-Györgyi isolated a compound from the adrenal glands that could prevent and cure scurvy in guinea pigs, but it was not Vitamin A.

In 1913, researchers Elmer McCollum and Marguerite Davis isolated a fat-soluble substance from butterfat that was essential for preventing night blindness in rats. This substance was later named Vitamin A. The discovery marked a significant advancement in understanding the importance of specific nutrients in maintaining health, particularly vision.

Vitamin A is essential for vision, immune function, and the health of skin and mucous membranes. It exists in various forms, including retinol and beta-carotene, and is found in foods such as liver, fish oil, and colorful fruits and vegetables.