Vitamin C

The story of Vitamin C is closely connected to the prevention of scurvy. In the 18th century, British naval surgeon James Lind conducted experiments and found that citrus fruits could effectively prevent and treat scurvy among sailors. However, it took several decades before the link between citrus fruits and scurvy prevention was widely accepted.

In the early 20th century, the Hungarian biochemist Albert Szent-Györgyi conducted research on the adrenal glands and identified a compound that could prevent and treat scurvy. He named it "hexuronic acid," later recognized as ascorbic acid or Vitamin C. In 1932, Szent-Györgyi was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work on Vitamin C.

Vitamin C is crucial for collagen synthesis, wound healing, and antioxidant defense. It is found in various fruits and vegetables, with citrus fruits being particularly rich sources.