How Were the Different Vitamins Named?
The discovery and subsequent naming of vitamins has its origins in the late 19the century and early 20th century. The first identification of what became known as vitamins occurred due to the research of Dr. Casmir Funk. Dr. Funk was attempting to find a means of treating the disease of beriberi through nutritional means. His research led to the understanding that many diseases had their origins in a lack of important nutrients, which he named vitamines. As more was understood about the nature of these vitamines, a need to develop a consistent means to assign names of vitamins became apparent.
