Casimir Funk was a Polish-American biochemist who is credited with discovering and coining the term “vitamins.
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Birth and Origin
Casimir Funk was born on February 23, 1884, in Warsaw, Poland, which was part of the Russian Empire at the time.
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Education
He studied chemistry at the University of Bern in Switzerland and later worked at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, France.
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Discovery of Vitamin
Funk is credited with coining the term "vitamine" in 1912 after isolating a substance that prevented beriberi, a deficiency disease, marking the beginning of vitamin research.
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Funk identified that a lack of certain compounds, which he called "vital amines," was the cause of diseases like beriberi.
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Work on Beriberi
Theory of Deficiency Disease
He proposed that many diseases, such as pellagra, scurvy, and rickets, could be caused by deficiencies in specific vitamins.
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Vitamins Research Pioneer
Casimir Funk is often regarded as a pioneer in the field of nutrition and biochemistry for his work on identifying the importance of vitamins to human health.
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Multiple Research Field
Besides vitamins, Funk researched topics such as hormones, diabetes, and cancer, contributing to advancements in these fields as well.
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Published Work
He published several scientific papers and books on nutrition and vitamins, helping spread awareness and encouraging further research in the field.
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Later Life
Funk lived and worked in several countries, including the United States, France, and England, contributing globally to scientific research.
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Death
He passed away on November 19, 1967, in New York City, leaving behind a legacy as the father of vitamin research.