Steenbock, Harry 1886-1967

VITAMIN RESEARCHER

Background.

In the 1920s research into the effects of vitamins was extensive and carried out in laboratories throughout the world. Harry Steenbock played an important role in this field of research. Steenbock studied at the University of Wisconsin in 1907 when noted biochemist Elmer McCollum was pursuing dietary and nutritional research as a member of the faculty.

Sunlight Increases Vitamin D.

McCollum's belief that substances called vitamins were essential to life, and his discovery of vitamin D as a cure for rickets, provided a starting point for Steenbock. McCollum's research had shown that both vitamin D and sunlight were effective in the treatment of rickets, but it was not known whether these treatments were independently effective or part of a single therapeutic process. Steenboek's research would provide an answer to this question. In 1924 he was able to prove that sunlight...

[The entire page is 352 words long]

Join eNotes

The above is a free excerpt. Get total access to this content with the:

eNotes Pass