1938 - Nutrition

Nutrition

Vitamin B3 (nicotinic acid, or niacin) is found to prevent pellagra (see 1915; Elvehejm, 1936).

Studies of the chemistry of vision in poor light begun by Harvard biologist George Wald, 31, will show the importance of vitamin A in avoiding nyctalopia (night blindness).

Biochemist Roger J. Williams, 45, synthesizes pantothenic acid, a minor B vitamin present in many foods. Born in India, Williams is a brother of the thiamine pioneer.

Paul Karrer synthesizes vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) and finds it to be an effective antioxidant (see Karrer, 1931; Evans, Emerson, 1935).

A scientific meeting at Toronto hears proposals that bread be enriched with the B1 vitamin thiamine.