Tag: Edward mellanby

For centuries, the debilitating bone disease rickets plagued children worldwide, but it wasn't until the early 20th century that the cause was definitively identified. A complex series of investigations eventually revealed who discovered vitamin D and when, showcasing a multi-researcher effort rather than a single 'eureka' moment.

The near-eradication of rickets in developed nations is a direct result of the discovery of vitamin D and subsequent food fortification efforts. Yet, the question of who invented vitamin D is not attributable to a single person, but rather a collective scientific effort that unfolded across several decades and countries.

Rickets, a debilitating bone disease now known to be caused by vitamin D deficiency, once plagued up to 80% of children in the smog-filled, industrial cities of 17th-century Britain. This devastating epidemic spurred centuries of scientific inquiry into its mysterious origins, ultimately leading to the discovery of vitamin D and its critical role in human health.