Tag: History of supplements

Over 50% of American adults take a dietary supplement, a market with ancient roots but modern complexity. But who made the supplements we see today, and how did a tradition of using natural remedies evolve into a multi-billion dollar industry?

Hundreds of years before modern supplements, Hippocrates was prescribing liquid whey for its health benefits, demonstrating that the concept of using concentrated milk derivatives is ancient. However, the question of who created the first protein powder as we know it today is not a simple one, with several key figures playing a part in its commercial development.

The modern protein supplement industry can be traced back to the mid-20th century, but the concept of concentrated protein as a nutritional aid dates back centuries to ancient Greece, where Hippocrates prescribed whey to patients. Defining the absolute first brand, however, involves unpacking several key moments in nutritional history.

In 1912, Polish-American biochemist Casimir Funk coined the term “vitamine,” setting the stage for the modern nutritional supplement industry. The invention of supplements, however, is not the work of a single person but a story of scientific milestones that culminated in today's multi-billion dollar market.