What is the Root Word for Vitamin and Why Did it Change?
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3 min read
In 1912, Polish biochemist Casimir Funk first coined the term "vitamine" from the Latin word for life, "vita," and the chemical term "amine". The word's history is a perfect example of how scientific understanding evolves, as the final 'e' was dropped once it was discovered that not all vitamins were, in fact, amines. This change reflects a foundational shift in how these essential micronutrients were categorized and understood.
