Who Invented Supplements? Tracing the Origins of Nutritional Science

November 16, 2025 •

3 min read

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.

Quick Summary

The creation of dietary supplements evolved from foundational discoveries by scientists like Casimir Funk, who identified essential nutrients, and entrepreneurs like Carl Rehnborg, who pioneered the first multivitamins.

Key Points

Casimir Funk Coined the Term: Polish biochemist Casimir Funk is widely credited with coining the term "vitamine" in 1912 and hypothesizing that nutritional deficiencies caused diseases like scurvy and beriberi.
Carl Rehnborg Commercialized Multivitamins: Inspired by his experiences in China, Carl Rehnborg founded Nutrilite in 1934, creating and marketing the first multivitamin/multimineral dietary supplement in the U.S.
The Concept Predates Modern Science: Ancient civilizations, such as the Egyptians and Greeks, used specific foods and plants like garlic, honey, and herbs to address health issues, demonstrating early forms of supplementation.
The Industry Expanded Post-WWII: Mass production of supplements became commonplace after World War II, driven by government focus on nutrition and the establishment of Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs).
Regulation Followed Industry Growth: The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994 provided a regulatory framework for supplements in the U.S., defining them as foods rather than drugs.
Discovery was a Collective Effort: The isolation of individual vitamins involved numerous scientists, including Umetaro Suzuki (vitamin B1) and Albert Szent-Györgyi (vitamin C), whose work contributed to the scientific foundation.
Modern Supplements Evolved from Natural and Synthetic Sources: Today's market combines naturally-sourced nutrients (like Rehnborg's original formulas) with industrially synthesized vitamins and minerals.

The Groundbreaking Work of Casimir Funk

Casimir Funk significantly advanced the field of biochemistry with his hypothesis in 1912 that diseases like beriberi and scurvy were caused by a lack of specific nutrients. He coined the term "vitamines" for these essential organic compounds, a term later shortened to "vitamins". Funk's work provided the scientific basis for understanding vitamins and their importance in preventing deficiency diseases.

Early Nutritional Milestones

Prior to Funk, researchers like Nikolai Lunin (1881) and Christiaan Eijkman (1897) conducted experiments demonstrating the existence of unidentified substances in food necessary for health, observing that diets lacking these "accessory factors" led to illness.

The Commercialization of Supplements by Carl Rehnborg

While Funk laid the scientific foundation, Carl Rehnborg is credited with pioneering the commercial dietary supplement industry. His observations in China about the health benefits of nutritious plants inspired him to develop a plant-based supplement.

The Birth of the Multivitamin

In 1934, Rehnborg launched Nutrilite, widely regarded as the first multivitamin/multimineral supplement marketed in the U.S.. He utilized concentrated plant nutrients and an early multi-level marketing model, establishing a blueprint for the modern supplement market.

Comparison of Key Figures: Funk vs. Rehnborg

A comparison of Funk and Rehnborg highlights their distinct contributions:


Aspect	Casimir Funk	Carl Rehnborg
Primary Role	Scientist/Biochemist	Entrepreneur/Innovator
Key Contribution	Formulated the concept of "vitamines" and linked them to deficiency diseases.	Created the first commercially marketed multivitamin in the United States.
Timeline	Early 20th century (coined the term in 1912).	Mid-20th century (launched Nutrilite in 1934).
Focus	Identifying essential nutrients and understanding their role in preventing diseases.	Developing, manufacturing, and marketing supplemental products to the public.
Impact	Provided the foundational scientific theory that sparked decades of vitamin research.	Established the commercial model for the modern dietary supplement industry.

The Evolution of the Supplement Industry

The supplement industry grew significantly after Funk and Rehnborg's work. Key developments include:

1930s-1940s: Industrial synthesis made mass production of vitamins possible, and the first vitamin tablets became available in 1935.
World War II: Increased focus on nutrition led to recommended dietary allowances (RDAs) and wider supplement availability.
1950s: Multivitamins became common household items.
1990s: The U.S. Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994 defined supplements and provided a regulatory framework, fueling industry growth.
Modern Era: The market diversified to include botanicals, probiotics, and personalized nutrition.

Modern Perspectives on Supplementation

Today, over half the U.S. population uses dietary supplements. While beneficial for deficiencies, their efficacy and regulation are debated. The FDA regulates supplements as foods, not drugs, meaning pre-market evaluation for safety and efficacy is not required. Consumers should be informed and consult healthcare providers due to the vast market and potential interactions. Criticisms include difficulty discerning effective products, questionable efficacy for healthy individuals, and over-reliance on pills instead of a balanced diet.

Conclusion

The invention of supplements is a cumulative story involving scientific discovery and commercial innovation. Casimir Funk's early 20th-century work defining vitamins and Carl Rehnborg's mid-20th-century launch of the first multivitamin were pivotal. Their contributions transformed nutrition and led to the modern supplement industry. Supplements can address nutritional gaps but should not replace a healthy diet. The impact of these pioneers is evident in today's diverse supplement market.

Key Takeaways

Casimir Funk coined the term "vitamin" in 1912 and linked nutritional deficiencies to diseases.
Carl Rehnborg created the first marketed multivitamin with his Nutrilite brand in 1934.
The Concept Predates Modern Science: Ancient cultures used natural remedies for health benefits.
The Industry Expanded Post-WWII with mass production and RDAs.
Regulation Followed Industry Growth: DSHEA in 1994 provided a U.S. regulatory framework, classifying supplements as foods.
Discovery was a Collective Effort: Many scientists contributed to isolating individual vitamins.

Frequently Asked Questions

Casimir Funk is often considered the "father of vitamin therapy" for his groundbreaking work in the early 20th century, where he connected nutritional deficiencies to diseases and coined the term "vitamine".

Carl Rehnborg created what is believed to be the first multivitamin/multimineral dietary supplement marketed in the U.S. in 1934, founding the Nutrilite brand.

The concept of vitamins was formulated by Casimir Funk in 1912, though earlier research by scientists like Christiaan Eijkman in 1897 and Nikolai Lunin in 1881 laid the groundwork by demonstrating the existence of unknown essential nutrients.

While modern supplements are a 20th-century invention, the practice of supplementing one's diet using specific natural remedies like herbs, honey, and garlic for health purposes dates back thousands of years in ancient cultures.

The word "vitamin" was coined by Casimir Funk in 1912 from the words "vital" and "amine," based on his incorrect belief that these compounds were all nitrogen-containing amines. The final 'e' was dropped later when it was discovered that not all vitamins are amines.

Yes, but differently than pharmaceuticals. In the U.S., the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994 regulates supplements as foods, not drugs. This means they are not evaluated for safety or efficacy by the FDA before they are marketed.

Industrial synthesis of vitamins became possible between the 1930s and 1940s. During World War II, government focus on nutrition for soldiers and civilians further drove mass production and marketing of these products.