About vitamin C
- supplementary article -
It is a mistake to think that Albert Szent-Györgyi discovered vitamin C. It was known two hundred years ago that eating citrus fruits prevented scurvy, and this preventive effect was attributed to a substance called vitamin C. So it was not Szent-Györgyi who discovered vitamin C itself. He is credited with being the first to isolate and identify this mysterious substance, which is essential for the proper functioning of the immune system.
What is scurvy?
Let’s say a few words about scurvy, a disease reminding us of a bygone era. You would think that this once so common deficiency disease has disappeared from our lives, as modern people have easy access to vital foods that people of the past could not obtain. However, in Third World Countries, in the developing world, this insidious disease is still prevalent and can be fatal if the patient’s body does not have access to the right amount of vitamin C. And it can still occur today among people living under the subsistence level, and among people not having a proper diet (e.g. the homeless population).
Main symptoms:
- severe anaemia
- weakened immune system
- bleeding gums, loss of teeth
- hair loss
- abnormalities in blood formation
- haemorrhages under the skin and nails
- haemorrhages around hair follicles
- peeling of the skin
- damage to blood components
- increased bleeding tendency
- formation of bruises
- in the most severe cases, death
What is vitamin C good for?
Vitamin C is therefore essential for the proper functioning of the immune system, as it acts as an antioxidant to protect our cells from oxidative damage caused by free radicals. It also helps with the production of white blood cells, which are vital for the defense against viruses and bacteria, making it a key vitamin in the protection against infectious diseases. It is also essential for the synthesis of collagen in the body. Collagen can be found in the skin, bones, cartilage and muscle tissue and it also helps to quickly heal broken bones, wounds and abrasions. Vitamin C is also necessary to maintain normal psychological functions, reduce fatigue and support the normal functioning of the nervous system.
Albert Szent-Györgyi dedicated his life to scientific research. When he succeeded in isolating vitamin C from the paprika of Szeged, he did not want to patent his discovery. Instead, he sent it to research institutes all over the world, so they could then produce vitamin C themselves.
Main chapter
Szeged and the Nobel Prize