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The History of Nutrition

A timeline of major discoveries in the science of nutrition.

1747 -
James Lind discovers that fresh oranges and lemons prevent scurvy James Lind discovers that fresh oranges and lemons prevent scurvy
Institution: British Royal Navy

- 1830 Adolphe Quételet creates the Body Mass Index (BMI) Adolphe Quételet creates the Body Mass Index (BMI)
Methods: Quantifying mean values of measured variables that follow a normal distribution

1912 -
Kazimierz Funk creates the concept of a vitamin Kazimierz Funk creates the concept of a vitamin
Methods: By experimenting with pigeons and brown rice extracts to discover that something in the rice prevents beri-beri

- 1920 George Minot, William Murphy, and George Whipple find that liver and liver extracts are a cure for pernicious anemia, a precursor to the discovery of vitamin B12 George Minot, William Murphy, and George Whipple find that liver and liver extracts are a cure for pernicious anemia, a precursor to the discovery of vitamin B12
Institution: Harvard Medical School

January 01 1929 -
Henrik Dam Discovers Vitamin K Henrik Dam Discovers Vitamin K
Methods: By experimenting with chicks on a low cholesterol diet. When the chicks starting bleeding uncontrollably he fed them cholesterol and an extra substance, later identified as vitamin K.
Institution: Copenhagen University

- 1934 01 November Clive McCay Discovers that Calorie Restriction Extends Life-Span in Rats Clive McCay Discovers that Calorie Restriction Extends Life-Span in Rats
Methods: Feeding one group of rats a lower calorie diet than another group, and observing that the under-fed group lived longer
Institution: Cornell University

November 1936 -
Harold Himsworth classifies type II (insulin resistant) diabetes Harold Himsworth classifies type II (insulin resistant) diabetes
Methods: By measuring blood glucose levels in patients
Institution: University College Hospital

- 1949 19 May Charles Burnett characterizes the milk-alkali syndrome caused by excess intake of calcium and alkali Charles Burnett characterizes the milk-alkali syndrome caused by excess intake of calcium and alkali

July 1 1956 -
Denham Harman proposes the free radical theory of aging Denham Harman proposes the free radical theory of aging
Institution: University of California - Berkeley

- 1997 July The International Agency for Research on Cancer concludes that a diet high in fruits and vegetables reduces cancer risk The International Agency for Research on Cancer concludes that a diet high in fruits and vegetables reduces cancer risk

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