♣ How Were the Names Vitamin A, B, C, and D Given?

Vitamins are essential micronutrients that our bodies need to maintain proper function.

Among them, vitamin A, B, C, and D are probably the most familiar names.
But how were these names decided?

In this article, we'll explain how vitamins got their names and explore the origin and historical background of each one.

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How Did Vitamin Naming Begin?

The word vitamin was first coined in 1912 by a Polish biochemist named Kazimierz Funk.

He combined “vital” and “amine” to form “vitamine”, meaning “an amine necessary for life.”

Later, when scientists discovered that not all vitamins had an amine structure, the "e" was dropped, resulting in the current word: vitamin.

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Vitamin A: The First Discovered Vitamin

• Discovery Background: In 1913, American scientists McCollum and Davis found that a component in animal fats was essential for growth in rats.
• Name Origin: Since it was the first vitamin discovered, it was named “A” — simply following alphabetical order.
• Key Functions: Maintains vision, supports cell growth, boosts immunity.

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Vitamin B: The Start of a Complex Group

• Discovery Background: It began with the observation that people who ate only white rice (with rice bran removed) developed beriberi.
• Name Origin: As the second vitamin discovered, it was named Vitamin B. Later, it was found to be a complex group (B-complex) rather than a single compound.

Examples of B Vitamins:

• B1 (Thiamine): Prevents beriberi
• B2 (Riboflavin)
• B3 (Niacin)
• B5 (Pantothenic acid)
• B6 (Pyridoxine)
• B7 (Biotin)
• B9 (Folic acid)
• B12 (Cobalamin)

🧠 Fun Fact: Numbers like B4, B8, and B10 were originally thought to be vitamins but were later excluded after being proven otherwise.

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Vitamin C: The Antioxidant Hero Against Scurvy

• Discovery Background: In medieval Europe, sailors often developed scurvy due to lack of fresh fruits and vegetables. In the 18th century, British naval surgeon James Lind discovered that lemons could prevent scurvy. However, the actual compound wasn't identified until the 1930s.
• Name Origin: The chemical name of vitamin C is ascorbic acid, derived from “scorbutus” (Latin for scurvy). It means “anti-scorbutic.”
• Key Functions: Antioxidant, supports skin and tissue repair, helps with iron absorption.

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Vitamin D: The Sunshine Vitamin

• Discovery Background: In the 1920s, it was found that children with rickets had a deficiency in vitamin D. It was also discovered that UV sunlight exposure could prevent rickets.
• Name Origin: Named “D” as it was the fourth vitamin discovered.
• Key Functions: Helps absorb calcium, builds bones, supports immune health.

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Why Not Strict Alphabetical Order?

Although vitamins seem to follow an alphabetical pattern, some letters are missing (like F, G, etc.), while E and K still exist. Here’s why:

• Some compounds initially believed to be vitamins (e.g., B4, B10) were later excluded.
• Some names were discarded due to functional overlap or reclassification.
• Structural differences led to redefinition and renaming of some compounds.

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Summary: How Vitamin Names Were Assigned

VitaminNaming BasisDiscovery PeriodKey Features

A	1st in alphabetical order	1913	Vision, growth
B	2nd, multiple subtypes	1915	Energy metabolism
C	From “anti-scorbutic”	1930s	Antioxidant, immunity
D	4th in alphabetical order	1920s	Sunlight, bone health

 

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In Closing

Vitamin names were originally assigned based on the order of discovery, but as science evolved, structures and functions became clearer, leading to more complex naming systems. Today, vitamins are well understood and play vital roles in maintaining our health.

Now that you know the fascinating story behind their names, doesn’t taking your daily vitamins feel a little more interesting?