Question

The term vitamin was introduced by
A. Dr. Funk
B. Dr. Edwards
C. Dr. Strepto
D. Dr. Indira Hinduja

Answer 1

Vitamins are a class of chemicals that are essential for normal cell function, growth and development. The term vitamin was introduced in the year 1912 by a polish biochemist.

Complete step by step answer:
The term was coined by Polish biochemist Dr. Casimir Funk.
Many scientists across the world were working on isolating the factor in rice polishing as it was observed that this factor was responsible for prevention of beri-beri. Funk tried to isolate the substance responsible and succeeded.
When he isolated the complex, he observed that it belonged to the chemical class amines. Further, he assumed that just like all the constituents of proteins belong to the same chemical class (amino acids), so would these nutrients. Therefore, he introduced the term “vitamine” for these vital amines.
A few years later, it was realized that not all the other complexes in the class were amines. But a word was still needed. So, the ‘e’ was dropped from the name and they were named as vitamins.
Thus, we can conclude that the term vitamin was introduced by Dr. Casimir Funk.

Hence, the correct option is A.

Additional information:
Vitamins are organic molecules that are essential micronutrients required by an organism in small quantities for the proper functioning of its metabolism. Vitamins cannot be synthesized in the organism and therefore have to be obtained through diet.
Vitamins have many different biochemical functions. Vitamin A regulates cell and tissue growth and differentiation. Vitamin D regulates mineral metabolism for bones and other organs, providing a hormone-like function. The B complex vitamins are enzyme cofactors (coenzymes). Vitamin C and vitamin E are vital antioxidants.

Note:
Both the deficiency and excess of vitamins causes significant illness. Major illnesses caused by the deficiency of vitamins are night blindness (vitamin A), beri-beri (vitamin B), scurvy (vitamin C), rickets (vitamin D), hemolytic anemia in infants (vitamin E) and bleeding diathesis (vitamin F).