The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1932-01-29

Brilliant and interesting progress
has lately been made, not only In
the discovery Of new vitamins, but
in the knowledge Of the constitu-
ton of those whose nutrient prop
critics arealready well understood.
The yellow coloring matter
found In abundance in carrots
called "carotene" and which is also.|
found in many other vegetables,
particularly the yellow ones such
as sweet potato, yellow corn, beets,
has been found to be the mother
substance of vitamin-A the
growth vitamin-so necessary In
the proper metabolism of the epi-
thelial tissue. It appears that when
fresh carotene Is digested, an en-
lyme in the liver transforms 1t into
vtamin-A. This fact was suspected
but Just recently Harold 8. Alcott
and Duane c. Mccain of the State
university of Iowa, have shown
that vitamin-A can be produced by
keeping carotene In contact with
fresh liver tissue. This Is the first
time that vitamin-A has been pro-
duced outside of the body. 1t Is
suggested that this particular en-
lyme be called "carotenase." 1t
may not be long before vitamin-A
can be produced in quantity and
cheaply by such a method.
It is we'll known that the old
vitamin-B Is certainly made up of
at least two vitamins now called
"B" and &C." One of these ele-
ments regulates the health of nerve
tissue and cures the well known
disease called ''beri-beri" or poly
neuritis," whereas &c" has diff
ferent effect on nerve tissue and
is said to prevent the disease called
"pellagra" Evidence Is all but
certain that this vitamin complex
contains one and probably two adj
ditionaI vitamins. These are prob
ably related to vitamins "B' and
&c" in their functions and yet
show effects sufficient to differen-
tiate. them from the two well known
Vitanin-C, found in fresh fruit
juices and which prevents scurvy-
like conditions and is valuable In
gingival and dental health, has
been isolated and a method for Its
production discovered. This Is
work done by the Norwegian
chemist, Ottar Rygh and his wife.
DIR Aagot Rygh. Professor Rygh
worked with Professor Windaus
for q number of years in Germany.
II this method of producing vita
n1in-C can BIO made practical, 1t
will be of enormous importance
because vitamin-C, although found
in abundance In number Of fresh
foods, principally fruits such as
grapefruit, orange, lemon and to-
mato, IL very easily destroyed by
exposure to the air and by cook
Professor Adolf Windaus, who
had previously received the Nobel
prize for his discovery of the
mother substance Of vitamin-D-
ergosterol-just recently announced
that he has been able to obtain
pure vitamin-D in a crystalline
form and Of extremely high po-
tency, obtained by the jrradiation
of ergosterol which is present In
practically all animal life) and the
further isolation of the changed
product from the unchanged prod.
ucG
since approximately so units Of
vitamin-D are ample for normal
nutrition daily, 1t Is astonishing to
md that ono gram of this pure Wit
amin-D Is sufficient for one days
requirement Of a billion people.
This discovery Is of value mainly
from q scientific standpoint in be-
ing the first time that any Of the
Ntamins has been prepared so that
1t can be seen and handled. In all
probability the other vitamins will
be isolated one by one in similar
manner.
In England a group of scientists
at the National Institute for Medi-
cal Research, under the leadership
Of DR. r. B. Bourdillon, have also
isolated vitamin-D in an even more
potent form. as this group claims
that It consists of two substances
which they call "D-1" and "D-2";
the second one. d." which they
call "calciferol," being like the one
Uncovered nv Professor Windaus.