Evening star., 1937-10-28

Some order is being established in the
highly confused complex of the vitamins,
minute amounts of which in the diet are
essential for physical welfare.
Seven of them now are essential for
man, and the results Of deficiencies have
in most cases been experimentally deter
mined.
The nature of one Of these seven lack
Of which results in pellagra. Is entirely
unknown. All that is known is that
there is something in certain foods which
brings about marked improvement in
pellagra patients.
The present status Of the vitamins was
explained before the American Dietetic
Association. meeting in Richmond last
week, by DR.. r. v. McCollum of Johns
Hopkins University. one of the countrys
foremost authorities ON dietary def
ciencies.
1t is entirely possible, of course, that
other necessary vitaminS may be dis
covered in the future. One Of the great
difficulties of valid assay of their effects
is that the results of mild deficiency
may be sub-clinical in manifestations.
Thus the average diet is almost bound
to contain enough vitamin c, or ascorbic
acid, to prevent any condition which
actually would be diagnosed as scurvy.
Yet thousands of children may be suf-
fering from a vague syndrome which is
a very mild form of scurvy and, under
normal circumstances, never will de-
velop into clinical form of the disease.
Here is essentially the present-day
vitamin picture, as presented by DIR.
McCollum:
Vitamin A yellowish oil obtained
from fish liver oils by distillation in a
high vacuum.
Deficiency in the diet results in:
l. Formation of cysts Of horn-like
substance in glands and various other
organs, especially the lungs.
2. Probable susceptibility to kidney
stones.
3. Formation of skin LESSONS over the
thighs, arms and shoulders, believed to
be the earliest clinical manifestation.
4. Defects in vision due to the fact
for the regeneration of visual purple in
the retina of the eye.
Vitamin B1, contained in yeast. De-
ficiency in this diet results in:
l. The Oriental disease known as beri-
peri, pTaCIlCduy uiihHoWu III Inc OHiIcu
States.
2. Possibly sub-clinical beri-beri
which may be very common and charac-
terized by weakness, vague pains, indi-
Restion, etc The only evidence for this
is that such syndrome is often i'm
proved markedly by yeast administration.
8. Possibly one form of diabetes asso-
ciated with neuritis and stomach trouble.
4. A condition resembling pernicious
anemia which is not relieved by liver but
does respond to a Vitamin B1 concen-
trate.
Ribofavin, the greenish yellow pig
ment of milk whey. Effects Of ribofiavin
deficiency:
Rats cannot survive or grow with
out it.
1t is probably essential to human nu-
triton but nobody knows why. Once 1t
was identified with the factor in diet
which prevents pellagra. This has been
shown to be in error.
Ascorbic acid or vitamin c. Deficiency
results in:
/. Scurvy.
2. Possibly a sub-clinical scurvy un-
recognized by physicians and especially
prevalent among children.
3. Greater susceptibility to infections
such as tuberculosis and diphtheria.
4. Possibly q rheumatic tendency, lead
ing to rheumatic fever.
Vitamin D, found in fish liver oils.
Deficiency results in:
/. Ricketts,, due to .. decrease N the