"I have been studying mercury for more than sixty years
systems and that convinced me, that our body is a lot
more perfect than it imposes on us
an endless list of diseases ... Problems that arise
in the body originate to a much lesser extent than
congenital anomalies, and more due to abuse
of the organism itself. ”
Albert Szent-Györgyi
Albert Szent-Györgyi, a Hungarian physiologist and biochemist, is responsible for the discovery of vitamin C and its isolation. Born in Budapest on September 16, 1893. He began his education in his hometown, where he enrolled in medical studies, and graduated in 1917. He continued his education and training in Bratislava, and then in Prague, Berlin, Gonningen and Leiden, and finally received his doctorate in chemistry at Cambridge.
A disease caused by an insufficient amount of vitamins C, in the body is called scurvy - one of the longest known diseases. It is caused by a lack of vitamin C in the diet, and it has been described since the 16th century.
This disease was very dangerous (fatal) during wars and famines, especially in the ranks of sailors.
There have been sailors who have noticed that on long voyages by sea, a diet that also contains fruit helps prevent the formation of scurvy.
His research lasted as long as 20 years, and finally in 1927 he managed to isolate ascorbic acid. He found it, among other things, in peppers, which are rich in this vitamin, and are very popular as food in his native Hungary. The great discovery was followed by knowledge about many positive aspects of this molecule, especially about the role of vitamin C in collagen synthesis and the function of the immune system, and about its antioxidant activity. Strengthening the immune system is the most common reason for vitamin C supplementation. Vitamin C can increase the body's resistance to many diseases by supporting and stimulating the number and function of the immune defense system, white blood cells. That is why even as small children we know that when we get sick, we have to take vitamin C.
The effect of vitamin C on the health of blood vessels is also known. Vitamin C is necessary for healthy blood vessels, because in its absence, the body's production of collagen is not enough. Collagen is important for the elasticity and resilience of vascular walls. In the absence of vitamin C, blood vessels become fragile and cause bleeding. Spontaneous bleeding gums is a typical syndrome.
In 1937, he received the Nobel Prize in Medicine for his research on vitamin C.
For the last two decades of his life, he has been researching cancerous diseases.
He died at the age of 93 in Woodshoul.
