Why is there a Vitamin K but no Vitamin F?

The birth of the multivitamin

In 1912, biochemist Kazimierz Funk, often anglicized as Casimir Funk, proposed that there existed an essential nutrient in food that could prevent deficiency diseases, such as scurvy or rickets. This article explores the origin of the multivitamin, an invention that has garnished...

Vitamins are micronutrients human bodies need but don't naturally produce

Each vitamin is found in specific portions of a normal human diet and supports normal human functioning in distinct ways. Vitamin A is found in red meat, carrots, and potatoes and supports vision and skin health, while Vitamin D (common in fish and mushrooms) helps absorb calcium. See sources and uses of each vitamin with this chart.

Humans need vitamins, but research is mixed on taking supplements

When an organism needs an organic molecule to survive, but cannot synthesize enough of it itself, that molecule is called a vitamin. Typically, we consume vitamins through food, but many resort to supplements—a common and mostly unregulated practice.

Humans need higher levels of water-soluble vitamins that easily pass through the body

There are two types of vitamins: lipid soluble and water-soluble. Water-soluble vitamins like B vitamins and vitamin C are in the watery parts of fruits and easily pass through the human body before being taken up by the bloodstream or exiting your body. But lipid (fat) soluble vitamins must be absorbed through the intestinal wall, carried by proteins, and then may be stored in the liver and other body parts—meaning there is greater risk of overdosing.

The FDA does not approve dietary supplements before they go to market

The US Food and Drug Administration does not regulate products including vitamins, probiotics, and herbal mixes as drugs due to the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, which amended the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Because dietary supplements are regulated as a subcategory of foods, inspectors do not assess whether dietary supplements work as advertised before sale.

Do you need a multivitamin?

In 2013, several researchers declared multivitamins dead, stating that so-called supplements had no clear benefits and might be harmful. But the science isn't so clear-cut. This article explores the question of who would benefit from...

Light therapy was widely used as a medical treatment for various maladies in the early 1900s before it was replaced by antibiotics.

Vitamin B1 is linked to gut motility—helping fight constipation—in 2026 research

A study published in early 2026 found a link between vitamin B1 and the successful movement of food through your GI tract, known as gut motility. The work incorporated genetic and survey data about poop frequency to identify genes associated with gut motility and then separately linked poop frequency data with how much vitamin B1 people ingested, theorizing that the vitamin supports the production of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that stimulates GI system contractions.

In 1933, the influenza virus was first identified through 'ferret flu' experiments, which proved that the disease was viral—not bacterial.

What do vitamins actually do?

Vitamins are molecular tools the body needs to carry out regular cellular processes, such as wound healing. This 45-minute video dives into the science behind vitamins and their role in the body. There are 13 essential vitamins that must be...

Oxford scientists turned Fleming’s mold discovery into medicine

In 1939, a team at Oxford—including Howard Florey, Ernst Chain, and Norman Heatley—revived Fleming’s forgotten discovery. Using makeshift equipment like bedpans and milk churns, they purified enough penicillin to prove it could treat deadly infections.

Listen to how the 1902 'poison squad' experiments changed food safety in America

As part of government research, a group of young men were paid to eat standard American food—replete with food additives like borax and formaldehyde—which revealed the dangers of unregulated food. The work was led by the first FDA commissioner, Harvey Wiley, who helped end the "century of the great stomachache."

Before vaccines, there was 'variolation': what was it?

Before the technology behind vaccinations was discovered, some keen observers of medicine around the globe noticed how previous infections could impact future ones. Learn about the techniques early physicians used before they had vaccines.

Fat is proposed as a candidate sixth basic taste

Oleogustus is Latin for "a taste for fat," and researchers proposed in 2015 that it should be accepted as the sixth basic taste. This article teases apart exactly what it would take to officially be considered the sixth taste and why researchers think the fat taste may be a strong candidate.

The dietary market is worth more than $60B

Listen to this question and answer session with the US Food and Drug Administration about dietary supplements—vitamins, minerals, probiotics and similar products people may buy in liquid, pill, or powder form. They are categorized legally as a category of food and can be legally brought to market without the FDA even knowing about it, though consumers can tell FDA about issues with the products and FDA can take action to remove dangerous or unlawful items after they're available.

Yes, you can take too many vitamins and they can make you sick

Too much of vitamins A, D, E, and K (which are fat-soluble) can build up in the body and cause serious health problems, including liver damage, kidney stones, and blood clotting irregularities. Excess iron and calcium can also make it harder for the body to absorb other needed nutrients.

How science came to understand umami

Before Dr. Kikunae Ikeda sat down in 1907 and pondered the taste of dashi, scientists typically agreed upon four types of taste: sweet, salty, bitter, and sour. He boiled 90 pounds of kelp into a resin that he then stripped of different compounds until he was left with a single ounce of brown crystals. Testing later revealed these crystals were glutamate, an amino acid and one of the protein's building blocks.

The research that led to sour

Scientists are trying to figure out if there are unique receptors that respond to the molecules that make up flavors we associate with calcium, blood, batteries, and other items that often escape dinner menus. Taste researcher Dr. Danielle Reed says the minimum evidence for a taste category typically involves identifying dedicated receptors and then removing them to show the taste vanishes.

ConsumerLab is a watchdog site reviewing supplements for quality and recalls

The group purchases supplements and tests them for accuracy. When it tested 26 popular B vitamin supplements, it found five failed their tests because they provide either significantly less or much more of the ingredients than listed. This type of product-label mismatch can occur because the FDA does not regulate these products as it would a drug.

In 2026, University of Cambridge researchers reported that a group of gut bacteria called CAG-170 may be a key marker of good health, occurring far more often in healthy individuals and less commonly in people with chronic diseases.

Reporting if supplements make you ill helps FDA know what products to investigate

The US Food and Drug Administration regulates supplements like foods and can only take action about a supplement if they learn that there are problems with it after it's on the market. This website allows consumers, industry, and others to file a complaint about a product that made them ill or raised other concerns.

The first newborn screen for diseases was developed in 1961.

Vitamin A does not cure measles, but it helps reduce the symptoms

Also known as retinol, vitamin A plays a significant role in supporting the body’s immune system. The virus attacks the immune system, and studies have shown a correlation between vitamin deficiency and severity of measles symptoms. Supplemental vitamin A doses are now a part of recommended treatment for pediatric patients.

Western babies often lack a gut microbe common elsewhere.

Lack of Vitamin D seems to be one major factor fueling MS risk

Researchers believe that a combination of factors can elevate MS risk, including a lack of vitamin D exposure in different locales, genetic history, cigarette smoke exposure, and Epstein-Barr virus infection.

The pharmaceutical industry evolved, in part, from the discovery of synthetic dyes

In 1856, a chemist accidentally discovered mauveine, the world's first synthetic dye, while trying to make quinine to treat malaria. The synthetic dyes that followed helped reveal germs under microscopes, paving the way for modern imaging techniques and breakthrough treatments, such as antibiotics.

Ketchup, 101

Ketchup is a tomato-based condiment mixed with vinegar, salt, and spices. The word likely originates from Southeast Asia, where it was used for a common fish brine sauce in the 18th century. For a brief period in the early 19th century, ketchup was viewed and marketed as a medicine. Henry John Heinz formulated a standard recipe in the late 1800s.

The term 'superfood' is a marketing construct with no scientific or medical definition

Encompassing at least 136 plants and animals, the concept has been criticized by nutritionists for its scientific value, which has been exploited by the wellness industry for profit. Although the label has encouraged the consumption of fruits and vegetables, food variety and minimal processing remain key to a healthy diet.

Most adults don't need a daily vitamin, and it won't extend your life

A 20-year study by the National Cancer Institute involving almost 400,000 people found that daily multivitamins did not help people live longer. In some cases, these vitamins also increased the risk of death. Although some subpopulations—such as those with documented vitamin deficiencies and pregnant individuals—should take vitamins, daily multivitamins should not be taken uniformly by adults. Instead, patients should discuss vitamins with their clinicians and consider baseline vitamin testing before starting vitamin regimens.

Supplements are only typically recommended for those with a proven deficiency

Blood tests and other dietary screening tools by clinicians and nutritionists can indicate whether someone is deficient in needed vitamins or minerals, and those results can then lead to a personalized care plan that may include supplements. Supplements can negatively interact with certain medications, so it's important to speak with your doctor about supplements before taking them.

Remember: Not all fats are bad for you

Contrary to past dietary advice promoting low-fat diets, newer research shows that certain types of fats are both necessary and healthy. It all comes down to the type of fat you eat. Focus on getting "good" unsaturated fats from sources like nuts,...

Vitamins can slow macular degeneration

Research published in 2022 affirmed that vitamin formulations containing vitamins C and E, copper, zinc, lutein, and zeaxanthin—but no beta carotene—can enhance eye health and slow the progression of macular degeneration.

Can you overdose on vitamins?

Many people pop a multivitamin supplement each day thinking that any excess nutrients won't hurt them. This article explains how chronic excess of any vitamin can cause toxic levels in the body. This condition is known as hypervitaminosis, and symptoms vary depending on what vitamins have achieved toxic levels of accumulation. According to this article, dietary supplements in the US are not required to submit to the FDA documentation supporting their efficacy or safety.

Most of the 86,000 consumer chemicals registered with the US EPA have never received rigorous toxicity testing, though not all those are still in current use.

Alkaptonuria was the first identified genetic disorder

In 1902, a rare recessive mutation was determined to cause alkaptonuria—a disease that induces dark pigmentation of connective tissue. The responsible gene was not isolated until the 1990s.

Robert Koch won the Nobel for his tuberculosis work, but he also pioneered cholera research

Koch was one of the first scientists to isolate the bacterium that causes cholera while investigating an outbreak in Egypt in 1883. He went on to advise about rules to control cholera outbreaks, which formed the basis of the disease control approaches and water hygiene techniques still used today.

A 1954 outbreak at a Boston boarding school allowed scientists to isolate the measles virus and formed the basis for the first measles vaccine.

Penicillin was discovered by accident

In 1928, Alexander Fleming returned from vacation to find mold contaminating a petri dish of bacteria. Around the mold, the microbes had died—an accidental observation that led to the discovery of penicillin.

The gut microbiome's community of viruses is collectively known as the virome, but most of its viruses remain unidentified.

Without the option of modern blood transfusions, some doctors in the mid-1800s tried to help save cholera patients by injecting them with cow's milk, hoping it would boost their nutrition and hydration.

The cholera bacteria was first isolated in 1854—but the discovery was largely ignored

The pathogen was isolated by the Italian physician Filippo Pacini in Florence, Italy, though his discovery was largely ignored in favor of the popular miasma—bad air—theory of disease at the time. The pathogen was separately isolated about three decades later by German microbiologist Robert Koch.

Scientists are using CRISPR to genetically modify felines so they don't trigger allergies in humans.

The ubiquitous 1990s “Got Milk?” ad campaign was intended to fix milk’s dwindling popularity in the late 20th century

Despite its success in spreading the word about milk, the sales numbers weren’t quite as impressive. This Mental Floss article details the marketing efforts themselves, as well as how milk lobbyists didn’t necessarily succeed despite their revolutionary ads.

The first successful IVF pregnancy was in the United Kingdom in 1978

Gynecologist Patrick Steptoe and his collaborator Robert Edwards, a biologist, attempted to fertilize a human egg cell in a petri dish 101 times before finally succeeding. This resulted in the birth of Louise Brown—at the time referred to as a "test tube" baby—in 1978, who was born into the spotlight.

HFMD was first reported in 1957 in New Zealand

The first clinical report involved eight kids with the characteristic sores in New Zealand, and then in the years that followed there were dozens more cases there and also reports of outbreaks in England and Scotland, among other settings, including the US.

Vitamin D supplement pills are linked to rising cases of vitamin D toxicity in the US

Vitamin D deficiency is common. But taking Vitamin D supplements in doses exceeding 4,000 IU/day (a measurement of vitamin biological activity) for prolonged periods can raise bodily concentrations of this vitamin to dangerous values. US National Poison Data indicates that the annual average of vitamin D poisonings from 2000-05 was 196, but this rose by 1,600% to 4,535 per year for the period of 2005-11.

Penicillin’s discoverer predicted antibiotic resistance

Alexander Fleming’s discovery of penicillin revolutionized modern medicine. But the same man who pioneered the development of antibiotics also recognized that bacteria could make sntibiotics obsolete if they were used irresponsibly. This story sheds light on Fleming’s discovery—and on his prophetic warning about antibiotic resistance.

The origin of the National Science Foundation and why World War II led to its founding

Before World War II, research institutions were funded by endowments or private companies whose priorities stifled the curiosity-driven science that fueled significant breakthroughs and innovation. The NSF was established in 1950 to promote independent scientific progress through basic research, which is focused on knowledge acquisition rather than commercial applications, conducted at national colleges and universities.

Dietary supplements are regulated like foods

This hour-long 2016 documentary from Frontline, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and The New York Times examined the safety of dietary supplements. It noted that this then-$30B industry (it's at least doubled since then) suffers from irregularities and impurities. It warned that many Americans are unaware of the lack of regulatory oversight over these products.

Edward Jenner, the father of vaccinations

The British physician was the first to attempt to inoculate someone from smallpox using its milder cousin, cowpox. His innovations and documentations would prove crucial to the deployment of widespread vaccinations.