On this day in 1887, Marguerite Davis, an unsung hero in the field of nutrition science, was born in Racine, Wisconsin. As the co-discoverer of vitamins A and B, she revolutionized our understanding of essential nutrients alongside Elmer Verner McCollum.
The Davises: A Family of Intellectuals and Activists
Marguerite Davis (1887-1967) was born into a family that deeply valued intellectual pursuits and activism. Her father, John Jefferson Davis (1852-1937), was a physician and botanist who taught at the University of Wisconsin. Her grandmother, Amy Springer Davis Winship (1831-1923), was a women’s rights activist. Their influence on Marguerite was profound, shaping her into the scientist she would later become.
Marguerite began her academic journey at the University of Wisconsin in 1906. Two years later, she transferred to the University of California at Berkeley, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in home economics.
After a brief stint working at a New Jersey pharmaceutical company, she returned to Wisconsin to care for her father, who had retired from medicine to work as a botanist. Feeling confined and yearning for intellectual stimulation, Marguerite began to look beyond the walls of her father’s house, seeking opportunities that would satisfy her insatiable intellectual curiosities.
Research with Elmer McCollum
Marguerite found her intellectual calling in the lab of Professor Elmer McCollum at the University of Wisconsin’s Department of Agricultural Chemistry, now known as the Department of Biochemistry.
McCollum had been conducting groundbreaking research on nutrition. He was using purified foods to study the optimum amounts of protein, carbohydrates, and fats needed for a healthy diet. However, his experiments with cows revealed that diet was more complex than just these three components. Cases of blindness and stunted growth in cows led him to believe that something crucial was missing from these purified foods.
Recognizing the limitations of using cows for his experiments, McCollum convinced his colleagues of the benefits of using rats as research models. Rats were ideal because they reproduced quickly and consumed less food. Marguerite was brought on board to manage this rat colony, feeding them and meticulously noting her observations.
Despite her diligent work and significant contributions, Marguerite faced institutional hurdles. The Department of Agricultural Chemistry considered her too poorly educated and trained to officially be part of the staff. As a result, for five years they refused to grant her the salary that McCollum annually requested for her. It wasn’t until her sixth year in the department that she finally received financial recognition, with a payment of $600 per year.
Discovery of Vitamins A and B
In 1912, Marguerite Davis and McCollum made a groundbreaking discovery. They found that rats fed on milk continued to grow, while those fed olive oil or lard became sick and stunted. Further experiments revealed that fat-soluble compounds extracted from milk could turn the health of the olive oil and lard-fed rats around. These findings were so significant that they were published in 1913, with Marguerite listed as a co-author—a rare honor for a woman at the time.
The compounds they discovered were initially named fat-soluble A and water-soluble B. These names were later changed to vitamins A and B, setting the stage for the discovery of other essential vitamins. Their work had a significant impact, not just in America’s Dairyland but also in understanding that these nutrients could be found in other foods like leafy greens.
Imagine if vitamins were superheroes—Vitamin A would definitely be donning the cape! This nutrient is a triple threat: it’s the guardian of your eyes, the champion of your immune system, and the glow-master for your skin.
Advancements in Vitamin and Nutrition Research
Following her work at the University of Wisconsin, Marguerite moved to Rutgers University in New Jersey. There, she organized a nutritional chemistry laboratory at the pharmacy school, further solidifying her legacy in the field. In 1940, she retired and returned to her hometown of Racine, Wisconsin, where she remained active in community affairs until her death in 1967.
Marguerite’s co-discovery of vitamins A and B was a seminal moment in the history of science. It not only confirmed the theories of earlier scientists but also paved the way for a new era of research into vitamins and nutrition. This wave of research had profound implications for public health, leading to the development of vitamin supplements and fortified foods, improving the lives of countless people suffering from nutritional deficiencies. Moreover, her work had global implications, informing public health policies and leading to nutritional guidelines that have helped combat malnutrition and associated diseases worldwide.
If Vitamin A wears the cape, then Vitamin B is the gadget-wielding sidekick! It’s the multitasking genius of the vitamin world, energizing your days and sharpening your mind.
Recommended Reading:
- Prengaman, Kate. “The Birth of Vitamin A.” On Wisconsin Magazine, University of Wisconsin Alumni Association, Fall 2013.
- “2017 Marks Centennial of Two Significant Department Discoveries.” Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin–Madison, 13 Oct. 2017.
- “Discovery of Vitamins A and B.” HMdb.org, The Historical Marker Database, 16 June 2016.
