Casimir Funk (1884-1967) discovered deficiency diseases. He then in early 20th century. He recognized Berberi, scurvy. Rickets and pellagra. Later found vitamins and invented supplementation therapy. Early 20th century we know our food culture was not of current type. People were on more staple food culture. Nutrition was not understood in depth. Soon the nutrition sector of health got such a motivation that all kinds of deficiencies were traced out.
Very few countries and class of people could get and afford complete nutritious food those. World war and famines had left the world to poverty and hunger. Commencement of industrial revolution and various nutrition grounded health policies and formation WHO had aided remarkable changes in food culture thus bringing up a culture of nutritious food culture and health.
Even after early discovery of deficiency diseases the mankind even the wealthiest folks face deficiency now. The best knowledge or school of medicine is speechless.
Compared to early 20th century before that period now we know and recognize the deficiency diseases and the precise nutrient the body is lacking, hence treatment called supplementation is much popular.
But why even after having high nutrient food the people especially children are still facing deficiency.
It is not the nonavailability of nutrients which once was our problem the early times that caused deficiency but the abnormalities in absorption assimilation storage and timely usage or any systemic disease which interfere with any of these steps is the cause.
Acute diseases definitely cause a limited interval of deficiency but the chronic diseases are the real problem.
Deficiency diseases are part of chronic disease and the supplements helps (only during acute diseases) seldom but majority needs correction of system through chronic disease management. Even the new celebrated Vitamin D deficiency is part of chronic disease. Supplement is not the answer. If yes then it has to be supplemented life long and lifelong supplement is not supplement, it is called food.
As we all know vitamin D is produced in skin and UV rays from sun is necessary for its production. Vit D level is normal in very few percentage of people throughout earth. This is not only because we don’t go out to sun. It shows that our skin is not healthy. Vit D deficiency is due presence of unhealthy skin.
-FOH