The nutritional cause of the deficiency disease beri beri was first conclusively discovered by which scientist through controlled diet experiments?

Introduction / Context:

This general knowledge question is about an important milestone in medical science and nutrition. Beri beri is a deficiency disease that affects the nerves and cardiovascular system and is linked to a lack of vitamin B1, also called thiamine. Understanding who discovered the nutritional cause of beri beri is essential for questions on vitamins, deficiency diseases and the history of medical research.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The disease under discussion is beri beri, a deficiency related condition.
• The focus is on discovering the cause, not just describing symptoms or treatment.
• The options list scientists known for different medical and biochemical discoveries.
• You are expected to associate beri beri with vitamin deficiency and the specific researcher who proved this link.

Concept / Approach:

Christiaan Eijkman, a Dutch physician, is credited with discovering that beri beri is caused by a deficiency in a nutrient found in unpolished rice. He observed that chickens fed polished white rice developed symptoms similar to human beri beri, while those fed unpolished brown rice remained healthy. This led to the understanding that something essential was removed during polishing. Later, this substance was identified as vitamin B1, or thiamine. Eijkman s work laid the foundation for the vitamin concept in nutrition.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Medical history references always mention Eijkman in connection with beri beri and vitamin discovery. He shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work on the discovery of vitamins. This strong recognition confirms his role in identifying dietary deficiency as the root cause of beri beri, rather than infection or toxins alone.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Louis Pasteur is known for his work on germs, vaccination and pasteurisation, not for discovering the cause of beri beri.

Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin, the first widely used antibiotic, which fights bacterial infections but has nothing to do with vitamin deficiencies.

Sir Frederick Gowland Hopkins contributed significantly to the discovery of vitamins and essential nutrients in general, but the specific disease beri beri is historically linked to Eijkman.

Joseph Lister pioneered antiseptic surgery and infection control, not nutritional deficiency diseases like beri beri.

Common Pitfalls:

Some learners may assume that any famous microbiologist or medical scientist is a possible answer, leading to confusion among names like Pasteur and Fleming. To avoid this, remember that beri beri is a deficiency disease of vitamin B1, and the key association is with Christiaan Eijkman and polished rice experiments, not with infectious disease research.

Final Answer:

The cause of beri beri was discovered by Christiaan Eijkman.