Henrik Dam

Henrik Dam with wife 1946

Henrik Dam (1895–1976) was a Danish biochemist and physiologist, best known for his discovery of vitamin K, a fat-soluble vitamin that plays an important role in blood clotting. This discovery earned him the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1943, which he shared with Edward Doisy, who had also worked on the vitamin's structure and chemical nature.

Early Life and Education

Henrik Dam was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, on February 21, 1895. He pursued his higher education at the University of Copenhagen, where he initially studied medicine but later shifted his focus to biochemistry and physiology. Dam completed his Ph.D. in biochemistry in 1923, focusing on the study of lipids and their role in the human body.

Career and Research

After completing his education, Dam continued his research at the University of Copenhagen. In the early 1930s, while studying the role of cholesterol in chicken diets, Dam observed that chickens fed a diet devoid of certain fats developed hemorrhages and bleeding, which could not be cured by adding purified cholesterol to their diet. This led him to hypothesize the existence of a previously unknown fat-soluble factor necessary for blood clotting.

Through meticulous experimentation, Dam isolated this factor, which he named "vitamin K" (from "Koagulationsvitamin" in German, reflecting its role in coagulation). His further research demonstrated that vitamin K was essential for the synthesis of prothrombin, a protein critical for blood clotting, in the liver.

Dam's work on vitamin K opened new avenues in medical research, particularly in understanding blood clotting disorders and the development of anticoagulant therapies. His discovery was crucial during World War II, as it led to the development of vitamin K supplements for preventing hemorrhagic diseases in newborns, a common and serious condition at the time.

Nobel Prize

In 1943, Henrik Dam was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine "for his discovery of vitamin K." His co-recipient, Edward Doisy, received the prize for determining the chemical nature of the vitamin. This recognition highlighted the importance of vitamins in human health and disease prevention.

Later Life and Legacy

After receiving the Nobel Prize, Dam continued his research in biochemistry and nutrition. He held various academic positions in Europe and the United States, contributing significantly to the fields of biochemistry and nutrition until his retirement.

Henrik Dam passed away on April 17, 1976, leaving behind a legacy of groundbreaking research that has had a lasting impact on medicine and nutrition. His work on vitamin K not only solved a critical health issue of his time but also laid the foundation for future research in blood coagulation and related disorders.

See Also

• Vitamin K
• Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
• Blood clotting
• Prothrombin