Autor/-in: Johanna Budwig

Dr. Johanna BUDWIG, born in Germany in 1908 and made her mark in the male-dominated world of science as one of the first researchers to conclusively link the role of essential fats to disease prevention and cure. Studies in pharmacy, chemistry, and medicine earned her a doctorate degree (Ph. D. ) in physics - and during the 1940's and 50's, she furthered research to detect, isolate and identify fatty substances in the human blood. Dr. Budwig compared the blood analysis of thousands of healthy individuals to those with degenerative diseases such as cancer, diabetes and liver disease. The results were revolutionary. Dr. Budwigs's test results conclusively showed that the diseased patients were deficient in specific nutritional factors, particularly the essential fatty acid, linoleic acid. These patients were also lacking adequate levels of phosphatide and lipoprotein necessary for good health. She concluded that sulfur-based proteins, essential fatty acids, and phosphatide are absolutely critical to building and maintaining healthy cells. Dr. Budwig lived well into her ninety's and her tireless dedication and research in the field of nutrition precipitated her nomination for the Nobel Prize seven times over the course of her long and illustrious scientific career.