In the early 1880s, Kanehiro Takaki observed that Japanese sailors (whose diets consisted almost entirely of white rice) developed beriberi (or endemic neuritis, a disease causing heart problems and paralysis), but British sailors and Japanese naval officers did not. Adding various types of vegetables and meats to the diets of Japanese sailors prevented the disease, (not because of the increased protein as Takaki supposed but because it introduced a few parts per million of thiamine to the diet, later understood as a cure). COUNT 5
QSN1 What was the main component of Japanese sailor's diet? ANS1 white rice QSN2 What is the scientific term for beriberi? ANS2 endemic neuritis QSN3 What major symptom other than heart problems did beriberi cause? ANS3 paralysis QSN4 Who made the observation that the Japanese sailor's diet was the cause for them developing beriberi? ANS4 Kanehiro Takaki QSN5 What was introduced to the diet on a molecular level that prevented the sailors from contracting the disease? ANS5 thiamine