Max Kenneth Horwitt

A well known Biochemist, who lived everyday by taking a Vitamin E pill everyday.

Vitamin E and the RDA:An Interview with Dr. Max Horwitt

by Richard A. Passwater, Ph.D.

Much of what we know about the nutritional needs of vitamin E, thiamin, riboflavin and niacin were learned from the research of Dr. Max Kenneth Horwitt. Dr. Horwitt was born in New York City on March 21, 1908. He was the Director of biochemical research at the Elgin (Illinois) State Hospital from 1937 to 1959, where he led several investigations into the daily needs of several vitamins. This research was sponsored by the Food and Nutrition board, and is known collectively as the "Elgin Projects."

Dr. Horwitt's academic career includes being an associate of the Department of Biological chemistry of the University of Illinois College of Medicine (Chicago) from 1943 to 1951, Associate Professor from 1951 to 1962, and Professor from 1962 to 1968. He has been a Professor of Biochemistry at St. Louis University of Medicine from 1968 to 1976, and is still a very active Professor Emeritus in the Departments of Geriatric Medicine, Internal Medicine and Biochemistry. He served on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Nutrition from 1967-71.