Goldberger, Joseph (1874-1929), was an American physician known for his work on pellagra. He proved the disease was caused by a deficiency of a specific nutrient, which he called P-P factor, for pellagra preventive. This nutrient, found in such foods as milk, meat, and yeast, is today recognized as niacin (see Pellagra ; Vitamin (Water-soluble vitamins ) ). Goldberger’s studies of pellagra in isolated villages pioneered efforts to relate occurrences of disease to social and economic factors. Goldberger also contributed to the control of yellow fever, typhus, measles, and other diseases.
Goldberger was born on July 16, 1874, in Giralt, Hungary. He received his M.D. degree in 1895 from Bellevue Hospital Medical College in New York City. From 1899 to 1929, Goldberger served in the United States Public Health Service. He died on Jan. 17, 1929.
