From Wheat Germ Oil to Unique E: The Story of Vitamin E and Its Pioneers

The discovery of Vitamin E is a milestone in the history of nutritional science and natural health. In 1922, Herbert M. Evans and Katharine J. Scott Bishop, researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, published findings that rats deprived of certain fats in their diet became sterile. They traced this effect to a previously unidentified fat-soluble nutrient present in wheat germ and leafy greens. This “antisterility factor” was later given the name Vitamin E, or tocopherol—derived from the Greek tokos (childbirth) and pherein (to bear), reflecting its role in reproduction. Their discovery, initially focused on fertility, would soon expand into broader understandings of antioxidant protection and cardiovascular health, making Vitamin E one of the most important nutrients of the 20th century.

During the late 1920s and 1930s, research demonstrated that Vitamin E was not only essential for reproduction but also acted as a powerful antioxidant, protecting cell membranes from oxidative stress. This role linked Vitamin E to heart health, tissue repair, and longevity, far beyond its original reproductive context. By the 1930s, health advocates and physicians began looking to natural sources of Vitamin E, and wheat germ oil quickly stood out as one of the richest concentrations available. The wheat germ—the tiny embryo of the wheat kernel—contains the vitality of the plant, and its oil proved to be an abundant source of the vitamin. This convergence of science and natural nutrition created fertile ground for entrepreneurial ventures.

The Founding of Viobin and the Rise of Wheat Germ Oil

The Viobin Company, established in 1936 in Monticello, Illinois, became one of the first firms to specialize in wheat germ oil production. The name Viobin likely drew from the language of “vitality” and “bio” (life), echoing its mission to harness the life force of wheat germ. Viobin pioneered techniques to extract, concentrate, and market wheat germ oil at a time when vitamin supplementation was still new. Their products were distributed both through medical channels and the growing network of health food stores. Advertisements in the 1940s and 1950s promoted wheat germ oil as a restorative, vitalizing natural product, reflecting themes of purity and vigor that would echo throughout the mid-century health food movement.

Viobin’s early success stemmed from its ability to bridge science and commerce. For physicians, it offered a concentrated, standardized source of Vitamin E that could be prescribed with confidence. For health-minded consumers, it represented a natural way to enhance vitality at a time when the concept of preventive nutrition was still novel. By the 1950s, Viobin had established itself as a cornerstone of the vitamin and natural foods industry. The company’s reputation for wheat germ oil extraction carried forward for decades, and it remains active today. Now part of PHM Brands (acquired in 2018), Viobin continues to operate out of the Midwest, supplying wheat germ oil, defatted wheat germ, and plant-based extracts for food, cosmetics, and wellness products.

The Shute Brothers and the Vitamin E Revolution

In parallel with Viobin’s rise, clinical interest in Vitamin E deepened, thanks in large part to the Shute brothers of Ontario, Canada. In the 1940s, obstetrician Evan Shute and his brother Wilfred Shute began using high-dose Vitamin E to treat patients with cardiovascular disease. They reported striking improvements in heart function and circulation, publishing case reports and later running the Shute Institute, dedicated to Vitamin E therapy. Their advocacy was bold: they claimed Vitamin E could prevent and treat heart disease long before antioxidants were widely accepted in mainstream medicine.

The Shutes’ methods were controversial. Critics faulted them for a lack of controlled studies, yet their pioneering work reached the public and inspired widespread experimentation. In 1946, Time magazine reported a dramatic case of heart recovery under Vitamin E therapy. By the 1970s, their work had helped drive a five-fold increase in Vitamin E sales in North America. Though mainstream medical consensus remained skeptical, their advocacy pushed Vitamin E into public consciousness and helped build demand for supplements that went beyond the standard synthetic formulations.

Natural vs. Synthetic Vitamin E

One of the central issues to emerge in Vitamin E history is the difference between natural d-α-tocopherol and synthetic dl-α-tocopherol. The natural form, derived from plant oils such as wheat germ or soybeans, is biochemically identical to the Vitamin E in food and is absorbed and utilized more efficiently by the body. The synthetic form, by contrast, is a mixture of stereoisomers, only half of which are biologically active. As a result, synthetic Vitamin E has significantly lower potency.

Despite this, the majority of Vitamin E supplements manufactured during the mid-20th century—and still today—use the synthetic dl-α form. It is cheaper to produce, chemically stable, and suitable for large-scale manufacturing. Yet research has consistently shown the superiority of the natural d-α form in terms of bioavailability and efficacy. This divide made companies specializing in natural Vitamin E, such as Viobin in its early years and later A.C. Grace Company, especially attractive to physicians and consumers seeking potency and authenticity.

The Founding of A.C. Grace Company and Unique E®

In 1962, a new chapter in Vitamin E history began with the founding of the A.C. Grace Company by Roy Erickson in Big Sandy, Texas. Erickson himself had experienced improvements in cardiovascular health through natural Vitamin E supplementation, and he built his company on the principle of producing the purest possible form of the nutrient. Unlike many commercial brands, A.C. Grace offered only natural, unesterified Vitamin E with no fillers or additives. Its flagship product, UNIQUE E®, emphasized purity, potency, and natural sourcing, quickly setting it apart in the supplement landscape.

Erickson tirelessly promoted UNIQUE E®, attending integrative medical conferences and providing testimony about its benefits. His formulation gained a loyal following among both practitioners and consumers, who valued the higher biological activity of the natural form. By focusing on mixed tocopherols and by refusing to dilute the product with synthetic variants, A.C. Grace carved out a reputation as the gold standard for natural Vitamin E supplementation. After Erickson’s death in 2002, the company remained family-run, continuing his vision.

Legacy and Continuity

Taken together, the stories of Evans and Bishop’s discovery, Viobin’s pioneering wheat germ oil, the Shute brothers’ clinical advocacy, and A.C. Grace’s natural UNIQUE E® chart the evolution of Vitamin E from obscure fertility factor to widely recognized antioxidant. What began in the research laboratories of Berkeley grew into an industry spanning natural foods, clinical experimentation, and specialized supplement companies.

Viobin remains a quiet force, now integrated into a modern agribusiness but still producing wheat germ oil nearly 90 years after its founding. A.C. Grace continues as a family-run company in Texas, synonymous with the highest-quality natural Vitamin E available. The enduring tension between natural and synthetic tocopherols still shapes the supplement market, making these companies’ legacies all the more relevant today. In a sense, the Vitamin E story embodies the broader narrative of natural health in the 20th century: a movement driven by scientific discovery, clinical experimentation, entrepreneurial innovation, and persistent public demand for natural solutions.

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