From Scurvy to Space: How Evolutionary Medicine Explains Our Greatest Health Challenges

The Industrial Age was a time of incredible progress but also revealed new health vulnerabilities. Sailors on long voyages often died of scurvy, a disease caused by vitamin C deficiency, which was unknown until its cure was discovered through citrus fruits. One voyage lost 90% of its crew to scurvy, a stark reminder of the importance of essential nutrients. This tragedy illustrates how evolutionary medicine uncovers the biological necessities shaped over millennia.

Rickets, caused by vitamin D deficiency, was once a disease of wealthy children who avoided sunlight for fashion, highlighting how social behaviors can create health problems. Beriberi and pellagra emerged from diets lacking B vitamins due to industrial food processing. These discoveries led to the fortification of foods and public health advances that saved countless lives.

Human exploration pushed biological boundaries further. Hot air balloon flights exposed people to hypoxia and cold; mountain climbers reached Everest’s summit using supplemental oxygen; space missions revealed the effects of microgravity and radiation. These feats underscored the mismatch between our evolutionary design and novel environments, necessitating technological solutions.

Evolutionary medicine teaches us that many diseases arise from a disconnect between our biology and environment. By understanding this, we can develop better prevention and treatment strategies that respect our evolutionary heritage.

This journey from scurvy-ridden ships to space exploration exemplifies how science and evolution together illuminate the path to health and survival.