What specific contribution did Dr. Wilbur Olin Atwater make regarding macronutrients around the 1890s?

Answer

He standardized the conversion factors for proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.

Dr. Wilbur Olin Atwater's crucial scientific contribution was establishing the system used today to assign energy values to the primary macronutrients: protein, fat, and carbohydrates. By utilizing data gathered through bomb calorimetry and adapting it to account for what the human body can actually extract, he created standardized conversion factors. These factors allowed nutritionists and consumers to estimate the total available energy content of a food item simply by knowing its composition. This step transformed the abstract concept of 'nourishment' into the concrete, numerical unit of the calorie, suitable for scientific assessment and measurement.

What specific contribution did Dr. Wilbur Olin Atwater make regarding macronutrients around the 1890s?

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