Anthony W. Norman Explained

Anthony W. Norman
Birth Date:	January 1938
Birth Place:	Ames, Iowa, U.S.
Fields:	biochemistry, biomedical science, Vitamin D
Workplaces:	University of California, Riverside, University of California, Los Angeles, University of Utrecht, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, University of California, San Francisco
Alma Mater:	Oberlin College B.S. (1959), University of Wisconsin, Madison M.S (1961), Ph.D (1963)
Doctoral Advisor:	H. F. Deluca
Spouse:	Helen Henry

Anthony W. Norman (January 1938 – June 14, 2019) was a professor emeritus of biochemistry and biomedical sciences at the University of California, Riverside and one of the world's foremost experts on vitamin D.^[1]

Vitamin D Research

Norman's research was in the area of cellular and molecular endocrinology, where he was internationally known for his breakthroughs in the study of vitamin D.^[2] This included the mechanisms of action of the steroid hormone 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol, vitamin D structure-function relationships, and actions of the vitamin D receptor (VDR).^[1]

In 1967, Norman's lab discovered that vitamin D is converted into a steroid hormone by the body. In 1969 he determined that vitamin D receptors (VDR) were present in the intestine.^[3]

In 1971 the Norman laboratory reported the chemical structure of the active form of vitamin D to be 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (which is also known as 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, and 1α,25-(OH)₂D₃).^[4]

In 1972, Norman in collaboration with Dr. Jack Coburn at the UCLA medical school treated the first uremic patients with the steroid hormone, produced in the Norman laboratory.^[5]

Norman and others, including Dr. Cedric Garland of UC San Diego, in 2007/8 made the recommendation that the daily intake of vitamin D for adults be revised to 2000 international units.^{[6] [7]}

Vitamin D workshops

One of his most recognised achievements was the organisation of 15 international Vitamin D Workshops which usually ran every three years from 1973 to 2012.^[8]

Personal life

His wife, Helen Henry, predeceased him in 2018. He had three children and nine grandchildren.^[2]

Selected honors and awards

• Presidential chair, biochemistry department, UCR 7/1/99 - 2009
• Graduate Student Mentor Award, UCR, June 2005
• Fellow of American Association for the Advancement of Science, 1995
• William F. Neuman Award, American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, 1995
• MERIT Award from National Institutes of Health, 1986-1993 (standard award period is five years)
• Osborne & Mendel Award, American Institute of Nutrition, 1990
• Faculty Research Lecturer, University of California, Riverside, 1982
• Prix Andre Lichtwitz, INSERM, Paris, France, 1981
• Ernst Oppenheimer Award, Endocrine Society, 1977
• Mead Johnson Award, American Institute of Nutrition, 1977
• Fulbright Fellowship, 1970/71

Other Achievements

• Chair of the UCR Department of Biochemistry, July 1976 - June 1981
• Dean of UCR Biomedical Sciences Program, July 1986 - Sept. 1991.
• Chair of the UCR Faculty Academic Senate from Sept. 2008 through August 2010.
• Faculty athletic representative for the UC Riverside Athletics Department through Sept. 2010.^[2]

Publications

Norman has been an author on over 800 scientific publications dating back to 1959.

A special issue on vitamin D dedicated to Norman's memory was published in 2021 with contributions from many of his collaborators and other notable scientists.^[9]

External links

• "On Becoming a Molecular Endocrinologist", Steroids 66 (2001) p. 129 http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/525022/description#description
• Vitamin D Workshop https://web.archive.org/web/20110720075228/http://vitamind.ucr.edu/workshop.html

Notes and References

1. Norman . AW . On becoming a molecular endocrinologist. . Steroids . 2001 . 66 . 3–5 . 129–36 . 10.1016/s0039-128x(00)00231-2 . 11179720. 28973187 .
2. Web site: CNAS Dean's Office . Remembering Distinguished Professor Emeritus Anthony Norman (1938-2019) . UCR . 3 January 2020.
3. University of California (13 Nov. 2008). "Vitamin D Expert at UC Riverside Leads UC Scientists' Call Recommending Increase in Daily Vitamin D Intake". Press release
4. Norman . AW . Myrtle . JF . Midgett . RJ . Nowicki . HG . Williams . V . Popják . G . 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol: identification of the proposed active form of vitamin D3 in the intestine. . Science . 2 July 1971 . 173 . 3991 . 51–4 . 10.1126/science.173.3991.51 . 4325863. 1971Sci...173...51N . 35236666 .
5. Brickman . AS . Coburn . JW . Norman . AW . Action of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol, a potent, kidney-produced metabolite of vitamin D, in uremic man. . The New England Journal of Medicine . 2 November 1972 . 287 . 18 . 891–5 . 10.1056/NEJM197211022871801 . 4342432.
6. Vieth . R . Bischoff-Ferrari . H . Boucher . BJ . Dawson-Hughes . B . Garland . CF . Heaney . RP . Holick . MF . Hollis . BW . Lamberg-Allardt . C . McGrath . JJ . Norman . AW . Scragg . R . Whiting . SJ . Willett . WC . Zittermann . A . The urgent need to recommend an intake of vitamin D that is effective. . The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition . March 2007 . 85 . 3 . 649–50 . 10.1093/ajcn/85.3.649 . 17344484. free .
7. Vitamin D Society (24 Nov. 2008). "Raise 'D' to 2,000 IU Daily: 18 Experts". Web site: The Vitamin D Society . 2011-05-27 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120309215316/http://www.vitamindsociety.org/news_article.php?id=15 . 2012-03-09 .
8. Norman . AW . Bikle . D . Bouillon . R . Fifteenth vitamin D workshop. . The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology . July 2013 . 136 . 1–2 . 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2013.05.013 . 23768771. 4102609 .
9. Bouillon R, Haussler M, Bikle D, Christakos S, Welsh J . Introduction: Special Issue on Vitamin D Dedicated to the Memory of Anthony W Norman . JBMR Plus . 5 . 1 . e10445 . January 2021 . 33553991 . 7839816 . 10.1002/jbm4.10445 .