Lucy Wills

Lucy Wills (10 May 1888 – 16 April 1964) was a pioneering English haematologist and botanist whose research led to the discovery of the Wills Factor, later identified as folic acid, a vital nutrient for preventing anemia during pregnancy. Her groundbreaking work in India in the late 1920s and early 1930s on the nutritional factors affecting pregnant textile workers laid the foundation for modern prenatal nutrition.

Early Life and Education[edit | edit source]

Lucy Wills was born in Sutton Coldfield, England, and was educated at home until the age of 13. She then attended the Cheltenham Ladies’ College, a prestigious independent school for girls. Wills pursued higher education at Newnham College, Cambridge University, where she studied botany and geology, receiving a certificate as women were not awarded degrees at that time. She later trained as a nurse during World War I, before enrolling at the London School of Medicine for Women, where she qualified as a physician in 1920.

Career and Research[edit | edit source]

After qualifying as a doctor, Wills traveled to India to conduct research on macrocytic anemia of pregnancy, a common and often fatal condition among the female textile workers in Bombay (now Mumbai). Her studies focused on the workers' diets and led to the hypothesis that the anemia was caused by a nutritional deficiency rather than an infectious disease. Wills conducted controlled experiments involving different diets and discovered that a yeast extract could cure the anemia. This extract contained what would later be known as the Wills Factor, which was essential for preventing the condition. The substance was eventually identified as folic acid, a B vitamin. Her work not only had a profound impact on prenatal care but also contributed to the understanding of the role of vitamins in health and disease. Wills continued her research in India until 1938 and published numerous papers on her findings.

Legacy[edit | edit source]

Lucy Wills's contributions to medicine and nutrition have had a lasting impact. The discovery of folic acid and its importance in preventing birth defects has led to the widespread recommendation for its use before and during pregnancy. Her work is a cornerstone of modern prenatal care and nutritional science. Wills never married and spent much of her later life traveling and continuing her research. She died in 1964, leaving behind a legacy of scientific discovery and humanitarian work.