Nutrition Research

Royal Lee, D.D.S.

As a farm boy, at age 12, Royal Lee had an unusual interest in nutrition. He compiled a notebook of biochemistry and nutrition information from school dictionaries–an early signal that he was destined to develop a passion that would bring healing information and products to the world.

In addition to his passion about nutrition, Royal Lee had an unusual gift for developing electrical/mechanical inventions. He founded a highly successful company with inventions that were used by the war industry, the photographic industry, the telephone industry, and the film and sound industry. Over the years, he filed nearly 100 patents related to electrical and speed controls for motors. His early work with things mechanical was interrupted by World War I. When he returned to civilian life after the war, he enrolled in dental school and graduated as a dentist in 1924. He maintained his engineering interests and continued to file patents but his interest in nutrition also came to the fore. While in dental school, he wrote a research paper connecting tooth decay to vitamin deficiencies.

He passionately believed the most effective nutritional supplements were concentrated whole foods. With a thriving engineering company, he turned his interest again to nutrition. He applied his genius for mechanics to developing equipment to prepare whole food compounds in concentrated form-food supplements that would contain all the known vitamins and minerals. In 1929 he founded a nutritional supplement company to produce and market his first concentrate. This first product, Catalyn, is still available today. He formulated this product using raw vegetables, organs and whole grains so it contains all trace minerals, vitamins and enzymes that are known or unknown. Over the years, as a new vitamin or mineral was identified, the company would check Catalyn and find the nutrient there. The equipment he invented enabled his company to manufacture a food supplement using low temperatures so the natural ingredients could be captured intact and not be destroyed by heat.

His nutrition company soon took the majority of his time. Other concentrates followed and by 1956 his nutritional supplements were proving so effective, annual sales for this company caught up with his engineering company. He was happier applying his talents to improving health. He commented, "You hate to turn down doctors asking for products to save life, and spend your time instead inventing gadgets that have nothing to do with life." His passion for nutrition and health included soil science so he knew it was important that soil retain vital trace minerals. The farms he established in Wisconsin still use organic farming practices to maintain the fertility of the soil and supply ingredients for food supplements.

Over the years, Royal Lee fought several court battles with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As the scientific community discovered processes to manufacture synthetic vitamins, food manufacturers were refining foods to remove vital nutrients then adding these synthetic vitamins. The foods were then labeled as "fortified." He ran advertisements to inform the public of this food fraud and thus attracted the attention of the FDA.

Before his death in 1967 Royal Lee established the Lee Foundation for Nutritional Research. He wanted to ensure a source of information would be available on the importance of soils as Nature provides and the importance of nutrition as Nature provides. With the onslaught of chemical fertilizers and pesticides as well as synthetic food supplements, this Foundation plays an important role in preserving and providing vital information.

Dr. Lee also believed in individual liberty, the importance of free enterprise and the application of the Golden Rule. He asked for "…economic freedom and commercial intercourse among nations while strictly minding our own business politically, permitting each nation to adopt and operate whatever form of government they choose. That course of action is nothing more than applying the Golden Rule, the only possible way of getting along with associates, whether people or nations." Quotes are from "Nutrition Hall of Fame, Royal Lee, DDS, The Father of Natural Vitamins," by David Morris, DO, Wise Traditions, Spring 2000 and "Royal Lee, the Man," by Don C. Matchan, Herald of Health, May 1959.

See Recommended Products for information on Standard Process-the company founded by Royal Lee.