vitamin

vi·ta·min  (vt-mn)

n.

Any of various fat-soluble or water-soluble organic substances essential in minute amounts for normal growth and activity of the body and obtained naturally from plant and animal foods.

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[Alteration of vitamine : Latin vta, life; see g^wei- in Indo-European roots + amine (so called because they were originally thought to be amines).]

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vita·minic adj.

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vitamin [ˈvɪtəmɪn ˈvaɪ-]

n

(Chemistry / Elements & Compounds) any of a group of substances that are essential, in small quantities, for the normal functioning of metabolism in the body. They cannot usually be synthesized in the body but they occur naturally in certain foods: insufficient supply of any particular vitamin results in a deficiency disease

[C20 vit- from Latin vīta life + -amin from amine; so named by Casimir Funk (1884-1967), US biochemist who believed the substances to be amines]

vitaminic  adj

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vitamin  (vt-mn)

Any of various organic compounds that are needed in small amounts for normal growth and activity of the body. Most vitamins cannot be synthesized by the body, but are found naturally in foods obtained from plants and animals. Vitamins are either water-soluble or fat-soluble. Most water-soluble vitamins, such as the vitamin B complex, act as catalysts and coenzymes in metabolic processes and energy transfer and are excreted fairly rapidly. Fat-soluble vitamins, such as vitamins A, D, and E are necessary for the function or structural integrity of specific body tissues and membranes and are retained in the body.

A Closer Look Although it has been known for thousands of years that certain diseases can be treated with specific foods, the scientific link between vitamins and good health wasn't made until the early 1900s by Polish-born American biochemist Casimir Funk. While studying beriberi, a disease that causes depression, fatigue, and nerve damage, Funk discovered an organic compound in rice husks that prevents the illness. He named the compound vitamine, derived from the chemical name amine and the Latin word vita, "life," because vitamins are required for life and were originally thought to be amines. Funk's compound is now known as vitamin B₁, or thiamine. His research and discovery led him, along with English biochemist Sir Frederick Gowland Hopkins, to propose the vitamin hypothesis of deficiency, which stated that certain diseases, such as scurvy or rickets, are caused by dietary deficiencies and can be avoided by taking vitamins. Further research allowed scientists to isolate and identify the vitamins that we know today to be essential for human health. Vitamins include A, C, D, E, K, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, B₆, B₁₂, folic acid, biotin, and pantothenic acid. Vitamins are distinguished from minerals, such as calcium, iron, and magnesium, which are also essential for optimum health.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

vitamin - any of a group of organic substances essential in small quantities to normal metabolism aliment, alimentation, nourishment, nutriment, sustenance, victuals, nutrition - a source of materials to nourish the body multivitamin, multivitamin pill - a pill or tablet containing several vitamins fat-soluble vitamin - any vitamin that is soluble in fats water-soluble vitamin - any vitamin that is soluble in water

Translations

vitamin [ˈvɪtəmɪn]

A. N → vitamina f
with added vitamins → vitaminado, reforzado con vitaminas

B. CPD vitamin content N → contenido m vitamínico
vitamin deficiency N → avitaminosis f, déficit m vitamínico
vitamin pill N → pastilla f de vitaminas
vitamin supplement N → suplemento m vitamínico
vitamin tablet N → pastilla f de vitaminas

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vitamin [ˈvɪtəmɪn]

n → vitamine f

modif [content, intake] → en vitamines; [supplement] → vitaminique
vitamin deficiency n → carence f en vitamines
vitamin-enriched [ˌvɪtəmɪnɪnˈrɪtʃt] adj → enrichi(e) en vitamines
vitamin pill n → comprimé m de vitamines

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vitamin

n → Vitamin nt; vitamin A → Vitamin A; with added vitamins → mit Vitaminen angereichert

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vitamin:

vitamin deficiency

n → Vitaminmangel m

vitamin-deficiency disease

n → Vitaminmangelkrankheit f

vitamin pill

n → Vitamintablette f

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vitamin [ˈvɪtəmɪn] n → vitamina
with added vitamins → vitaminizzato/a

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vitamin [ˈvɪtəmɪn] n → vitamina
with added vitamins → vitaminizzato/a

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vitamin

n vitamin [ˈvitəmin, (American ) ˈvai-]

any of a group of substances necessary for healthy life, different ones occurring in different natural things such as raw fruit, dairy products, fish, meat etc A healthy diet is full of vitamins; Vitamin C is found in fruit and vegetables; (also adjective ) vitamin pills. vitamien فيتامين витамин vitamín(ový) vitamin; vitamin- das Vitamin, Vitamin... βιταμίνη vitamina vitamiin ویتامین vitamiini (de) vitamine וִיטָמִין विटामिन vitamin vitamin vitamin vítamín vitamina; di vitamina ビタミン 비타민 vitaminas vitamīns vitamin vitamine vitamin witamina vitamina vitamină витамин vitamín vitamin; vitaminski vitamin vitamin วิตามิน vitamin 維生素 вітамін; вітамінний وٹامن، حياتين sinh tố, vitamin 维生素

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vitamin → فيتامين vitamín vitamin Vitamin βιταμίνη vitamina vitamiini vitamine vitamin vitamina ビタミン 비타민 vitamine vitamin witamina vitamina витамин vitamin วิตามิน vitamin vitamin 维生素