vitamin (redirected from calciferol 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

Noun

one of a group of substances that occur naturally in certain foods and are essential for normal health and growth [from Latin vita life + amine]

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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] n → vitamina

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vitamin [ˈvɪtəmɪn] n → vitamine f

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vitamin [ˈvɪtəmɪn] n → Vitamin nt

cpd (pill, deficiencies) → Vitamin-

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vitamin [ˈvɪtəmɪn] n → vitamina

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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