Definitions for vitamin
ˈvaɪ tə mɪn; Brit. also ˈvɪt ə-; -mɪn, -ˌminvi·ta·min

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:3.0 / 2 votes

1. vitaminnoun

   any of a group of organic substances essential in small quantities to normal metabolism

GCIDERate this definition:3.7 / 3 votes

1. Vitaminnoun

   any of several organic chemical substances not synthesized by an animal and required in small quantities for normal metabolism, present in and obtained from the natural foods eaten by the animal. Human vitamins are also produced synthetically, and taken in pure form or in mixtures, as dietary supplements. Deficiencies of specific vitamins lead to certain specific disorders, such as scurvy, caused by an insufficiency of vitamin C (ascorbic acid). Most vitamins act as coenzymes or precursors to coenzymes, and are not consumed for energy production or incorporated into structural units of the cell.

WiktionaryRate this definition:3.0 / 1 vote

1. vitaminnoun

   Any of a specific group of organic compounds essential in small quantities for healthy human growth, metabolism, development, and body function; found in minute amounts in plant and animal foods or sometimes produced synthetically; deficiencies of specific vitamins produce specific disorders.

2. Etymology: 1920, originally vitamine (1912), from vita (see vital) + amine (see amino acid). Vitamine coined by Polish biochemist after the initial discovery of aberic acid (thiamine), when it was thought that all such nutrients would be amines. The term had become ubiquitous by the time it was discovered that vitamin C, among others, had no amine component. In 1920, British biochemist proposed that the final -e be dropped to deemphasize the amine reference. The ending -in was acceptable because it was used for neutral substances of undefined composition. Drummond introduced the lettering system of nomenclature (Vitamin A, B, C, etc.) also at this same time.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Vitamin

   A vitamin is an organic molecule (or a set of molecules closely related chemically, i.e. vitamers) that is an essential micronutrient that an organism needs in small quantities for the proper functioning of its metabolism. Essential nutrients cannot be synthesized in the organism, either at all or not in sufficient quantities, and therefore must be obtained through the diet. Vitamin C can be synthesized by some species but not by others; it is not a vitamin in the first instance but is in the second. The term vitamin does not include the three other groups of essential nutrients: minerals, essential fatty acids, and essential amino acids. Most vitamins are not single molecules, but groups of related molecules called vitamers. For example, there are eight vitamers of vitamin E: four tocopherols and four tocotrienols. Some sources list fourteen vitamins, by including choline, but major health organizations list thirteen: vitamin A (as all-trans-retinol, all-trans-retinyl-esters, as well as all-trans-beta-carotene and other provitamin A carotenoids), vitamin B1 (thiamine), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B3 (niacin), vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), vitamin B7 (biotin), vitamin B9 (folic acid or folate), vitamin B12 (cobalamins), vitamin C (ascorbic acid), vitamin D (calciferols), vitamin E (tocopherols and tocotrienols), and vitamin K (phylloquinone and menaquinones).Vitamins have diverse biochemical functions. Vitamin A acts as a regulator of cell and tissue growth and differentiation. Vitamin D provides a hormone-like function, regulating mineral metabolism for bones and other organs. The B complex vitamins function as enzyme cofactors (coenzymes) or the precursors for them. Vitamins C and E function as antioxidants. Both deficient and excess intake of a vitamin can potentially cause clinically significant illness, although excess intake of water-soluble vitamins is less likely to do so. All vitamins were discovered (identified) between 1913 and 1948. Historically, when intake of vitamins from diet was lacking, the results were vitamin deficiency diseases. Then, starting in 1935, commercially produced tablets of yeast-extract vitamin B complex and semi-synthetic vitamin C became available. This was followed in the 1950s by the mass production and marketing of vitamin supplements, including multivitamins, to prevent vitamin deficiencies in the general population. Governments have mandated the addition of some vitamins to staple foods such as flour or milk, referred to as food fortification, to prevent deficiencies. Recommendations for folic acid supplementation during pregnancy reduced risk of infant neural tube defects.

FreebaseRate this definition:3.0 / 2 votes

1. Vitamin

   A vitamin is an organic compound required by an organism as a vital nutrient in limited amounts. An organic chemical compound is called a vitamin when it cannot be synthesized in sufficient quantities by an organism, and must be obtained from the diet. Thus, the term is conditional both on the circumstances and on the particular organism. For example, ascorbic acid is a vitamin for humans, but not for most other animals, and biotin and vitamin D are required in the human diet only in certain circumstances. By convention, the term vitamin includes neither other essential nutrients, such as dietary minerals, essential fatty acids, or essential amino acids nor the large number of other nutrients that promote health but are otherwise required less often. Thirteen vitamins are universally recognized at present. Vitamins are classified by their biological and chemical activity, not their structure. Thus, each "vitamin" refers to a number of vitamer compounds that all show the biological activity associated with a particular vitamin. Such a set of chemicals is grouped under an alphabetized vitamin "generic descriptor" title, such as "vitamin A", which includes the compounds retinal, retinol, and four known carotenoids. Vitamers by definition are convertible to the active form of the vitamin in the body, and are sometimes inter-convertible to one another, as well.

Editors ContributionRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. vitamin

   A type of matter naturally produced by the body of a human being, animal or living organism.

   Vitamins are created and produced naturally by nature and occur naturally within the body.

   
   

   Submitted by MaryC on March 28, 2020  

Matched Categories

1. • Nutriment

British National Corpus

1. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'vitamin' in Nouns Frequency: #2538

How to pronounce vitamin?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

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   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

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   Zira

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   Oliver

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   Wendy

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   Fred

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   South African

How to say vitamin in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of vitamin in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of vitamin in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7

Examples of vitamin in a Sentence

1. Andrew Smyth:

   We were interested in looking at this particular group who have a high risk for cardiovascular disease because they are also going to have a high risk of cognitive decline, previous research has suggested that a Mediterranean diet -- rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, and healthy fats -- is associated with reduced risk of cognitive impairment. We've also seen preliminary research suggesting that eating vitamin C and folate-rich vegetables like spinach and broccoli may slow cognitive decline. Other research has suggested that blueberries may boost memory, and that a high intake of saturated and trans fats can have negative effects. So it's no surprise that to me that the healthiest eaters in this study fared the best in terms of their cognitive health.

2. Carole Baggerly:

   Nearly 40 percent to 75 percent of the world's population is vitamin D deficient, the deficiency and disease that follow do not need to exist. GrassrootsHealth was founded to eradicate the vitamin D deficiency epidemic.

3. Adam Friedman:

   It was an evolutionary mechanism [ to meet D needs ] when we didn't have a Walgreens down the street from us, now, we can get vitamin D from our diet or through supplementation.

4. Simon Mays:

   Being indoors away from sunshine was probably a key factor, infant care practices that were innocuous in a Mediterranean climate may have been enough to tip babies into vitamin D deficiency under cloudy northern skies.

5. Pina LoGiudice:

   Studies show that the more sleep you get, the better your immune system will be, i would also recommend a small dose of vitamin C when a woman has a cold. You don’t want to take too much of it because it can induce contractions, so I usually keep it at anywhere less than 500 mg. I love Neti pots, especially if there is a sinus infection. And doing saltwater gargles if you have a sore throat.

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