| vitamin A unit | The specific biologic activity of 0.3 ug of vitamin A (alcohol form). See: Sherman-Munsell unit. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| vitamin B | A group of water-soluble substances originally considered as one vitamin. (05 Mar 2000) |
| vitamin b 12 | <chemical> A cobalt-containing coordination compound produced by intestinal micro-organisms and found also in soil and water. Higher plants do not concentrate vitamin b 12 from the soil and so are a poor source of the substance as compared with animal tissues. Pharmacological action: haematinics. Chemical name: Vitamin B12 (12 Dec 1998) |
| vitamin b 12 deficiency | A nutritional condition produced by a deficiency of vitamin b 12 in the diet, characterised by megaloblastic anaemia. Since vitamin b 12 is not present in plants, humans have obtained their supply from animal products, from multivitamin supplements in the form of pills, and as additives to food preparations. A wide variety of neuropsychiatric abnormalities is also seen in vitamin b 12 deficiency and appears to be due to an undefined defect involving myelin synthesis. (12 Dec 1998) |
| vitamin B2 | <biochemistry> Member of the water soluble B vitamin group, important in energy production and the production of red blood cells (27 Sep 1997) |
| vitamin B2 unit | Potency usually expressed in terms of weight of pure riboflavin. See: Sherman-Bourquin unit of vitamin B2. Synonym: vitamin B2 unit. (05 Mar 2000) |
| vitamin B3 | <biochemistry> Member of the water soluble B vitamin group, used in the production of fatty acids, steroids and cholesterol, deficiency is known as pellagra. Has cholesterol-lowering and vasodilating properties. (27 Sep 1997) |
| vitamin B4 | Once believed to be a factor necessary for nutrition of the chick, now identified simply as certain essential amino acids and/or adenine, obsolete term for adenine. (05 Mar 2000) |
| vitamin B5 | Once used to describe biological activities now ascribed to pantothenic acid or nicotinic acid. (05 Mar 2000) |
| vitamin B6 | <biochemistry> Member of the water soluble B vitamin group. Vitamin B6 or pyridoxine, is active in the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates and fats. It is also a necessary part of haemoglobin synthesis. B6 deficiency results in retarded growth and a peripheral neuropathy. (27 Sep 1997) |
| vitamin B6 deficiency | Member of the water soluble B vitamin group. Vitamin B6 or pyridoxine, is active in the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates and fats. It is also a necessary part of haemoglobin synthesis. B6 deficiency results in retarded growth and a peripheral neuropathy. (27 Sep 1997) |
| vitamin B6 unit | Potency expressed in terms of weight of pure crystalline pyridoxine. (05 Mar 2000) |
| vitamin B7 | <biochemistry> This vitamin is necessary for the synthesis of various enzymes and actsto reduce blood cholesterol. Adeficiency in this vitamin causes pellagra, which is characterised bydermatitis, diarrhoea, and inflammation of the mucous membranes. (09 Oct 1997) |
| vitamin Bc conjugase | <enzyme> An enzyme catalyzing the hydrolysis of the pteroylpolyglutamic acids to pteroylmonoglutamic acid, with consequent increase in vitamin activity; vitamin Bc is an obsolete term for folic acid. (05 Mar 2000) |
| vitamin b complex | <chemical> A group of water-soluble substances including thiamine, riboflavin, niacin (nicotinic acid), niacinamide (nicotinamide), the vitamin b6 group (including pyridoxine, pyridoxal, pyridoxamine), biotin, pantothenic acid, folic acid, possibly para-aminobenzoic acid, inositol, vitamin b12, and possibly choline. Chemical name: Vitamin B (12 Dec 1998) |