| vitamin Bx | A factor in the vitamin B complex, a part of all folic acids and required for its formation; neutralises the bacteriostatic effects of the sulfonamides since it furnishes an essential growth factor for bacteria, the utilization with which the sulfonamides interfere; used as an ultraviolet screen in lotions and creams. Synonym: paraaminobenzoic acid, vitamin Bx. Acronym: PABA (05 Mar 2000) |
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| vitamin C | <biochemistry> A water soluble vitamin crucial for the maintenance of connective tissue, wound healing and scar formation. Deficiency is known as scurvy. Symptoms include dry skin, bleeding and swollen gums, bone pains, dental cavities and mouth sores. (27 Sep 1997) |
| vitamin C deficiency | A disease due to the deficiency of vitamin C (ascorbic acid). Symptoms include weakness, anaemia, spongy gums and mucocutaneous bleeding (mouth ulcers). Synonym: scurvy. (27 Sep 1997) |
| vitamin C test | A tourniquet test used to determine presence of vitamin C deficiency or thrombocytopenia; a circle 2.5 cm in diameter, the upper edge of which is 4 cm below the crease of the elbow, is drawn on the inner aspect of the forearm, pressure midway between the systolic and diastolic blood pressure is applied above the elbow for 15 minutes, and a count of petechiae within the circle is made: 10, normal; 10 to 20, marginal zone; over 20, abnormal. See: Rumpel-Leede test. Synonym: capillary resistance test, vitamin C test. (05 Mar 2000) |
| vitamin C unit | The vitamin C activity of 0.05 mg of the standard crystalline levoascorbic acid; 1 mg of crystalline vitamin C provides 20 USP unit's. See: Sherman unit. (05 Mar 2000) |
| vitamin D | <biochemistry> The sunshine vitamin is produced by the body when exposed to UV light. Plays important role in calcium and phosphorus metabolism. Deficiency is known as rickets. Symptoms include soft (weak) and bendable bones, stunted growth, bow legs, chest deformities and knock-knees. (27 Sep 1997) |
| vitamin D2 | <hormone> The vitamin produced by the body when exposed to UV light. Plays important role in calcium and phosphorus metabolism. Deficiency is known as rickets. Symptoms include soft (weak) and bendable bones, stunted growth, bow legs, chest deformities and knock-knees. (27 Sep 1997) |
| vitamin D3 | <biochemistry> The vitamin produced by the body when exposed to ultraviolet light. It has an important role in calcium and phosphorus metabolism. Deficiency is known as rickets which presents with soft (weak) and bendable bones, stunted growth, bow legs, chest deformities and knock-knees. (15 Jan 1998) |
| vitamin d-binding protein | An alpha-globulin found in the plasma of man and other vertebrates. It is apparently synthesised in the liver and carries vitamin d and its metabolites through the circulation and mediates the response of tissue. It is also known as group-specific component (gc). Gc subtypes are used to determine specific phenotypes and gene frequencies. These data are employed in the classification of population groups, paternity investigations, and in forensic medicine. (12 Dec 1998) |
| vitamin D deficiency | A vitamin D deficiency disease of infancy or childhood with a disturbance of the normal process of ossification and bone growth. Often manifests with bone deformity. (27 Sep 1997) |
| vitamin D milk | Cow's milk to which vitamin D has been added, to contain 400 USP units of vitamin D per quart. (05 Mar 2000) |
| vitamin d-resistant rickets | <radiology> X-linked recessive, defect in renal tubular resorption of phosphate, presents at 1 yr, progressive limb deformities X-ray: less severe changes than other rickets, presents later Differential diagnosis features: family hx, normal serum calcium, marked hypophosphataemia (decreased PO4), no secondary hyperparathyroidism (12 Dec 1998) |
| vitamin D unit | The antirachitic activity contained in 0.025 ug of a preparation of crystalline vitamin D3 (activated 7-dehydrocholesterol). See: Steenbock unit. (05 Mar 2000) |
| vitamin E | <biochemistry> Functions as an antioxidant, binds oxygen free radicals that can cause tissue damage, may also play a protective role in the coronary arteries from the damaging effects of cholesterol. (27 Sep 1997) |
| vitamin e deficiency | A nutritional condition produced by a deficiency of vitamin e in the diet, characterised by posterior column and spinocerebellar tract abnormalities, areflexia, ophthalmoplegia, and disturbances of gait, proprioception, and vibration. In premature infants vitamin e deficiency is associated with haemolytic anaemia, thrombocytosis, oedema, intraventricular haemorrhage, and increasing risk of retrolental fibroplasia and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. An apparent inborn error of vitamin e metabolism, named familial isolated vitamin e deficiency, has recently been identified. (cecil textbook of medicine, 19th ed, p1181) (12 Dec 1998) |