vitamin B complex

vitamin B complex
an important group of water-soluble vitamins containing vitamin B1, vitamin B2, etc.
[1925-30]

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Water-soluble organic compounds with loosely similar properties, distribution in natural sources, and physiological functions.

Most are coenzymes, and all appear essential to the metabolic processes of all animal life. They include thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin, vitamin B6, pantothenic acid, folic acid, biotin, and vitamin B12 (cobalamin); some authorities also include choline, carnitine, lipoic acid, inositol, and para-aminobenzoic acid. Vitamin B6 is needed for metabolism of amino acids and prevention of skin and nerve disorders. Vitamin B12 prevents pernicious anemia and is involved in nucleic-acid synthesis, fat metabolism, and conversion of carbohydrate to fat. The B complex vitamins are particularly abundant in cereal grains, meats, nuts, and some fruits and vegetables.

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▪ chemical compounds
      several vitamins (vitamin) that traditionally have been grouped together because of loose similarities in their properties, their distribution in natural sources, and their physiological functions, which overlap considerably. All the B vitamins, like vitamin C, are soluble in water, in contrast to the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K.

       vitaminsMost of the B vitamins have been recognized as coenzymes (substances that participate with enzymes in accelerating the interconversion of chemical compounds), and they all appear to be essential in facilitating the metabolic processes of all forms of animal life. The complex includes pantothenic acid, niacin, biotin, folic acid, riboflavin (vitamin B2), thiamin (vitamin B1), 6 (vitamin B6), and 12 (vitamin B12) (cobalamin). The compounds carnitine, choline, lipoic acid, inositol, and para-aminobenzoic acid perform analogous functions in animals and have been included among the B vitamins by certain authorities. See table of the vitamins (vitamins).

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • vitamin B complex — n. a mixture of water soluble vitamins originally thought to be a single vitamin but now known to be a mixture of several compounds with vitaminic activity. Syn: B complex, vitamin B complex, vitamin B, B vitamin. [WordNet 1.5] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • vitamin B (complex) — n. a group of unrelated water soluble vitamins found in liver, yeast, etc., including: a) vitamin B1 (see THIAMINE) b) vitamin B2 (see RIBOFLAVIN) c) …   Universalium

  • vitamin B (complex) — n. a group of unrelated water soluble vitamins found in liver, yeast, etc., including: a) vitamin B1 (see THIAMINE) b) vitamin B2 (see RIBOFLAVIN) c) vitamin B6 (see PYRIDOXINE) d) NICOTINIC ACID e) PANTOTHENIC ACID f) BIOTIN g) INOSITOL h) PARA… …   English World dictionary

  • vitamin B (complex) — n. a group of unrelated water soluble vitamins found in liver, yeast, etc., including: a) vitamin B1 (see THIAMINE) b) vitamin B2 (see RIBOFLAVIN) c) vitamin B6 (see PYRIDOXINE) d) NICOTINIC ACID e) PANTOTHENIC ACID f) BIOTIN g) INOSITOL h) PARA… …   English World dictionary

  • vitamin B complex — n a group of water soluble vitamins found esp. in yeast, seed germs, eggs, liver and flesh, and vegetables that have varied metabolic functions and include coenzymes and growth factors called also B complex see BIOTIN, NIACIN …   Medical dictionary

  • vitamin B complex — vitamin B complex. См. комплекс витаминов В. (Источник: «Англо русский толковый словарь генетических терминов». Арефьев В.А., Лисовенко Л.А., Москва: Изд во ВНИРО, 1995 г.) …   Молекулярная биология и генетика. Толковый словарь.

  • vitamin B complex — noun originally thought to be a single vitamin but now separated into several B vitamins • Syn: ↑B complex vitamin, ↑B complex, ↑vitamin B, ↑B vitamin, ↑B • Hypernyms: ↑water soluble vitamin • …   Useful english dictionary

  • vitamin B complex — n. biochem. nut an important group of water soluble vitamins containing vitamin B1, vitamin B2, etc • Etymology: 1925–30 …   From formal English to slang

  • vitamin B complex — noun A group of water soluble vitamins, once thought to be a single vitamin, occurring in yeast, liver, eggs etc …   Wiktionary

  • vitamin B complex — noun Date: 1928 a group of water soluble vitamins that are found especially in yeast, seed germs, eggs, liver and flesh, and vegetables and that have varied metabolic functions and include coenzymes and growth factors called also B complex… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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