vitamers

A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition | 2005 | 465 words | Copyright

vitamers Chemical compounds structurally related to a vitamin, and converted to the same overall active metabolites in the body. They thus possess the same kind of biological activity, although sometimes with lower potency.

When there are several vitamers, the group of compounds exhibiting the biological activity of the vitamin is given a generic descriptor (e.g. vitamin A is the generic descriptor for retinol and its derivatives as well as several carotenoids).

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DAVID A. BENDER. "vitamers." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 29 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

DAVID A. BENDER. "vitamers." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 29, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O39-vitamers.html

DAVID A. BENDER. "vitamers." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O39-vitamers.html

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