provitamin

[proh-vahy-tuh-min, proh-vit-uh-min]

noun

Biochemistry.

1. a substance that an organism can transform into a vitamin, as carotene, which is converted to vitamin A in the liver.

provitamin

/ prəʊˈvɪtəmɪn /

noun

1. a substance, such as carotene, that is converted into a vitamin in animal tissues

Word History and Origins

Origin of provitamin¹

First recorded in 1925–30; pro- ¹ + vitamin

Example Sentences

Anthocyanin accumulation in plants is associated with greater resistance to herbivory, fungal diseases, bacterial infections, heavy metal toxicity, and other environmental stresses, while carotenoids are a source of provitamin A in the human diet.

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Vitamin A comes in two main forms, preformed vitamin A and provitamin A.

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It contains so much provitamin A, a substance that transforms into vitamin A in the body, that its flesh has a distinctive orange tint.

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Normally, tomatoes and other plants in their Solanaceae family make a precursor called provitamin D3 but then convert it into other compounds using enzymes coded for by two genes, called 7-DR1 and 7-DR2.

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The storied ‘golden rice’, which is enhanced with provitamin A and has been in limbo for 20 years, just a few months ago received approval in the Philippines for commercial cultivation.

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