provitamin A

American  

noun

1. carotene.

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Etymology

Origin of provitamin A

First recorded in 1950–55

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.

From Science Daily

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

From Salon

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

From National Geographic

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.

From Scientific American

There are essentially two forms of the vitamin: retinoids, or preformed vitamin A, found in animal products and carotenoids; and provitamin A, dark-colored plant pigments that are converted to vitamin A in the body.

From Washington Post