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Nutrition & Dietetics vocabulary · Vitamins and Minerals

Vitamin

Meaning in nutrition & dietetics, with examples

/ˈvaɪtəmɪn/nounCore term

In nutrition & dietetics, vitamin means: An organic substance that the body needs in small amounts for growth, immunity and normal metabolism. Most vitamins must come from food because the body cannot make enough of them.

In Turkish: vitamin

How it is used

Vitamins are named with letters: vitamin A, the B vitamins, vitamins C, D, E and K. They are grouped as fat-soluble (A, D, E, K) or water-soluble (the B group and C). People talk about vitamin deficiency, vitamin levels in a blood test and vitamin supplements.

Example sentences

  1. Her blood test showed low levels of vitamin D and vitamin B12.

  2. Fresh peppers and citrus fruit are rich in vitamin C.

Common collocations

  • vitamin deficiency
  • vitamin supplement
  • vitamin levels
  • rich in vitamin C
  • B vitamins
  • micronutrientA vitamin or mineral that the body needs only in very small amounts, measured in milligrams or micrograms, but which is essential for health.
  • fat-soluble vitaminOne of the four vitamins, A, D, E and K, that dissolve in fat. They are absorbed together with dietary fat and can be stored in the liver and fatty tissue.
  • vitamin DA fat-soluble vitamin that helps the body absorb calcium and keep bones healthy. The skin makes it in sunlight, and small amounts come from oily fish, eggs and fortified foods.
  • vitamin B12A vitamin needed for healthy nerves, DNA and red blood cells. It is found naturally almost only in animal foods such as meat, fish, eggs and dairy.
  • deficiencyA lack of a nutrient in the body that is serious enough to affect health or cause specific signs, such as anemia caused by too little iron.

More terms: Vitamins and Minerals

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.