B VITAMIN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does B vitamin mean? 

• B VITAMIN (noun)
  The noun B VITAMIN has 1 sense:

1. originally thought to be a single vitamin but now separated into several B vitamins

  Familiarity information: B VITAMIN used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• B VITAMIN (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Originally thought to be a single vitamin but now separated into several B vitamins

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Synonyms:

B; B-complex vitamin; B complex; B vitamin; vitamin B; vitamin B complex

Hypernyms ("B vitamin" is a kind of...):

water-soluble vitamin (any vitamin that is soluble in water)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "B vitamin"):

choline (a B-complex vitamin that is a constituent of lecithin; essential in the metabolism of fat)

inositol (an optically inactive alcohol that is a component of the vitamin B complex)

pantothen; pantothenic acid (a vitamin of the vitamin B complex that performs an important role in the oxidation of fats and carbohydrates and certain amino acids; occurs in many foods)

aneurin; antiberiberi factor; thiamin; thiamine; vitamin B1 (a B vitamin that prevents beriberi; maintains appetite and growth)

antipernicious anemia factor; cobalamin; cyanocobalamin; vitamin B12 (a B vitamin that is used to treat pernicious anemia)

hepatoflavin; lactoflavin; ovoflavin; riboflavin; vitamin B2; vitamin G (a B vitamin that prevents skin lesions and weight loss)

adermin; pyridoxal; pyridoxamine; pyridoxine; vitamin B6 (a B vitamin that is essential for metabolism of amino acids and starch)

folacin; folate; folic acid; pteroylglutamic acid; pteroylmonoglutamic acid; vitamin Bc; vitamin M (a B vitamin that is essential for cell growth and reproduction)

niacin; nicotinic acid (a B vitamin essential for the normal function of the nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract)

biotin; vitamin H (a B vitamin that aids in body growth)

 Context examples 

This protein plays a role in both methionine biosynthesis and B vitamin metabolism.

(Methionine Synthase Reductase, NCI Thesaurus)

This allele, which encodes methionine synthase reductase protein, is involved in both B vitamin metabolism and methionine synthesis.

(MTRR wt Allele, NCI Thesaurus)

Getting enough folic acid, a type of B vitamin, before and during pregnancy prevents most neural tube defects.

(Neural Tube Defects, NIH: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)

Folic acid is a B vitamin.

(Folic Acid, NIH: National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements)

Supplements including folic acid have been shown to greatly reduce birth defects, so much so that food in many countries is fortified with this particular B vitamin.

(New Genetic Discovery May Eventually End Premature Birth, VOA)

They also investigated whether a nutrient involved in DNA methylation, specifically a B vitamin supplement, might counteract the methylation changes.

(Combatting epigenetic effects from outdoor air pollution, NIH)

Folate, an essential B vitamin, reduces the fetus’ risk for neural tube defects, which are malformations affecting the brain, spine and spinal cord.

(Proper maternal folate level may reduce child obesity risk, NIH)

However, these changes were not observed when the participants took the daily B vitamin supplement before exposure to the particles.

(Combatting epigenetic effects from outdoor air pollution, NIH)