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Vitamins occur in a variety of related forms known as vitamers. A vitamer (/ˈvaɪtəmər/) of a particular vitamin is one of several related compounds that performs the functions of said vitamin and prevents the symptoms of deficiency of said vitamin.
Early research identified vitamins by their ability to cure vitamin-specific deficiency diseases. For example, vitamin B1 was first identified as a substance that prevented and treated beriberi. Subsequent nutrition research has revealed all vitamers exhibit biological activity against their specific vitamin deficiency, although different vitamers exhibit different potencies against those diseases.
A set of vitamers with related biological activity are grouped together by a general name, or generic descriptor, that refers to similar compounds with the same vitamin function. For example, vitamin A is the generic descriptor for the class of vitamin A vitamers which include retinol, retinal, retinoic acid, and provitamin carotenoids such as beta-carotene among others.[1][2]
- ^ Institute of Medicine (2000-01-09). Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium, and Zinc. doi:10.17226/10026. ISBN 978-0-309-07279-3. PMID 25057538.
- ^ Institute of Medicine (2000-04-11). Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Selenium, and Carotenoids. doi:10.17226/9810. ISBN 978-0-309-06935-9. PMID 25077263.