Retinol

Retinol
Retinol is vitamin A. Carotene compounds (found, for example, in egg yolk, butter and cream) are gradually converted by the body to vitamin A (retinol). A form of vitamin A called retinal is responsible for transmitting light sensation in the retina of the eye. Deficiency of vitamin A leads to night blindness. The word "vitamin" was coined in 1911 by the Warsaw-born biochemist Casimir Funk (1884-1967). At the Lister Institute in London, Funk isolated a substance that prevented nerve inflammation (neuritis) in chickens raised on a diet deficient in that substance. He named the substance "vitamine" because he believed it was necessary to life and it was a chemical amine. The "e" at the end was later removed when it was recognized that vitamins need not be amines. The letters (A, B, C and so on) were assigned to the vitamins in the order of their discovery. The one exception was vitamin K which was assigned its "K" from "Koagulation" by the Danish researcher Henrik Dam. The vitamins include: {{}}Beta carotene: An antioxidant which protects cells against oxidation damage that can lead to cancer. Beta carotene is converted, as needed, to vitamin A. Food sources of beta carotene include vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach and other leafy green vegetables; and fruit such as cantaloupes and apricots. Excessive carotene in the diet can temporarily yellow the skin, a condition called carotenemia, commonly seen in infants fed largely mushed carrots. Vitamin B1: Thiamin, acts as a coenzyme in body metabolism. Deficiency leads to beriberi, a disease of the heart and nervous system. Vitamin B2: Riboflavin, essential for the reactions of coenzymes. Deficiency causes inflammation of the lining of the mouth and skin. Vitamin B3: Niacin, an essential part of coenzymes of body metabolism. Deficiency causes inflammation of the skin, vagina, rectum and mouth, as well as mental slowing. Vitamin B6: Pyridoxine, a cofactor for enzymes. Deficiency leads to inflammation of the skin and mouth, nausea, vomiting, dizziness , weakness and anemia. Folate (folic acid): Folic acid is an important factor in nucleic acid synthesis (the genetic material). Folate deficiency leads to megaloblastic anemia. Vitamin B12: An essential factor in nucleic acid synthesis (the genetic material of all cells). Deficiency leads to megaloblastic anemia, as can be seen in pernicious anemia. Vitamin C: Ascorbic acid, important in the synthesis of collagen, the framework protein for tissues of the body. Deficiency leads to scurvy, characterized by fragile capillaries, poor wound healing, and bone deformity in children. Vitamin D: A steroid vitamin which promotes absorption and metabolism of calcium and phosphorus. Under normal conditions of sunlight exposure, no dietary supplementation is necessary because sunlight promotes adequate vitamin D synthesis in the skin. Deficiency can lead to osteomalacia in adults and bone deformity (rickets) in children. Vitamin E: Deficiency can lead to anemia. Vitamin K: An essential factor in the formation of blood clotting factors. Deficiency can lead to abnormal bleeding.
* * *
A half-carotene bearing the β (or β-ionone) form of the cyclic end group and a CH2OH at the C-15 position (numbering as in carotenoids) or 9′-position (numbering as a nonyl side chain on a cyclohexene ring); an intermediate in the vision cycle, it also plays a role in growth and differentiation. SEE ALSO: dehydroretinol. SYN: vitamin A1 alcohol, vitamin A1.
- r. dehydrogenase an oxidoreductase catalyzing interconversion of retinal and NADH to r. and NAD+.

* * *

ret·i·nol 'ret-ən-.ȯl, -.ōl n VITAMIN A (a)

* * *

n.

* * *

ret·i·nol (retґĭ-nol) a 20-carbon primary alcohol occurring as several isomers; it is the form of vitamin A (vitamin A1) found in mammals. Most dietary sources occur as esters of retinol, also the predominant forms for storage and transport; the de-esterified alcohol can be converted to the metabolically active forms retinal and retinoic acid.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • rétinol — [ retinɔl ] n. m. • 1972; de rétine et ol ♦ Biochim. Vitamine A. ● rétinol nom masculin Synonyme de vitamine A. rétinol n. m. CHIM Vitamine A1. rétinol [ʀetinɔl] n. m. ÉTYM. 1972, Manuila; …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • retinol — m. Bioquím. Vitamina liposoluble cuya carencia provoca un mal funcionamiento de la retina, conocida también como vitamina A. * * * retinol. m. Bioquím. Vitamina A …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • retinol — s. m. [Bioquímica] O mesmo que vitamina A.   ‣ Etimologia: francês rétinol …   Dicionário da Língua Portuguesa

  • Retinol — Ret i*nol, n. [Gr. ??? resin + L. oleum oil.] 1. (Chem.) A hydrocarbon oil {C32H16}, obtained by the distillation of resin, used as a solvent, as an antiseptic, and in printer s ink. [1913 Webster +PJC] 2. One of the compounds which function as… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • retinol — retinol. См. ретинол. (Источник: «Англо русский толковый словарь генетических терминов». Арефьев В.А., Лисовенко Л.А., Москва: Изд во ВНИРО, 1995 г.) …   Молекулярная биология и генетика. Толковый словарь.

  • Retinol — (Harzthran, Harztheer), C8H4, ein mit dem Benzol isomerer Kohlenwasserstoff, welcher bei der trockenen Destillation des Harzes übergeht u. in dem Harzöl enthalten ist. Es erscheint als eine farblose Flüssigkeit von 0,9 specifischem Gewicht u. von …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • retinol — Forma cis trans de la vitamina A. Se localiza en la retina de los mamíferos. Diccionario Mosby Medicina, Enfermería y Ciencias de la Salud, Ediciones Hancourt, S.A. 1999 …   Diccionario médico

  • Retinol — ⇒ Axerophthol …   Deutsch wörterbuch der biologie

  • retinol — RETINÓL s. v. vitamina a. Trimis de siveco, 09.09.2006. Sursa: Sinonime …   Dicționar Român

  • retinol — retìnōl m <G retinóla> DEFINICIJA biol. kem. vitamin A1, prisutan u mlijeku, maslacu, ribljem ulju, masnom tkivu, karotinu, važan za održavanje i regeneraciju epitela i vidnog purpura; akseroftol ETIMOLOGIJA v. retina + ol …   Hrvatski jezični portal

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”