vitamin P
- noun
- /ˈvaɪtəmɪn pi/
- Archaic
:
vitamina P
- Citrus fruits were once thought to be a rich source of vitamin P.
Examples
-
Although vitamin P is no longer considered a true vitamin, the compounds are still widely studied.
-
Historically, vitamin P was believed to strengthen capillaries and prevent bruising.
-
Some early studies suggested that vitamin P was important for maintaining capillary strength.
-
Many people are unaware of vitamin P and its benefits.
-
Did you know that vitamin P is important for capillary strength?
-
Researchers found that compounds classified as vitamin P can improve blood vessel health.
-
Before flavonoids were recognized, many thought vitamin P was crucial for healthy circulation.
Synonyms
Vitamins that help keep cell and blood vessel walls strong
Surface Forms
Morphology
vitamin + P
The form follows the transparent pattern 'vitamin + letter', so a B1 learner who knows 'vitamin' and the label 'P' would likely infer this refers to a substance named as a vitamin (i.e., a compound thought to act like a vitamin). However, the precise referent (flavonoids/bioflavonoids) and the historical/technical status of the term are specialized and not predictable from the parts, so full meaning is not derivable without prior exposure.
Etymology
Vitamin P was a name early scientists used for substances they thought stopped tiny blood vessels from leaking; they called the letter P for 'permeability', which means how easily a vessel lets fluid through. So vitamin P came to mean a protective factor for these vessels, and although we now call these compounds 'flavonoids' and no longer treat them as true vitamins, the old name still appears in older books.
