dihydroxyvitamin

English

Etymology

di- +‎ hydroxy- +‎ vitamin

Noun

dihydroxyvitamin (plural dihydroxyvitamins)

1. A physiologically active metabolite of a vitamin, with two hydroxy groups substituted in any position.
   • 2008, Vitamin D Handbook: Structures, Synonyms, and Properties, page vii:

     It is also well understood that the vitamins themselves are not biologically active but that they are first converted to the 1a,25-dihydroxyvitamins (386 and 154, respectively) which exhibit the biological behavior associated with the vitamins.

Usage notes

This term is only used in reference to the D vitamins.