Definition

Noun: A fat-soluble vitamin, specifically vitamin D, that is essential for the absorption of calcium and phosphorus in the body and is crucial for preventing rickets, a disease that causes soft and weak bones in children.

Usage

"Calciferol" is a scientific and technical term used primarily in medical, nutritional, and biochemical contexts. It refers to the specific compound also known as vitamin D2, which is one form of vitamin D used in supplements and food fortification.

Examples

• Noun:
  • Milk is often fortified with calciferol to ensure adequate vitamin D intake.
  • A deficiency in calciferol can lead to bone disorders like rickets or osteomalacia.
  • The doctor prescribed a supplement containing calciferol for the patient.

Advanced Usage

• "Ergocalciferol": This is the precise chemical name for calciferol (vitamin D2), which is derived from plants and fungi.
  • Ergocalciferol, or calciferol, is commonly used in vegetarian vitamin D supplements.

Variants and Related Words

• Vitamin D: The general term for a group of fat-soluble secosteroids responsible for increasing intestinal absorption of calcium, magnesium, and phosphate. Calciferol (D2) and cholecalciferol (D3) are the two major forms.
• Cholecalciferol (noun): Vitamin D3, the form of vitamin D that is synthesized in the skin upon exposure to sunlight and found in animal-based foods.
• Ergocalciferol (noun): The scientific synonym for calciferol (vitamin D2).

Synonyms

• Vitamin D2: The most direct synonym.
• Ergocalciferol: The technical chemical name.

Related Phrases and Terms

• "Vitamin D deficiency": A condition resulting from insufficient levels of vitamin D (including calciferol) in the body.
  • The blood test confirmed a vitamin D deficiency, so she was advised to take calciferol.
• "Fat-soluble vitamin": A category of vitamins (A, D, E, K) that dissolve in fats and oils and are stored in the body's fatty tissue. Calciferol belongs to this group.

Noun

1. a fat-soluble vitamin that prevents rickets