provitamin A

noun

carotene.

Origin of provitamin A

First recorded in 1950–55

Medical definitions for provitamin a

provitamin A

n.

Any of the carotenoids that are precursors of vitamin A and exhibit qualitatively the biological activity of beta-carotene; they are present in fish-liver oils, egg yolk, milk products, green-leaf or yellow vegetables, and fruits.