-4

As the Wikipedia article for folate states, vitamin B9 is another name for folate/folic acid. There is no mention of vitamin B11 in the article:

Folate, also known as vitamin B9 and folacin, is one of the B vitamins. Manufactured folic acid, which is converted into folate by the body, is used as a dietary supplement and in food fortification as it is more stable during processing and storage.

But in these sources vitamin B11 are also mentiond:

This one:

In the past, vitamin B9 was called vitamin B11 and today it is more commonly known as folic acid.

And this one:

Another name for folic acid. Vitamin B11 is essential for production of new cells and important for the metabolism of homocysteine, which is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and possibly neurodegeneration.

But this source says vitamin B11 is more common than B9:

Folate is also known as vitamin B11 and, in some countries, as B9.

The same source cites another source too.

Also, this one (which mentions vitamin B11 in another way):

So what happened to B4, B8, B10 and B11?

The gaps in the list of B vitamins occur because these substances are no longer considered to meet the definition of a vitamin, i.e., not essential for normal growth and nutrition.

Also, another source that mentions vitamin B11 as another name for another compound:

Vitamin B11 (Salicylic Acid)

Within our bodies, Vitamin B11 is synthesized by the amino acid phenylalanine.

Is vitamin B11 another name for folate/folic acid?

Laurel
  • 30,040
  • 9
  • 132
  • 118
  • 2
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B_vitamins#Related_compounds says it's a derivative of folate. This question would be better on https://medicalsciences.stackexchange.com/ – Rob Watts Aug 18 '23 at 22:03
  • 1
    @RobWatts: I wonder if it would be better on English Language Usage SE. This is an question about definitions, which can be set however you like. If you find plenty of sources that call salicylic acid "B11", then in that context, that is what B11 is. If a German site prefers to call folate B11 than B9, then in that context, that is what B11 is. I guess some etymology might help understand why there is inconsistency (e.g. when people realised B9 and B11 had the same effect on the body, they merged [citation-needed]), but it isn't really about applying scientific skepticism to a claim. – Oddthinking Aug 19 '23 at 03:57
  • 1
    What kind of *language* context do you see in my question? Is it about grammar or anything language related?! Also, your mentioning of etymology shows you know nothing about etymology at all. Etymology is about the evolution of words from very old times until now. But the arbitrary names that we *give* to a chemical compound don't have any etymological context. Do you really expect that the 11 in the name of the vitamin to have an etymological context related to the compound itself?! And also, that's *a* question, not an question if you're a native English speaker! – Snack Exchange Aug 19 '23 at 15:02
  • Thanks for your "a/an" typo correction. The rest of your comment is misguided. The whole question is language related; it is asking for the definition of a term. Etymology is just as applicable for more recent shifts in word definitions as ancient ones and also tracking regional differences. I never suggested the "11" was related to the compound. It is more likely related to the historical development of the understanding of vitamins (i.e. roughly the 11th candidate identified as a vitamin). (I wish it *were* related to the compound, because then we might be able to answer this empirically.) – Oddthinking Aug 21 '23 at 07:06

0 Answers0