15:41 Jun 14, 2005 

Dear colleagues! I posted this question in "English" Kudoz, too, and there we had the following discussion.

Asker: I agree with Ao vitamins - antioxidant vitamins. But I got tips from a colleague that just in my examples "a.o." means "among others". It looks right to me, because "antioxidants" are (I think) only E and C vitamins, right?

Sven Petersson: Beta-carotene (vitamin A precursor), B2, C and E are all antioxidants.

Sue Levy: Among others - yes, that is a possibility I considered too, but it doesn't make any sense in your first example, 4.000 ml of a.o. vitamin A

Kenneth Cox: As at least the first two of your sources are translations, and possibly also the third one, my take is that 'a.o.' is intended as an abbreviation for 'among others' (= 'including'). The abbreviation and the construction are uncommon in English.

Asker: Thank you, Kenneth, I see your point. This can very well be. That explains why "among others" suits in the 2nd and 3rd example but doesn't make sense in the first - can be just imperfect grammar in translation. Antioxidant vitamins is commonly written as "AO vitamins", not "a.o. vitamins".

So, asptech and Sven! you could both be right, but the sources are imperfect.
But it is now post-grading, and I chose "antioxidants" at first but I point out common spelling "AO vitamins", not "a.o. vitamins", in this case.