Vitamins : An overview of the fat-soluble vitamins

Article by kim standerline

An overview of the fat-soluble vitamins

Vitamins are grouped into two different categories: those that are fat-soluble and those that are water-soluble. In this article, we’ll discuss the different fat-soluble vitamins and exactly what they do for your health.

Fat-soluble vitamins are different from water-soluble vitamins in that they are stored in the liver and the fatty tissues of the human body. This occurs as opposed to water-soluble vitamins, which are flushed from the body regularly. For that reason, one doesn’t need to constantly replenish their supply of fat-soluble vitamins; on the contrary, taking too many fat-soluble vitamins can lead to a level of toxicity due to the fact that they are stored for such long periods of time. For this reason, taking vast amounts of supplements containing these vitamins can be very destructive to your health. The fat-soluble vitamins are recognized as Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, and Vitamin K.

Vitamin A is commonly referred to as retinol. This compound helps the body to perform many functions. Vision is affected by Vitamin A, and a Vitamin A deficiency can lead to night blindness. In addition, Vitamin A facilitates bone growth, development of the teeth, and the maintenance of the body’s mucus membranes.

Vitamin D is a unique vitamin in the fact that it can actually be produced by the human body. A substance known as biotin is created in the intestines, and when our skin is exposed to sunlight, the biotin in our body synthesizes into Vitamin D. Vitamin D is responsible for healthy bone growth and development, as well as helping to maintain proper levels of calcium and phosphorous within the body.

Vitamin E is an antioxidant, helping the body to protect itself from the harmful effects of free radicals. These rogue cells attack normal cells in the body, causing damage to cell membranes and decreasing the life span of the cells. A diet rich in Vitamin E-containing foods has been shown to decrease the risk of cancer and heart disease.

The final fat-soluble vitamin is Vitamin K. This vitamin is also produced in the intestines, much like Vitamin D. Proper levels of Vitamin K are crucial for body activities such as blood clotting. It also works in tandem with Vitamin D to help properly mineralize the bones of the body.

As you can see, it is of some importance that you maintain your body’s supply of fat-soluble vitamins. While you don’t need to have them every day, it’s crucial to ensure that you are getting enough of them for your body to carry out its basic functions healthily. While these vitamins are important to intake, it’s also crucial to get all the water-soluble vitamins your body needs.

Since excess water-soluble vitamins are flushed out of your system, you need to ensure that you are getting the water-soluble vitamins on a daily basis. To find out about how much of each vitamin you need to consume, peruse the Recommended Dietary Intake or RDI charts that are available, helping you to determine roughly what your daily intake should be.

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