WATER SOLUBLE AND

FAT SOLUBLE VITAMINS

Water Soluble and Fat Solubale Vitamins - The Facts
By Donovan Baldwin

To tell the truth, most people do not even realize how different individual vitamins can be. Beyond the obvious letter difference, a vitamin can be classified as either a Fat Soluble or Water Soluble vitamin. This can be an important distinciton as whether the vitamin is fat soluble or water soluble has to do with the way the body processes it and stores it...in the case of fat soluble vitamins

Should this difference matter to you? Well, yes and no.

For Most People

At the most basic level, where most people are concerned, whether or not a vitamin is fat soluble or water soluble doesn't really matter. What is most important is ensuring that your body gets the recommended daily allowances of each. Regardless of whether you're getting your vitamins via your daily diet or by taking the best daily multivitamin supplement thay can, avoiding a vitamin deficiency in the first place is what will keep the body in good health.

For the Rest of Us

When looked at from a chemical aspect, the differences between a vitamin that is fat soluble or water soluble can be fairly complicated. Most people don't care to understand all that is involved 'behind the scenes'.

What's important is that the body is able to store fat soluble vitamins but not water soluble vitamins. The fat soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E and K, are absorbed through the large intestines. For this absorption process to work properly dietary fat must also be present. If fat is not eaten along with the fat soluble vitamins, it will be more difficult for the body to complete the absorption process. Once they are finally absorbed however, fat soluble vitamins are stored in the liver. There they wait until they are called on to do their jobs.

Let's take Vitamin C and Vitamin D as examples of at least realizing the importance of whether a vitamin is a fat soluble vitamin or a water soluble vitamin.

Vitamin C is water soluble, which means the body does not store it, and, for good health, it must be replenished regularly.  Vitamin D, on the other hand, is fat soluable.  Now, this seems like a good thing at first glance, and it can be.  However, if someone is overweight or obese, they may actually "lock up" much of their Vitramin D in fat cells and not have effective access to it.  The body can, in most of us, easily manufacture all the Vitamin D it needs from exposure to sunlight, however an obese person may need to supplement anyway to get the amount their body needs.

FAT SOLUBLE VITAMINS

Now, let's take a closer look at the fat soluble vitamins. There's Vitamin K, which helps the body metabolize food into energy. It's responsible for protecting the blood's clotting ability by supplying the seven blood clotting proteins involved in the process. It's also necessary for normal bone growth.

Vitamin E is an important antioxidant. It protects Vitamins A and C and it plays a crucial role in protecting fatty acids and red blood cells from being destroyed.

Without Vitamin D, the body could not efficiently absorb calcium. Vitamin D helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphorous in the blood. Storing Vitamin D helps ensure that even if a person doesn't drink enough milk, bones won't suffer.  It's interesting to note that the symptoms of a Calcium deficiency are almost identical to the symptoms of a Vitamin D deficiency.

Vitamin A is the vision vitamin. It helps eyes focus in dim light and helps differentiate colors. It also plays a vital role in tissue growth and differentiation. It boosts the immune system's ability to fight infection. A special protein called a transport protein helps the Vitamin A that is stored in the liver travel to the tissues where it is needed.

WATER SOLUBLE VITAMINS

Water soluble vitamins, as has been mentioned, are not stored in the body. Because the body isn't able to store these vitamins these vitamins must be constantly resupplied. As water soluble vitamins enter the body, they are put to work. The excess is eliminated from the body via the urine. The vitamins that make up the water soluble category include the B vitamins, Vitamin C and Vitamin H (Biotin).

The B vitamins are crucial nutrients which are responsible for several basic and important bodily functions. During the process of converting glucose from carbohydrates, the B vitamins provide energy to the body. Without B vitamins, the body wouldn't be able to properly metabolize proteins and fats.

One of Biotin's (Vitamin H) primary responsibilities is to ensure proper growth and Vitamin C is important for its antioxidant effects but both benefit the body in many other ways, too.

If you can't get the vitamins you need from consuming a balanced diet, consider taking the best multivitamin supplement you can find. Your health depends on it!

About the Author

Donovan Baldwin is a freelance SEO copywriter livng in Central Texas. He is retired from the U. S. Army after 21 years of service, has worked as an accountant, optical lab manager, restaurant manager, and instructor. He is a University of West Florida alumnus (BA Accounting 1973) and has been a member of Mensa for several years. He has written and published poetry, essays, and articles on various subjects for the last 40 years. He developed an interest in health and fitness in the '70s after reading numerous books, including Dr. Kenneth Cooper's "Aerobics". This has led him to continue his personal research into health and fitness for over 30 years, and to pursue course work on the subjects of health and fitness, including yoga, which he practices regularly. Learn more about health, fitness, diet, and weight loss at http://nodiet4me.blogspot.com.