Extension
Original fact sheet revised by L. Bellows, Colorado State University Extension food and nutrition specialist and assistant professor; and R. Moore, graduate student. Go to top of this page.
Definition Of Fat Soluble Vitamins
Vitamin D, along with calcium, keeps your bones strong by preventing diseases such as rickets, a disorder that causes bones to become soft and weak in children.
Vitamin D also helps your muscles move, improves your immune function and helps reduce inflammation. Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant that protects your body from free radicals, which are molecules that damage your cells. It also boosts your immune system and keeps blood moving through your blood vessels without clotting.
Vitamin K, conversely, allows your blood to clot. It also helps your body by making proteins for healthy bones and tissues. Characteristics of Fat Soluble Vitamins
Fat-soluble vitamins have specific characteristics that help differentiate them from other vitamins.
Storage: Fat-soluble vitamins are stored in your liver and fatty tissue. Longevity: Fat-soluble vitamins last longer in your body, because you do not need them every day. Toxicity: Because fat-soluble vitamins are stored in your body longer they are more likely to cause toxicity, since the body cannot excrete them quickly enough.
Examples of Fat Soluble Vitamins
If you eat a well-balanced, nutritious diet, which includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, meats, and healthy oils, and spend some time in the sun you will most likely get ample amounts of fat-soluble vitamin.
What Are Vitamins?
Vitamins aren’t just little gummies shaped like cartoon characters. They’re found in the food you eat and help your body function.
Vitamins have several important functions, including: Strengthen your bones
Improve your vision
Heal your wounds
Give your body energy There are two types of vitamins: water-soluble and fat-soluble. This means that they live in the fat of your body or the water of your body.
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plural: fat-soluble vitamins
Any from the group of vitamins that are insoluble in water but soluble in fat (or nonpolar) solvents
Supplement
Vitamins are organic compounds that are essential in trace but adequate amounts for normal growth and nutrition.
The term vitamin was coined by the Polish biochemist Kazimierz Funk in 1912. Fat-soluble vitamins are those that are insoluble in water but are soluble in fat or nonpolar solvents. In humans, there are four out of 13 vitamins that are fat-soluble.
Eight B vitamins and vitamin C.
Fat-soluble vitamins are absorbed and tend to accumulate in the body through body lipids or fats. Compare:
See also:
vitamin A
vitamin D
vitamin E
vitamin K
Reference(s):
1 Iłowiecki, Maciej (1981).