The Fat-Soluble Vitamins You Need to Know About
What Are Fat-Soluble Vitamins?
Updated April 21, 2015.
There are four fat-soluble vitamins that your body needs for a number of different biological processes. Unlike the water-soluble vitamins, your body stores the fat-soluble vitamins in the liver and fat cells.
That's good because fat-soluble vitamin deficiency is not likely to be a problem, but it's also not so good in that you can take too much of these vitamins in supplement form.
Flip through the slideshow for a quick look at each fat-soluble vitamin with links to more information.
Source:
Colorado State University Extension. "Fat-Soluble Vitamins: A, D, E, and K." Accessed April 13, 2015. http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/09315.html.
Disclaimer: The information contained on this site is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment by a licensed physician. You should seek prompt medical care for any health issues and consult your doctor before taking dietary supplements or making any major dietary changes.
Vitamin A
Updated April 21, 2015.
Vitamin A is important for normal vision, adequate growth, immune system function and for cell division and differentiation.
Symptoms of vitamin A deficiency include suffering from visual problems and slowed growth but taking too much vitamin A as a supplement can lead to weak bones, birth defects and liver problems.
Dietary sources for vitamin A include butter, egg yolks, fish, liver, meats, whole milk, dark green vegetables, yellow, and orange fruits and vegetables.
Source:
National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. "Vitamin A Fact Sheet for Professionals. Accessed April 13, 2015. http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-HealthProfessional.
Vitamin D
Updated April 21, 2015.
Vitamin D acts like a hormone and is required to absorb and utilize calcium, which keeps your bones and teeth strong.
If you don't get enough vitamin D, you'll run the risk of having weaker bones -- adults can get osteomalacia. In kids, this condition is called rickets.
Taking too much vitamin D in the form of supplements can cause nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, constipation, weakness and weight loss.
Your body makes vitamin D when your skin is exposed to sunlight -- there aren't many food sources of vitamin D, except for fortified foods, oily ocean fish, and some mushrooms.
Source:
Office of Dietary Supplements National Institutes of Health. "Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Vitamin D." Accessed April 13, 2015. http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitamind/.
Vitamin E
Updated April 21, 2015.
Vitamin E is important as an antioxidant that protects the cells of your body from free radical damage. It's also needed for normal immune system function and blood circulation.
Vitamin E deficiency is rare but can cause nerve, muscle and eye problems and a weakened immune system.
Taking too much vitamin E can cause bleeding problems or interact with certain medications.
Vitamin E is found in nuts, seeds, vegetable oils, cereals and dark green leafy vegetables.
Source:
National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. "Vitamin E Fact Sheet for Health Professionals." Accessed April 13, 2015. http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminE-HealthProfessional/.
Updated April 21, 2015.
Vitamin K is important for normal blood clotting and may help keep your bones strong as you age.
Vitamin K deficiency is rare and usually due to digestive tract problems. Symptoms include easy bruising, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, blood in the urine or stool, or extremely heavy menstrual periods.
It isn't clear what can happen if you take too much vitamin K in the form of supplements. So don't do it.
The best sources are dark green leafy vegetables, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, and soybeans.
Source:
University of Maryland Medical Center. "Vitamin K." April 13, 2015. http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/vitamin-k.
Updated April 21, 2015.
We've got three more categories of vitamins and minerals -- learn more!
Updated April 21, 2015.
There are four fat-soluble vitamins that your body needs for a number of different biological processes. Unlike the water-soluble vitamins, your body stores the fat-soluble vitamins in the liver and fat cells.
That's good because fat-soluble vitamin deficiency is not likely to be a problem, but it's also not so good in that you can take too much of these vitamins in supplement form.
Flip through the slideshow for a quick look at each fat-soluble vitamin with links to more information.
Source:
Colorado State University Extension. "Fat-Soluble Vitamins: A, D, E, and K." Accessed April 13, 2015. http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/09315.html.
Disclaimer: The information contained on this site is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment by a licensed physician. You should seek prompt medical care for any health issues and consult your doctor before taking dietary supplements or making any major dietary changes.
Vitamin A
Updated April 21, 2015.
Vitamin A is important for normal vision, adequate growth, immune system function and for cell division and differentiation.
Symptoms of vitamin A deficiency include suffering from visual problems and slowed growth but taking too much vitamin A as a supplement can lead to weak bones, birth defects and liver problems.
Dietary sources for vitamin A include butter, egg yolks, fish, liver, meats, whole milk, dark green vegetables, yellow, and orange fruits and vegetables.
Source:
National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. "Vitamin A Fact Sheet for Professionals. Accessed April 13, 2015. http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-HealthProfessional.
Vitamin D
Updated April 21, 2015.
Vitamin D acts like a hormone and is required to absorb and utilize calcium, which keeps your bones and teeth strong.
If you don't get enough vitamin D, you'll run the risk of having weaker bones -- adults can get osteomalacia. In kids, this condition is called rickets.
Taking too much vitamin D in the form of supplements can cause nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, constipation, weakness and weight loss.
Your body makes vitamin D when your skin is exposed to sunlight -- there aren't many food sources of vitamin D, except for fortified foods, oily ocean fish, and some mushrooms.
Source:
Office of Dietary Supplements National Institutes of Health. "Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Vitamin D." Accessed April 13, 2015. http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitamind/.
Vitamin E
Updated April 21, 2015.
Vitamin E is important as an antioxidant that protects the cells of your body from free radical damage. It's also needed for normal immune system function and blood circulation.
Vitamin E deficiency is rare but can cause nerve, muscle and eye problems and a weakened immune system.
Taking too much vitamin E can cause bleeding problems or interact with certain medications.
Vitamin E is found in nuts, seeds, vegetable oils, cereals and dark green leafy vegetables.
Source:
National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. "Vitamin E Fact Sheet for Health Professionals." Accessed April 13, 2015. http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminE-HealthProfessional/.
Updated April 21, 2015.
Vitamin K is important for normal blood clotting and may help keep your bones strong as you age.
Vitamin K deficiency is rare and usually due to digestive tract problems. Symptoms include easy bruising, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, blood in the urine or stool, or extremely heavy menstrual periods.
It isn't clear what can happen if you take too much vitamin K in the form of supplements. So don't do it.
The best sources are dark green leafy vegetables, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, and soybeans.
Source:
University of Maryland Medical Center. "Vitamin K." April 13, 2015. http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/vitamin-k.
Updated April 21, 2015.
We've got three more categories of vitamins and minerals -- learn more!
- Major Minerals and Where to Find Them
- Trace Minerals and Where to Find Them
- Water-Soluble Vitamins and Where to Find Them
Source...