Sci/241 Week 5 Fat and Water Soluble Vitamins
Fat- and Water-soluble Vitamins
Vitamins are primarily classified by solubility. Some vitamins are soluble in water and others are soluble in fat. “According to The National Institute of Health, the body needs 13 vitamins for normal health.” This includes vitamins A, C, D, E, K and the B complex vitamins, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, B6, B12 and folate. Each of these vitamins provides a variety of functions to the body which can be obtained from a well balanced diet (Farris, 2012).
You only need vitamins in small quantities (micronutrients) and they are essential to your health. Vitamins are important because they help the body to function optimally. Vitamins can be found in everything we eat and have their own unique role in the body. For example, Vitamin A is needed for vision, vitamin K is needed for blood clotting, vitamin C is needed to synthesize connective tissue, B vitamins thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, biotin and pantothenic acid are all need to produce ATP (adenosine triphosphate) from carbohydrate, fat and protein. In some cases one vitamin depends on the presence of another. For example, B12 is needed to provide folate needed for cell division, and vitamin C helps vitamin E to its active form. Although vitamins are needed by the body in small amounts they are essential to the body’s functions, growth and repair. They are also important because your body does not have the ability to produce them on its own, they must be obtained from the foods we consume (Wiley, 2000-2012).
Fat soluble vitamins include vitamins A, D, E and K and dissolve in fat. They are stored in the liver and fatty tissues and cannot be excreted from the body in urine. According to Gardner (2012) fat soluble vitamins can be found in many foods we eat. Fruits and vegetables contain at least one fat soluble vitamin such as leafy greens and apples and bananas, which contain vitamin A. Vitamin E can be found in asparagus and corn, and vitamin K
Vitamins are primarily classified by solubility. Some vitamins are soluble in water and others are soluble in fat. “According to The National Institute of Health, the body needs 13 vitamins for normal health.” This includes vitamins A, C, D, E, K and the B complex vitamins, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, B6, B12 and folate. Each of these vitamins provides a variety of functions to the body which can be obtained from a well balanced diet (Farris, 2012).
You only need vitamins in small quantities (micronutrients) and they are essential to your health. Vitamins are important because they help the body to function optimally. Vitamins can be found in everything we eat and have their own unique role in the body. For example, Vitamin A is needed for vision, vitamin K is needed for blood clotting, vitamin C is needed to synthesize connective tissue, B vitamins thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, biotin and pantothenic acid are all need to produce ATP (adenosine triphosphate) from carbohydrate, fat and protein. In some cases one vitamin depends on the presence of another. For example, B12 is needed to provide folate needed for cell division, and vitamin C helps vitamin E to its active form. Although vitamins are needed by the body in small amounts they are essential to the body’s functions, growth and repair. They are also important because your body does not have the ability to produce them on its own, they must be obtained from the foods we consume (Wiley, 2000-2012).
Fat soluble vitamins include vitamins A, D, E and K and dissolve in fat. They are stored in the liver and fatty tissues and cannot be excreted from the body in urine. According to Gardner (2012) fat soluble vitamins can be found in many foods we eat. Fruits and vegetables contain at least one fat soluble vitamin such as leafy greens and apples and bananas, which contain vitamin A. Vitamin E can be found in asparagus and corn, and vitamin K
References: Boyers, L. (2012). Fat Soluble vitamins and Toxicity. Retrieved from http://www.livestrong.com/article/327656-fat-soluble-vitamins-and-toxicity/ Boyers, L. (2012). Are Water Soluble Vitamins Toxic?. Retrieved from http://www.livestrong.com/article/331397-are-water-soluble-vitamins-toxic/ Farris, L. (2012). Classification of Vitamins. Retrieved from http://www.livestrong.com/article/85828-classification-vitamins/ Gardner, K. (2012). Features of Fat Soluble Vitamins. Retrieved from http://www.livestrong.com/article/402429-features-of-fat-soluble-vitamins/ Grant, S. (2012). Water Soluble Vitamins and Deficiency. Retrieved from http://www.livestrong.com/article/291672-water-soluble-vitamins-and-deficiency/ Tumbarello, E. (2012). Food Sources That Contain Water Soluble Vitamins. Retrieved from http://www.livestrong.com/article/238322-food-sources-that-contain-water-soluble-vitamins/ Wiley, J. (2000-2012). Grosvenor, Nutrition: Everyday Choices. : John Wiley & Sons, Inc.