Vitamins are vital in small amounts to assist the body in performing its tasks, according to the Colorado State University Extension. They play critical roles in almost all processes in the body. The systems that make use of these vitamins include the hormonal system, nervous system and immune system. Vitamins are vital to our health, but some of them pose a health hazard if their levels in the body rise too high.
Two Classes of Vitamins
Our bodies need six different vitamins daily to avoid deficiencies and the serious health effects of their absence, according to the Food and Drug Administration. The agency has established recommended daily allowances of each of the vitamins. They are broken into two major groups based on their solubility characteristics. Most of the vitamins required by our body are water-soluble, but four of them are fat-soluble. The fat-soluble vitamins are vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E and vitamin K. Any excess amounts of these vitamins ingested by the body are stored in the body in the liver, in the case of vitamins A, D and K. In the case of vitamin E, it is stored throughout the body in fatty tissues. The water-soluble vitamins consist of vitamin C and the B-complex vitamins. Vitamin B is composed of a complex of eight vitamins, but they are grouped together as vitamin B complex. The B-complex vitamins are B1 (thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 (pyridoxine), B7 (biotin), B9 (folic acid) and B12 (cyanocobalamin).
Water-Soluble Vitamins Are Safe
Water-soluble vitamins have low toxicity. Excess amounts of water-soluble vitamins present in the body above the amount required by the body pass into the urine. Because of that, your food needs to provide at least a minimum amount of the water-soluble vitamins need to allow the body to maintain optimum health and aid in the proper functioning of the bodily systems.
Fat-Soluble Vitamins Can Be Hazardous
Fat-soluble vitamins are able to be stored in the body's tissues for later use. As you ingest more of these vitamins, the levels of these vitamins rise within the body. The body will lower these levels based on its needs to ensure the proper functioning of the hormonal, nervous and immune systems. When the levels rise and remain elevated, the body might experience side effects.
Too Much
Excess amounts of fat-soluble vitamins can have negative effects on the body. The symptoms of excess amounts of these vitamins can range from mild to severe. Vitamin A and vitamin D show mild symptoms that include nausea. Vitamin A symptoms of to high a dosage will result in vision problems, including blurred vision and night blindness. High vitamin D levels result in weight loss and possible kidney damage. Large amounts of vitamin E and vitamin K do not result in any side effects.
Not Enough
Deficiencies of the fat-soluble vitamins also lead to problems. Individuals who do not receive sufficient amounts of vitamin A can experience night blindness and in severe cases, it can cause blindness in children. Vitamin D deficiency results in rickets and osteomalacia. Insufficient amounts of vitamin K results in excessive bleeding.
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