Importance Of Fat Soluble Vitamins

Your body cannot function on empty calories alone. It needs energy from vitamin-rich sources. According to the American Dietetic Association, vitamins are essential nutrients that function as components of enzymes and coenzymes that regulate biological processes in the body. Unlike water-soluble vitamins, fat-soluble vitamins can be stored in your liver and the fatty tissues of your body because they dissolve in fat. Vitamins A, D, E, and K are fat soluble, each serving various roles in sustaining life.

Vitamin A

The Office of Dietary Supplements states that there are two categories of vitamin A: preformed vitamin A, which comes from animal sources, and provitamin A carotenoid, which comes from fruits and vegetables. Vitamin A is necessary for proper vision and cell growth; the development of healthy skin, mucous membranes, bones, and teeth; and for the regulation of the immune and reproductive systems. If there is a vitamin A deficiency, the person could experience night blindness, dry eyes and skin, immune system suppression, reproductive problems, and diarrhea.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D helps you to develop strong bones and teeth by aiding in the absorption of calcium and in the regulation of phosphate concentrations. It also has a role in immune function and proper cell growth. Vitamin D deficiency can result in rickets in children and in osteomalacia in adults -- both of which are characterized by bone growth retardation and bone deformation. An inadequate intake of vitamin D can also increase the risk of osteoporosis later in life. To ensure adequate body stores of vitamin D, the Mayo Clinic recommends getting at least 10 minutes of sun exposure per day.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is an antioxidant that protects your body against cell damage from free radicals, which may play a role in the development of cancer, heart disease, and stroke. It is a group of eight chemical substances classified as tocopherols, of which alpha-tocopherol is the most active form. Vitamin E deficiency is rare, but can occur in individuals who are malnourished, restrict fat intake, or who have an impaired ability to absorb fat.

Vitamin K

The body needs vitamin K to heal wounds by forming blood clots. It also plays a role in bone development. You can obtain vitamin K by eating green leafy vegetables and through bacteria in your intestines, which produce vitamin K. According to The University of Maryland Medical Center, excessive bleeding is a sign of vitamin K deficiency; UMMC states that deficiencies in this nutrient are rare.

Considerations

The American Dietetic Association refers to vitamins as micronutrients because only small amounts are needed for the body to function properly. People risk developing a toxicity by consuming too much of the fat-soluble vitamins because they are slowly eliminated from the body in comparison to water-soluble vitamins.