The fat-soluble vitamins, while only needed in small amounts, are absolutely vital for a variety of processes that take place in the body. To be absorbed in the small intestines, however, they need fat droplets that have coalesced into a specific shape. Those with a fat-soluble vitamin deficiency will have symptoms specific to each vitamin.
The Basics
The term "fat-soluble" describes the vitamins that dissolve in fats. This is why people who have problems absorbing fat might also have a deficiency in the fat-soluble vitamins. This also explains why these vitamins are more effective if they are consumed while eating a fatty meal. The fat-soluble vitamins are vitamins A, D, E and K.
Absorption
A substance called bile is made in the liver to help break up fats into small droplets. These droplets then group together into the shape of a ball, at which time they are now called micelles. The fat-soluble vitamins have to use micelles so they can be absorbed in the last section of the small intestines. If the micelles do not form, people will develop a fat-soluble vitamin deficiency throughout their body.
Symptoms
The various symptoms of fat-soluble vitamin deficiencies are fully explained in the "The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals." People with a deficiency in vitamin E might have nerve problems and fragile red blood cells. A vitamin A deficiency can cause respiratory infections, dry eyes, night blindness, and dry, scaly skin. Bleeding and problems forming blood clots can be a sign of a vitamin K deficiency, while a deficiency in vitamin D can lead to problems with bones.
Diseases
The medical term spinocerebellar degeneration refers to a group of disorders in which the nerves in the spine and cerebellum of the brain deteriorate. Some of these disorders can be due to a vitamin E deficiency. When this is the case, children have a problem absorbing vitamin E in the small intestines or do not have enough of a protein that is needed to place vitamin E into a substance called a lipoprotein, which is made of fats and proteins.
References
- "Adams and Victor's Principles of Neurology"; Dr. Allan Ropper and Dr. Martin Samuels; 2009
- "Gastrointestinal Physiology"; Kim Barrett; 2006
- Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals: Vitamin Deficiency, Dependency and Toxicity
- "Principles of Medical Biochemistry"; Gerhard Meisenberg and William Simmons; 1998
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