The phrase "fat-soluble" describes the ability to dissolve in fat. In nutrition circles, fat-soluble is commonly used to refer to a type of vitamin. There are four fat-soluble vitamins: A, D, E and K. Fat-soluble vitamins are not excreted in your urine the way that water-soluble vitamins are. Consult your doctor before taking fat-soluble vitamins.
Risks of Fat-Soluble Vitamins
When consumed in high dosages, excess amounts of fat-soluble vitamin build up in your stored fat and can reach toxic levels. It is unlikely that you will consume toxic levels of fat-soluble vitamins through dietary sources, but when taking vitamin supplements that deliver concentrated dosages of a particular vitamin, you must follow dosage instructions to avoid adverse effects.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is found in foods such as liver, fish, tomatoes and sweet potatoes. It supports vision, tissue repair and immunity. Vitamin A is an antioxidant, which means that is helps neutralize unstable particles called free radicals that can cause cell damage, increase your risk of disease and accelerate aging. If you consume higher-than-normal dosages of this vitamin, you may experience nausea, vomiting, liver damage and blurred vision. If you're pregnant, these risks extend to your unborn child, as taking too much of this fat-soluble vitamin can cause birth defects.
Vitamin D
Your body synthesizes most of your vitamin D when your skin is directly exposed to sunlight. Food sources of vitamin D include saltwater fish and fortified milk products. Vitamin D is essential for absorbing calcium and phosphorus. It also aids your immune system. But if you take too much vitamin D in supplement form, you may experience nausea, vomiting, constipation, confusion and heart arrhythmias.
Vitamin E
Fish, milk vegetable oil, beans broccoli and spinach are good sources of vitamin E. Like vitamin A, vitamin E helps neutralize free radicals and is an antioxidant. It also helps repair damage to your body tissues. According to FamilyDoctor.org, the risks associated with taking too much vitamin E are low, but if you take blood thinning medications, it may magnify the effects of these drugs and cause bleeding. Consult your doctor before taking vitamin E if you are taking blood thinners.
Vitamin K
Vitamin K is found in cheese, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale and cabbage. Vitamin K is the coagulation vitamin -- it is essential in a number of steps in the "coagulation cascade," a series of biochemical events that must occur in a particular sequence in order for a blood clot to set properly. Although FamilyDoctor.org notes that there are no reported adverse effects of taking too much vitamin K, this vitamin can interfere with the effectiveness of blood thinning medications. Consult your doctor before taking vitamin K if you are taking blood thinners.
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