Fat Soluble and Water Soluble Vitamins: Vitamins are very essential for the human body as they play an important role in metabolism and absorption of essential minerals in the body.
There are two categories of vitamins based on their solubility and they are:
- Fat Soluble vitamins
- Water Soluble Vitamins
What are Fat Soluble Vitamins?
Fat-soluble vitamins are those vitamins that are soluble in fats and these vitamins are present in foods that contain fats. These vitamins are not soluble in water. There are four vitamins in this group namely A, D, E and K.
Fat-Soluble Vitamins List
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin K
What are Water Soluble Vitamins?
Water-soluble vitamins are soluble in water and these vitamins are namely Vitamin B-Complex, and Vitamin C. These vitamins are not stored in the body and the excess amount is excreted.
Water Soluble Vitamins List
- Vitamin B1 (thiamine)
- Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
- Vitamin B3 (niacin)
- Vitamin B4 (pantothenic acid)
- Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
- Vitamin B7 (biotin)
- Vitamin B9 (folic acid or folate)
- Vitamin B12 (cobalamin)
- Vitamin C ( Ascorbic Acid)
Differences between Fat Soluble and Water Soluble Vitamins
The following are the differences between fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins
Parameters | Fat-Soluble Vitamins | Water-Soluble Vitamins |
Solubility | Soluble in Fats | Soluble in Water |
Types | Four Types (A, D, E and K) | Nine Types (Vitamin B-Complex and Vitamin C) |
Affinity to Water | Hydrophobic | Hydrophilic |
Affinity to Fats | Lipophilic | Lipophobic |
Storage | Gets stored in fatty tissues | Does not get stored in the body |
Transportation | Needs some carrier proteins in order to move across the body | Moves freely in the body. |
Toxicity | Appears late | Appears faster |
Examples | A, D, E and K | Vitamins B-Complex and C |
Conclusion
That was all about the differences between fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins. Both types are essential for the body and deficiency of vitamins causes various diseases and disorders in the human body.
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