The General Functions of Fat-Soluble Vitamins

by Roxy zhang

Vitamins are dietary organic compounds that contain carbon inside. Our body just requires small amount of vitamin compared to macronutrients like protein. Although they are not our energy resources, they play a significant role in biochemical and physiological reactions and help us to use energy.
Vitamin can be divided into two parts one is fat-soluble vitamin, the other one is water- soluble vitamin. Water- soluble vitamin (vitamin B and C) can't stored in human bodies so we need to consume them frequently to maintain body's functions. And also, they are relatively less toxicity than fat- soluble vitamin so there is usually no upper limit for them. Fat- soluble vitamins are needed in periodic doses. Most of them have toxicity if people consume too much of them in supplement form. In this article i am going to focus on introducing fat-soluble Vitamins.

Vitamin D
Body can produce it from sunlight (formed in skin). It is a steroid hormone that regulated blood calcium and phosphorus levels so it's incredible important for bone metabolism. Many Chinese parents encourage their kids to bask in the sunshine in order to increase their calcium level in blood. The deficiency of VD will cause rickets, Osteomalacia and Osteoporosis. Vitamin D can be toxic: over VD (only extra supplement can be toxic) may cause Hypercalcemia.

Vitamin K
It's a blooding clotting factor (Koagultion) helps bind calcium to form protein to form clot. And It's also important in bone and teeth health. Vitamin K in foods are most vegetable and plant oil. Even though Vitamin K is fat soluble vitamin, it doesn't have upper limit so don't worry if intake extra VK.

Vitamin A
The most famous function of VA is it's benefit for human vision that prevent non-accidental blindness in children. It's not only good for eyes, also beneficial for gene expression, protein synthesis and cell differentiation. Very large doses of vitamin A (from supplement but not food) can be fatal.

Vitamin E
It's an antioxidant that can prevent chronic disease and reduces risk of heart disease by reducing inflammation. Nuts, seeds, whole grains and seed oil have huge amount of VE. The deficiency in VE can cause hemolytic anemia and fat malabsorption disease. It's relatively less toxicity but if it interferes with VK will cause hemorrhaging.