Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWater-Soluble VitaminsFat-Soluble VitaminsFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Water-Soluble Vitamins
Fat-Soluble Vitamins
Frequently Asked Questions
For example, thiamine, riboflavin, folic acid, niacin, biotin, and pantothenic acid examples of water-soluble B vitamins. Because they are dissolved in water, the body gets rid of anything it doesn’t need in your urine. If they are not adequately replaced, nutritional deficiencies and related health problems can occur.
This article discusses the types of vitamins and their differences. It explains why your body needs them as well as the possibility that you can take too many of these vitamins.
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Water-soluble vitamins are those that are dissolved in water and readily absorbed into tissues for immediate use. Any excess excess is quickly passed in urine. Because they are not stored in the body, water-soluble vitamins need to be replenished regularly through your diet.
Water-soluble vitamins rarely accumulate to toxic levels. With that being said, certain types of water-soluble vitamins, such asvitamin C, can cause diarrhea if taken in excess.
The water-soluble vitamins include theB-complex groupand vitamin C, each of which offers the following health benefits:
Water-Soluble Vitamin Food Sources
Best Sources of Vitamin B12
Unlike water-soluble vitamins, excess fat-soluble vitamins are stored in theliverand fatty (adipose) tissues for future use. They are found most abundantly in high-fat foods and are better absorbed if eaten with fat.
Fat-Soluble Vitamins and ToxicityFat-soluble vitamins canaccumulate to toxic levelsif taken in excess. Where a well-balanced diet can’t cause toxicity, overdosing on fat-soluble vitamin supplements can. Symptoms and side effects of fat-soluble vitamin toxicity vary depending on the vitamin. They range from nausea and vomiting to slowed growth and birth defects.
Fat-Soluble Vitamins and Toxicity
Fat-soluble vitamins canaccumulate to toxic levelsif taken in excess. Where a well-balanced diet can’t cause toxicity, overdosing on fat-soluble vitamin supplements can. Symptoms and side effects of fat-soluble vitamin toxicity vary depending on the vitamin. They range from nausea and vomiting to slowed growth and birth defects.
There are four types of fat-soluble vitamins, each of which offers different benefits:
The easiest way to remember which vitamins are which is to memorize the fat-soluble ones, as there are only four: vitamins A, D, E, and K. All others are water-soluble.
Could You Have Too Much Vitamin D?
A Word From Verywell
Vitamin supplements may offer health-boosting benefits, but they can sometimes interact with medications or cause complications with an existing health condition. Be sure to let your healthcare provider know if you’re taking vitamins or have questions about them in your diet.
Frequently Asked QuestionsThere’s little research about fat soluble vitamins causing weight gain. It’s water-soluble B-complex vitamins that are usually associated with it.Researchers began seeing this trend when foods, like cereal, became fortified with vitamins. Some suggest that vitamin intake from natural or fresh foods may be an adequate source.Learn MoreThe Best Sources of Vitamin B12 for Any DietThe daily tolerable upper intake level for vitamin A supplements according to age are:Babies and children under 3: 300 micrograms (mcg)Children 4 to 8: 900 mcgTweens 9 to 13: 1700 mcgTeens 14 to 18: 2800 mcgAdults 10 to 70 and older: 3000 mcgLearn MoreVitamin A Deficiency and ToxicityYes. Several have upper limits for consumption, meaning that even though they aren’t stored, they could cause problems if too much is circulating in the body. For example, a high level of vitamin B6 for an extended period of time is associated withnerve damagethat cannot be reversed.Learn MoreThe Health Benefits of Vitamin B ComplexIt’s hard to have a fat-soluble vitamin deficiency in the United States. Most people get adequate vitamins A, D, E, and K in their diets. Some health conditions can cause deficiencies. For instance,liver cirrhosismay cause vitamin A deficiency.Learn MoreAn Overview of Vitamin Deficiency
There’s little research about fat soluble vitamins causing weight gain. It’s water-soluble B-complex vitamins that are usually associated with it.Researchers began seeing this trend when foods, like cereal, became fortified with vitamins. Some suggest that vitamin intake from natural or fresh foods may be an adequate source.Learn MoreThe Best Sources of Vitamin B12 for Any Diet
There’s little research about fat soluble vitamins causing weight gain. It’s water-soluble B-complex vitamins that are usually associated with it.Researchers began seeing this trend when foods, like cereal, became fortified with vitamins. Some suggest that vitamin intake from natural or fresh foods may be an adequate source.
Learn MoreThe Best Sources of Vitamin B12 for Any Diet
The daily tolerable upper intake level for vitamin A supplements according to age are:Babies and children under 3: 300 micrograms (mcg)Children 4 to 8: 900 mcgTweens 9 to 13: 1700 mcgTeens 14 to 18: 2800 mcgAdults 10 to 70 and older: 3000 mcgLearn MoreVitamin A Deficiency and Toxicity
The daily tolerable upper intake level for vitamin A supplements according to age are:Babies and children under 3: 300 micrograms (mcg)Children 4 to 8: 900 mcgTweens 9 to 13: 1700 mcgTeens 14 to 18: 2800 mcgAdults 10 to 70 and older: 3000 mcg
The daily tolerable upper intake level for vitamin A supplements according to age are:
Learn MoreVitamin A Deficiency and Toxicity
Yes. Several have upper limits for consumption, meaning that even though they aren’t stored, they could cause problems if too much is circulating in the body. For example, a high level of vitamin B6 for an extended period of time is associated withnerve damagethat cannot be reversed.Learn MoreThe Health Benefits of Vitamin B Complex
Yes. Several have upper limits for consumption, meaning that even though they aren’t stored, they could cause problems if too much is circulating in the body. For example, a high level of vitamin B6 for an extended period of time is associated withnerve damagethat cannot be reversed.
Learn MoreThe Health Benefits of Vitamin B Complex
It’s hard to have a fat-soluble vitamin deficiency in the United States. Most people get adequate vitamins A, D, E, and K in their diets. Some health conditions can cause deficiencies. For instance,liver cirrhosismay cause vitamin A deficiency.Learn MoreAn Overview of Vitamin Deficiency
It’s hard to have a fat-soluble vitamin deficiency in the United States. Most people get adequate vitamins A, D, E, and K in their diets. Some health conditions can cause deficiencies. For instance,liver cirrhosismay cause vitamin A deficiency.
Learn MoreAn Overview of Vitamin Deficiency
The Truth About Vitamin Patches: Why They May Not Work as Expected
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.B Vitamins.Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.Vitamin C.Albahrani AA, Greaves RF.Fat-soluble vitamins: Clinical indications and current challenges for chromatographic measurement.Clin Biochem Rev. 2016;37(1):27–47.Colorado State University.Fat-Soluble Vitamins A, D, E, and K—9.315.Zhou SS, Zhou Y.Excess vitamin intake: An unrecognized risk factor for obesity.World J Diabetes. 2014 Feb 15;5(1):1-13. doi:10.4239/wjd.v5.i1.1University of Michigan Health.Vitamins: Their functions and sources.Venu M, Martin E, Saeian K, Gawrieh S.High prevalence of vitamin A deficiency and vitamin D deficiency in patients evaluated for liver transplantation: Vitamin Deficiency in Liver Transplant Candidates.Liver Transpl. 2013;19(6):627-633. doi:10.1002%2Flt.23646
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.B Vitamins.Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.Vitamin C.Albahrani AA, Greaves RF.Fat-soluble vitamins: Clinical indications and current challenges for chromatographic measurement.Clin Biochem Rev. 2016;37(1):27–47.Colorado State University.Fat-Soluble Vitamins A, D, E, and K—9.315.Zhou SS, Zhou Y.Excess vitamin intake: An unrecognized risk factor for obesity.World J Diabetes. 2014 Feb 15;5(1):1-13. doi:10.4239/wjd.v5.i1.1University of Michigan Health.Vitamins: Their functions and sources.Venu M, Martin E, Saeian K, Gawrieh S.High prevalence of vitamin A deficiency and vitamin D deficiency in patients evaluated for liver transplantation: Vitamin Deficiency in Liver Transplant Candidates.Liver Transpl. 2013;19(6):627-633. doi:10.1002%2Flt.23646
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.B Vitamins.Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.Vitamin C.Albahrani AA, Greaves RF.Fat-soluble vitamins: Clinical indications and current challenges for chromatographic measurement.Clin Biochem Rev. 2016;37(1):27–47.Colorado State University.Fat-Soluble Vitamins A, D, E, and K—9.315.Zhou SS, Zhou Y.Excess vitamin intake: An unrecognized risk factor for obesity.World J Diabetes. 2014 Feb 15;5(1):1-13. doi:10.4239/wjd.v5.i1.1University of Michigan Health.Vitamins: Their functions and sources.Venu M, Martin E, Saeian K, Gawrieh S.High prevalence of vitamin A deficiency and vitamin D deficiency in patients evaluated for liver transplantation: Vitamin Deficiency in Liver Transplant Candidates.Liver Transpl. 2013;19(6):627-633. doi:10.1002%2Flt.23646
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.B Vitamins.
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.Vitamin C.
Albahrani AA, Greaves RF.Fat-soluble vitamins: Clinical indications and current challenges for chromatographic measurement.Clin Biochem Rev. 2016;37(1):27–47.
Colorado State University.Fat-Soluble Vitamins A, D, E, and K—9.315.
Zhou SS, Zhou Y.Excess vitamin intake: An unrecognized risk factor for obesity.World J Diabetes. 2014 Feb 15;5(1):1-13. doi:10.4239/wjd.v5.i1.1
University of Michigan Health.Vitamins: Their functions and sources.
Venu M, Martin E, Saeian K, Gawrieh S.High prevalence of vitamin A deficiency and vitamin D deficiency in patients evaluated for liver transplantation: Vitamin Deficiency in Liver Transplant Candidates.Liver Transpl. 2013;19(6):627-633. doi:10.1002%2Flt.23646
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