List 3 differences between fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Fat-soluble vitamins are absorbed along with dietary fat. Thus, adequate absorption of fat-soluble vitamins depends on efficient use of bile and pancreatic lipase in the small intestine to digest dietary fat and adequate intestinal absorption (Fig. 12-1). Under optimal conditions, about 40% to 90% of the fat-soluble vitamins are absorbed when they're consumed in recommended amounts. In contrast, absorption of B-vitamins and vitamin C typically ranges from 90% to 100% and occurs in the small intestine independent of dietary fat.

In contrast to the fat-soluble vitamins, water-soluble vitamins are delivered directly to the bloodstream and distributed throughout the body.

With the exception of vitamin K, fat-soluble vitamins are not readily excreted from the body. Instead, they are often stored in the liver and/or adipose tissue. In contrast, most water-soluble vitamins are excreted from the body quite rapidly, resulting in limited stores.

Although the toxic effects of an excessive intake of any vitamin is theoretically possible, toxicity from the fat-soluble vitamins A and D is the most likely to occur.