Fat and Water Soluble Vitamins

Vitamins
Cedric Kearney
IT241
July 23, 2014

Vitamins
“Vitamins are organic compounds that are essential in the diet in small amounts to promote and regulate body processes necessary for growth, reproduction, and the maintenance of health” (Wiley, 2012). Vitamins have a great responsibility to the body therefore vitamin deficiency keeps the body from functioning properly. On the opposite side, excessive intake of vitamins can lead to disease and illness. There are two types of vitamins, fat-soluble and water-soluble which will be discussed in detail in this paper. Furthermore healthy sources and risks of vitamins will be discussed.
There are 13 classifications or types of vitamins that are essential to the body. These vitamins consist of vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and K. Vitamin B includes thiamine (B-1), riboflavin (B-2), niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, b-6, B-12, and foliate. The vitamin acts as tiny nutrients in our body. A balanced diet is required to prevent the deficiency of vitamins in our body.
The fat-soluble vitamins are those which are soluble in fat with the help of bile acids in the body. These vitamins are absorbed by our body from the intestinal tract. These are stored in liver and fatty tissues. Fat-soluble vitamins include both vitamins A and D. Vitamin A is necessary for the formation of bone and tissues. Vitamin A play a role in the prevention of infections and replacing old tissue with new tissue in order to ensure healthy bones and teeth. Vitamin A is also vital for vision protection from cataracts and glaucoma. Some healthy sources of Vitamin A are green vegetables, carrots, sweet potatoes, and dairy products. People deficient in Vitamin A have impaired vision, diarrhea, and causes birth defects. Some symptoms of overconsumption of vitamin A are nausea, hair loss, blurred vision, and enlargement of the spleen and liver. Vitamin D provides hardness to bones and teeth as well as increases the amount of calcium in the body. Vitamin D...