Fat-Soluble vs. Water-Soluble Vitamins: Key Differences & Health Impact

Vitamins are important to good health and are found abundantly in whole, natural foods and in fortified packaged foods. The two types of vitamins are fat soluble and water soluble.

Significance

• Fat soluble vitamins and water soluble vitamins are treated differently by the body. Knowing these differences may help prevent vitamin toxicity.

Identification

• Water soluble vitamins include vitamin C, thiamine, riboflavin, biotin, folate, niacin, B12, B6 and pantothenic acid. Fat soluble vitamins include vitamins A, E, D and K.

Function

• Fat soluble vitamins dissolve in fat before being absorbed by the body and excess amounts are stored in the liver. Water soluble vitamins dissolve in water and are eliminated in the urine, so they must be replaced every day.

Warnings

• Because fat soluble vitamins are stored in the body, it is possible to overdose on them and suffer from side effects.

Considerations

• Since water soluble vitamins dissolve in water, many are lost during cooking and food storage. Foods tend to retain fat soluble vitamins even with cooking since they do not dissolve in water.