Difference between fat soluble and water soluble vitamins
A fat-soluble (fat-soluble) vitamin is not the same as a water-soluble (water-soluble) vitamin. In fact, there are many differences between these two types of vitamins. In this article we explain all their differences. But, first let’s briefly review what vitamins are. difference between fat soluble and water soluble vitamins
Vitamin
The vitamin is an organic molecule that the body needs for its growth and development. It is a micronutrient and is acquired mainly through food, since it cannot be synthesized within an organism. There are many vitamins and they are classified into two groups . Read on to explore the differences between the two.
Here is a comparative table of the differences and similarities of these two types of vitamin classification.
| Water soluble vitamins (water soluble) |
Fat- soluble ( fat- soluble) vitamins |
| As the name implies, vitamins that can be dissolved in water are called water-soluble vitamins. | Similarly, vitamins that dissolve in fat are called fat-soluble vitamins. |
| Examples: vitamin B, C | Examples: vitamin A, D, E, K |
| They are absorbed in the small intestine | They are absorbed in the small intestine |
| Affinity with hydrophilic water | Hydrophobic water affinity |
| Excess vitamins are excreted by the kidney. | The excess is stored in the fatty tissues of the body. |
| Travels freely through the bloodstream | Many vitamins require carriers (proteins) to travel in the blood. |
| Low toxicity | Comparatively more toxic |
| Deficiency symptoms appear fairly quickly | Deficiency symptoms take time to manifest |