FOOD ISSUES

VITAMINS

Vitamins are a group of unrelated organic compounds that are not manufactured by the body. They are required in relatively small amounts from the diet and are essential for cellular metabolism, growth, and maintenance of health.

There are two kinds of vitamins; water and fat-soluble.

Water-soluble vitamins

The water-soluble vitamins are transported in bodily fluids and are not stored by the body to any appreciable extent. They function as coenzymes or co-factors to various metabolic processes in the body.

The fact that they are not stored in the body means they need to be consumed on a daily basis.

Since water-soluble vitamins are not really stored, people think that there are no harmful effects if they consume more than the RDA. B6 and niacin have been shown to be toxic when consumed in megadoses (10 times the RDA).

Exercise might have an effect on the requirement of the water-soluble vitamins. Since they are not stored, the body does not have a pool to work from. This might lead to an increased need for some of the vitamins with exercise.

Fat-soluble vitamins

The fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) are stored by the body in lipids. The fact that these vitamins can be stored can lead to toxicity when excessively consumed. It will probably take less to create toxicity since they are stored in the body, as compared to the water-soluble vitamins.

The fat-soluble vitamins function more like hormones, rather than like coenzymes. Because fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the body, exercise or physical activity will be less to effect their requirements.

The water and fat-soluble vitamins do not provide energy to the body; they are a part of the energy releasing reactions that occur throughout the body.

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