Definition
Water-soluble vitamins, a group of vitamins that can dissolve in water, is always components of coenzymes or auxiliaries. It mainly includes vitamin B1, vitamin B2 and vitamin C and so on.
Features
- Water-soluble vitamins can be extracted from food and feed water-soluble substances.
- Most contain nitrogen, and some also contain sulfur or cobalt except carbon, hydrogen, oxygen elements.
- B vitamins are mainly used as coenzymes to catalyze the various reactions in carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism. In most cases, the deficiency is not specific, and difficult to directly associated with its biochemical function. The common deficiency symptoms are loss of appetite and growth retardation.
- Most B vitamins are absorbed in a passive way. When the supply is insufficient, it can be absorbed on its own initiative.
- Water-soluble vitamins are almost not stored in the body except vitamin B12.
- It is mainly discharged through the urine (including metabolites).
Deficiency symptoms
In the following circumstances, it is easy to cause the body to be deficient:
- Food scarcity, improper transport, storage, processing will result in inadequate intake of vitamins.
- Weak digestion and absorption function, including lack of chewing, weak gastrointestinal function, too little fat in the diet, too much fiber and so on.
- People in different physiological period, such as pregnancy lactation of women, children in the growth period, patients and those who need to intake more vitamins.
- People living in special environment, including great mental stress, polluted environment.
Differences between water-soluble vitamins and fat-soluble vitamins
According to their name, it is easy to tell their difference. Water-soluble vitamins are not dissolved in fat but water. And it can be stored in the body. It mainly includes vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12, niacin, folic acid, pantothenic acid and biotin, etc. As for fat-soluble vitamins, soluble in water but fat, is composed of long carbon chains or fused ring polypentadiene compounds. Its absorption is similar to fat and can be stored in the body by animals. It mainly includes vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E and vitamin K.
According to this post, it is clear that water-soluble vitamins plays very crucial role in our daily life and our health maintenance.
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