Table 1: Comparison of water-versus fat-soluble vitamins.
| Water soluble vitamins | Fat-soluble vitamins | |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamins | B, C | A, D, E, K |
| Site of Absorption | Small intestines | Small intestine |
| Dietary Intake | Excess intake usually detected and excreted by the kidneys |
Excess intake tends to be stored in fat -storage sites |
| Solubility | Hydrophilic | Hydrophobic |
| Capitalize | Easily absorbed the blood, travels freely in the bloodstream |
Absorbed into the lymphatic system, many require protein carriers to travel in the blood |
| Body storage | Not generally | Yes |
| Deficiency | Deficiency symptoms appear relatively quickly |
Deficiency symptoms are slow to develop |
| Toxicity | Low risk | Higher risk |
| Need for daily consumption | Yes | No |