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Article: Vitamins, Fat-Soluble
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- Nutrition and Well-Being A to Z
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Vitamins, Fat-Soluble
Because they dissolve in
fat
,
vitamins
A, D, E, and K are called
fat-soluble
vitamins. They are absorbed from the small
intestines
, along with dietary fat, which is why fat
malabsorption
resulting from various diseases (e.g., cystic fibrosis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease) is associated with poor
absorption
of these vitamins. Fat-soluble vitamins are primarily stored in the liver and
adipose tissues
. With the exception of vitamin K, fat-soluble vitamins are generally excreted more slowly than
water-soluble
vitamins, and vitamins A and D can accumulate and cause toxic effects in the body.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A was the first fat-soluble vitamin ...