Liquid Vitamins and Minerals -
Fat or Water Soluble?

Liquid vitamins and minerals are an option for those who do not like swallowing a multitude of nutritional vitamin supplements in pill form.  You may be wondering if there is any difference between the two forms of vitamin - liquid vitamins and minerals and pill form nutritional supplements.  High potency liquid supplements are available, the same as their capsule counterpart. 

But there is a bigger question that is raised continually regarding the different types of vitamins - Is there any difference between fat and water soluble vitamins?

Even though the question is a mystery to most people, we will try to provide the answer.  Nutritional supplement takers generally don't even realize that vitamins are different, but they are.  Beyond just the different letter names, vitamins can be classified as either Fat Soluble or Water Soluble. In either case, the differentiation has to do with the way the body processes the particular vitamin, whether liquid vitamins and minerals or their solid ounterpart. The question you should be asking is "Should this difference really matter to me?"   The answer is, yes and no.

At the most basic level, whether or not a vitamin is fat soluble or water soluble doesn't really matter. What is really important is whether or not your body gets the recommended daily allowances of each.  Irregardless of whether your source of vitamins is through your diet or by vitamin supplements, the avoidance of a vitamin deficiency is what will keep the body in good health.

When looked at from a chemical persepctive, the differences between a vitamin that is fat soluble or water soluble are fairly complicated. The truth is that most people really don't care to understand all the scientific processes involved.  And it really doesn't matter whether you take liquid vitamins and minerals, vitamin capsules, or vitamin drinks, the vitamins will break down into one of these two categories. 

The bottom line, and most important aspect, is that the body is able to store fat soluble vitamins but not water soluble vitamins. The fact is that the fat soluble vitamins, this includes vitamins A, D, E and K, are totally absorbed through the large intestines.  To have the absorption process work properly, dietary fat must also be present.  If dietary fat is not eaten along with the ingestion of fat soluble vitamins, it becomes far more difficult for the body to complete the absorption process.   But once the fat soluble vitamins are finally absorbed, they are stored in the liver.  They then wait until they are called upon to do their jobs.

Let's get a little better understanding of the fat soluble vitamins. The vitamin K helps your body metabolize food into energy.  Vitamin K is key to the blood's clotting ability by supplying the seven blood clotting proteins involved in the process.  It's also a key component for normal bone growth.

Vitamin A is the vitamin responsible for vision.  This important vitamin helps your eyes focus in dim light and helps you differentiate colors.  It also plays a vital role in tissue growth while boosting the immune system's ability to fight infection.  A special protein, called a transport protein, assists Vitamin A to travel to the tissues where it is needed.

Vitamin D allows the body to efficiently absorb calcium. Vitamin D helps regulate the amount of phosphorous and calcium in the blood.  The benefit of storing Vitamin D in the liver is that it ensures that even those people who don't drink enough milk, can maintain strong bones. 

Vitamin E is an important antioxidant. This essential vitamin protects Vitamins A and C while playing a crucial role in protecting red blood cells and fatty acids from being destroyed.

On the other hand, water soluble vitamins are not stored in the body.   Due to the fact that the body cannot store these vitamins, they  must be constantly re-supplied to the body. As the water soluble vitamins enter the body, they are put to work immediately. The excess is eliminated from the body through the urine.  The water soluble category is made up of the B vitamins, Vitamin C and Vitamin H (Biotin).

The role of the B vitamins involves several crucial bodily functions. During the process of converting glucose from carbohydrates, the B vitamins provide energy to the body. In the absence of B vitamins, the body would not be able to properly metabolize proteins and fats.

Biotin's primary responsibilities is to ensure proper growth. Vitamin C is important for its antioxidant effects.  However, both benefit the body in many other ways also. 

These vitamins and minerals facts should convince you that your diet is just not adequate to supply all the needed vitamins and minerals.  And if you can't get all the vitamins you need from consuming a balanced diet, then nutritional multivitamin supplements are the answer.  Depending on your preference, liquid vitamins and minerals (also available in a high potency liquid supplements form) are a great alternative for those who dislike vitamin pills or capsules.  The choice is yours!