As everyone knows, our body is a very complicated mechanism that needs a plenty of different things to work properly. Because of that, it requires us to have a regular supply of both water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins. While we know a lot about the first ones, ADEK vitamins can still be a mystery. Why are they so important? What are their characteristics? What should we know about supplementation? Let’s find out!
ADEK vitamins - what are they?
Fat-soluble vitamins are the so-called ADEK group of vitamins. As you can easily guess, their absorption is strongly related to the fats that are present in our foods. If we provide our body the right amount of it, the vitamins will be absorbed very well. Do not forget that the need for vitamins is a value that is constantly changing. Consequently, how much our body will need depends on aspects such as physical activity, age, physiological states, diet, or metabolic intensity. The level of consumption, absorption and excretion of these vitamins is also important. What should we know about it?
Water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins - what's the difference?
The classification of vitamins into those that are water-soluble and those that are fat-soluble is based on their chemical structure. It is mainly determined by the presence of hydrophilic or hydrophobic elements. Therefore, the characteristics of fat-soluble vitamins include the need for bile and enzymes, for example, pancreatic lipase. Consequently, people who suffer from impaired bile production or have problems with pancreatic function will face deficiency of it. The way to deal with such situations is proper supplementation, for which we can use OstroVit ADEK. Water-soluble vitamins, on the other hand, are absorbed much faster. This is partly due to the fact that water is a product found in almost all foodstuffs.
Crucial thing to mention is that ADEK vitamins need to be connected with specific proteins to be properly transported in the bloodstream. Some patients may experience a genetic mutation responsible for disrupting this structure. A person suffering from this condition will need to support themselves with proper supplementation because, even if they take adequate amounts of vitamins, their body will not be able to absorb them.
Recommended products with ADEK vitamins
What are the characteristics of fat-soluble vitamins?
Each of the ADEK vitamins is characterized by specific features. What are they?
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is nothing but retinol along with its derivatives. Its role is very important because it directly affects our vision, mucous membranes and proper skin condition. Moreover, vitamin A is very good for immunity, which is extremely important especially during the fall and winter seasons. The products that it can be found are of animal origin. Therefore, it is also present in foods such as butter, eggs, milk, sea fish, and liver. Exactly the same as with other vitamins, we can lead to an excess of it. If this happens, you will begin to experience a lack of appetite, headaches, bone and joint problems, along with trouble with brittle nails or hair loss. However, according to specialists, vitamin A deficiency is much more serious. If we get it, we will have to deal with disorders like impaired vision or skin problems. Moreover, in the case of children, stunted growth and infertility among adults.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D can be found in our food in two different forms. One of them is vitamin D3 which is a component of specific animal products that can be found in items such as liver, fish, milk, butter and egg yolks. In contrast, vitamin D2 affects the correct structure of our skeletal system, as well as the functioning of the nervous system. It regulates the production of insulin, without which none of us would be able to work properly. The main source of vitamin D is something that everyone knows and can “use” easily. We are talking about the sun, so if we see it from our windows we should go out and enjoy the good weather as much as we can. However, we can’t forget that the use of sunscreens somehow separates us from this vitamin, so we shouldn’t use it too much. In this case, we can also deal with an excess of vitamin D, which leads to heart rhythm disorders, gallbladder stones, or headaches. In turn, a deficiency of this vitamin results in diabetes, osteomalacia and cardiovascular disease among adults along with rickets in children.
Vitamin E
The next fat-soluble vitamin is vitamin E, which is an antioxidant designed to protect our cells from dangerous oxidation and destruction itself. It protects us from cancer, blood clots and also supports the work of our reproductive organs. Unlike previous vitamins, this one can be easily found in plant-based products. Accordingly, if we want to take it, we will have to deliver to our organism such articles as nuts, legumes, olives, olive oil, or sunflower oil. We also cannot forget about wheat germ, pumpkin seeds, avocados, sesame and sunflower seeds, which are rich in vitamin E. Its excess results in tiredness, headaches, as well as vision problems. However, it is worth mentioning that if we overdose on vitamin E, our body will be able to get rid of it on its own. Therefore, hypervitaminosis, in this case, occurs rarely. Vitamin E deficiency, on the other hand, leads to impaired vision, concentration problems, keratosis as well as skin ageing, anaemia, and even infertility in extreme cases.
Vitamin K
The last vitamin in the ADEK group is vitamin K, whose main role is to deal with blood clotting. Another advantage of this vitamin is its antifungal, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. In addition, vitamin K protects us from tumours. Where should we look for it? It is mainly present in broccoli, spinach, savoy cabbage, lettuce, brussels sprouts, chard and parsley. It can be also found in some nuts and oils, as well as tomatoes. If we have an excess of it, it is possible to suffer from sweating, anaemia, or impaired liver function. A deficiency will cause problems with wound healing, the clotting of our blood will decrease, and hemorrhagic blemishes or diarrhoea may occur.
What is the proper fat-soluble vitamins supplementation?
If we suffer from a deficiency of fat-soluble vitamins, the necessary thing is supplementation. Crucial is not to forget about meals that are rich in healthy fats. This is the element responsible for the secretion of pancreatic enzymes and bile, without which we can forget about the proper absorption of fats. In particular, polyunsaturated fatty acids such as omega-3 and omega-6 are recommended. They mainly influence the work of our cardiovascular, immune and endocrine systems. These fatty acids can be found in such products as fatty fish, flaxseed, and rapeseed and flaxseed oils.
