Dr. Steve Blake
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 The Fat-Soluble Vitamins
Introduction to the Fat-Soluble Vitamins
The fat-soluble vitamins are vitamins A, D, E, and K. fat-soluble vitamins are found in the liver and the fatty tissues of the body where they are stored and used. fat-soluble vitamins require bile in order to be absorbed into the lymph system from the intestines. One of the fat-soluble vitamins, Vitamin E, is an important antioxidant that protects cell membranes and artery walls.
Vitamin A comes from two different sources. Provitamin A is found in vegetables and fruits and is known as beta-carotene. |
Mike Adams, the Health Ranger
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 But people who are taking this drug are inevitably blocking the absorption of these essential fatty acids as well as blocking the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins that go along with them. Some of those vitamins are extremely important to human health. The fat-soluble vitamins include vitamin E, vitamin A and vitamin D.
It is vitamin D that I am most concerned about, because right now vitamin D deficiencies are widespread across Western populations, especially those in the United States. |
| I question whether the FDA has seriously looked at the risks of further malnutrition of fat-soluble vitamins and essential fatty acids. Maybe this decision was based on the incorrect but widely held belief in conventional medicine that diet really has no relationship to health. As amazing as it seems, there are still those in conventional medicine who believe that what you eat has nothing to do with your health or the diseases that you might eventually express. I know it sounds crazy, but there are still doctors, decision-makers and bureaucrats who believe that utterly outdated philosophy. |
| Some of those vitamins are extremely important to human health. The fat-soluble vitamins include vitamin E, vitamin A and vitamin D.
It is vitamin D that I am most concerned about, because right now vitamin D deficiencies are widespread across Western populations, especially those in the United States. A deficiency in vitamin D directly promotes a numbers of serious diseases including diabetes, depression, osteoporosis, schizophrenia, breast cancer, prostate cancer and even gum disease. |
Dr. Steve Blake
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| Fat-soluble vitamins are found in the liver and the fatty tissues of the body where they are stored and used. fat-soluble vitamins require bile in order to be absorbed into the lymph system from the intestines. One of the fat-soluble vitamins, Vitamin E, is an important antioxidant that protects cell membranes and artery walls.
Vitamin A comes from two different sources. Provitamin A is found in vegetables and fruits and is known as beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is always non-toxic in foods, even if you consume a lot of vegetables and fruits. |
James F. Balch, M.D. and Mark Stengler, N.D.
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 Vitamins fall into two main groups. fat-soluble vitamins require a certain amount of fat to be absorbed. They are also stored longer in the body. Common examples of fat-soluble vitamins include vitamins A, D, K, and E. The second major group of vitamins is termed water-soluble. Vitamins in this group do not need fat to be absorbed and are excreted out of the body much more readily than fat-soluble vitamins are. Vitamins C and B are water-soluble.
WHAT ARE MINERALS?
Minerals are inorganic substances that are important components of tissues and fluids. |
Thomson Healthcare, Inc.
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 MINOR RISKS
Cholestyramine: Concomitant administration of cholestyramine resin and fat-soluble vitamins may cause malabsorption of these vitamins. Clinical Management: Concomitant administration of cholestyramine and fat-soluble vitamins should be avoided if possible. If these drugs are used together, careful monitoring is called for (Hansen & Horn, 1989; Hansten, 1981).
Colestipol: Concomitant use may result in decreased Vitamin E effectiveness. Clinical Management: Since colestipol may interfere with absorption of vitamin E, try to separate administration of doses as much as possible. |
Mark Sircus
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 For example, the glandular system that regulates the messages sent to the intestinal mucosa require plentiful fat-soluble vitamins in the diet to work properly. Likewise, the intestinal mucosa (mucous membrane) requires fat-soluble vitamins and adequate dietary cholesterol to maintain proper integrity so that it passes only those nutrients the body needs, while at the same time keeping out toxins and large, undigested proteins that can cause allergic reactions.
Minerals may "compete" for receptor sites. Excess calcium may impede the absorption of manganese, for example. |
Ann M. Coulston and Carol J. Boushey
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 Micelles are the polar particles in which free fatty acids, monoglycerides, and fat-soluble vitamins are absorbed into cells of the small intestine. If the bile salts are no longer "recycled" in the distal ileum, de novo synthesis in the liver cannot supply enough bile salts for satisfactory absorption of lipids and lipid-soluble nutrients. In addition, unabsorbed bile acids entering the colon are considered "irritants" and serve as secretagogues at a time when colon is already burdened with the task of absorbing extraordinary amounts of fluid. |
Thomson Healthcare, Inc.
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| Clinical Management: Concomitant administration of cholestyramine and fat-soluble vitamins should be avoided if possible. If these drugs are used together, careful monitoring is called for (Hansen & Horn, 1989; Hansten, 1981).
Colestipol: Concomitant use may result in decreased Vitamin E effectiveness. Clinical Management: Since colestipol may interfere with absorption of vitamin E, try to separate administration of doses as much as possible.
Orlistat: Concomitant use may result in decreased Vitamin E efficacy. |
James F. Balch, M.D. and Mark Stengler, N.D.
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| Common examples of fat-soluble vitamins include vitamins A, D, K, and E. The second major group of vitamins is termed water-soluble. Vitamins in this group do not need fat to be absorbed and are excreted out of the body much more readily than fat-soluble vitamins are. Vitamins C and B are water-soluble.
WHAT ARE MINERALS?
Minerals are inorganic substances that are important components of tissues and fluids. They are necessary for the proper functioning of vitamins, enzymes, hormones, and other metabolic activities in the body. Minerals compose 4 percent of the body's weight. |
Hyla Cass, M.D.
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 It depletes the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K, as well as beta-carotene, calcium, and phosphorus. It should not be combined with stool softeners, which may increase its absorption into the body—not good, since mineral oil is toxic when taken internally.
PRESCRIPTIONS FOR CHRONIC CONSTIPATION
Chronic constipation may be the doctor's diagnosis when you have, for three or more months over the last twelve, had three or fewer bowel movements a week; bloating; hard stools; and a feeling that the colon never empties all the way. |
Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S.
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 Natural cheese also has all four fat-soluble vitamins: A, E, K, and D. The mineral content of cheese is influenced by the addition of salt, optional ingredients, the method of coagulation, the treatment of the curd, and the resulting acidity.
French Cheese Has More Cancer-Fighting, Fat-Reducing Fat
But once again, what's more important is the quality of the cheese, not the type. And, as I've said many times elsewhere in this book, the quality of animal products—cheese in this case—is directly related to the quality of the diet of the animals it comes from. |
Michael Pollan
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 Without adequate amounts of fat in the diet, fat-soluble vitamins like A and E can't pass through the intestinal walls. All this was known in 1977. But the Hippocratic oath—"First do no harm"—evidently does not apply to official dietary advice, which at least in 1977 followed a very different principle: "Why not?"
So potentially much was at stake for our health and well-being when the government threw its weight behind a wholesale change in the American diet. True, it was entirely possible that the nation would have chosen simply to ignore the Dietary Goals and go on eating as it had. |
David W. Grotto, RD, LDN
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 It also is a vehicle for transporting fat-soluble vitamins, such as vitamins A, D, E, and K, that boost and protect your immune system, build strong bones, and regulate blood flow into your cells.
All the rest: Vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and phytochemicals (plant chemicals) are as important to your body as carbs, protein, and fat. Food provides these nutrients in the right proportion.
Add it all together: The USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans is the best and most credible resource for eating a healthy diet. |
Andreas Moritz
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 One of the more serious side effects of such products is that they are capable of removing the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K from the body as they pass through the intestinal tract. For this reason, U.S. food manufacturers are required to fortify their olestra-containing products with all these vitamins; this gives the false impression that these foods are now safe for human consumption. But uncontrolled intake of vitamin K can endanger the lives of hemophiliacs; and a pregnant mother may risk her baby's life by taking too much vitamin A. |
Tom Bohager
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 Additionally, the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K require lipase in order to be absorbed in the body. For all of the above reasons, lipase is recommended therapeutically for high cholesterol, obesity, high triglycerides, heart disease, hormonal imbalances, nerve problems, fat-soluble vitamin deficiencies, and skin problems such as eczema and psoriasis.
CARBOHYDRASES
Carbohydrases break down carbohydrates. This category is a bit more complicated because carbohydrates are a broad category that includes sugars, fiber, complex carbohydrates, and cellulose. |
Dr. Steven R. Gundry
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 It would have only been in this fat that our ancestors obtained the fat-soluble vitamins necessary for their health. (This is why later you will see that I recommend eating beef that has grazed on grass, not been fed corn in a feedlot.) Moreover, this is where they also obtained the essential omega-3 and omega-6 fats.
ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS
You have probably heard of omega-3 rats as the essential fatty acids present in such coldwater fish as mackerel, sardines, bluefish, and wild salmon. |
J. Douglas Bremner
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 Orlistat inhibits absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) and can lead to vitamin deficiency, so you should take a vitamin if you are on this drug. Recently a low-dose version of orlistat called Alii (pronounced ally) has been approved for over-the-counter use in conjunction with a diet and exercise program, and is being heavily advertised.
NON-DIET DRUGS USED FOR WEIGHT LOSS
A variety of drugs developed for other problems, such as depression, that have also been shown to be effective weight-loss agents are currently being marketed for that purpose. |
Dr. Steve Blake
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| One of the fat-soluble vitamins, Vitamin E, is an important antioxidant that protects cell membranes and artery walls.
Vitamin A comes from two different sources. Provitamin A is found in vegetables and fruits and is known as beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is always non-toxic in foods, even if you consume a lot of vegetables and fruits. Beta-carotene functions as an antioxidant and can be converted to the other forms of vitamin A. The other dietary source of vitamin A is found mainly in animal livers. Vitamin A from animal products and supplements has the potential to be toxic. |
| Unlike the other fat-soluble vitamins, vitamin K is not stored in the body.
CHAPTER 3
Vitamin A
The Night Sight Vitamin
As long ago as 300 B.C., the Hippocratic School of Medicine recommended liver (rich in vitamin A) for children with night blindness or infections. Vitamin A was the first vitamin discovered. In 1907, the fat-soluble vitamin A was found necessary for growth. In 1930 it was learned that there were two related forms—beta-carotene and a fat-soluble Vitamin A. Vitamin A was first synthesized in 1947. |
Bottom Line Health
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| Skim milk is not recommended because the bioavailability of fat-soluble vitamins, such as vitamin D, is diminished when you remove all the fat from milk.
Helpful- Avoid "fat-free half-and-half." This product provides no nutritional value—it is usually filled with corn syrup and other sugars to give it the creamy feel of real half-and-half.
•Selenium. The number-one source of this cancer-fighting mineral is the soil in which plants are grown. |
J. Douglas Bremner
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| Talk about throwing money down the toilet! fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K are stored in the fat and liver, which means that even if you are temporarily deficient, you have enough stored in your liver to last you until you can replenish the vitamins with your next meal. However, with megadoses, those concentrations build up and can become toxic, sometimes with devastating effects, as I have explained in this chapter.
My advice is to discard your vitamins and instead eat a wide variety of fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean protein, nuts, and legumes. |
Lester A. Mitscher and Victoria Toews
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 Cholesterol is also important during the metabolism of carbohydrates and acts as a vehicle to transport fat-soluble vitamins (such as vitamins A and E and beta-carotene) in the bloodstream. It also supplies material for building cell membranes, especially in nervous tissue. Thus it is necessary in the right proportions for the maintenance of health.
Cholesterol first acquired its bad rap as an instigator of heart disease all the way back in 1913. That's when a Russian scientist named Nikolai Anitschkow fed a group of rabbits a very high-cholesterol diet as an experiment. |
Michael Pollan
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| Price noted that many of the peoples he visited particularly prized organ meats, in which he found high levels of fat-soluble vitamins, minerals, and "activator X," a term of his own invention that is probably vitamin K2. Almost everywhere he went, he noted the high value people placed on seafood, which even mountain-dwelling groups would go to great lengths to procure, trading with coastal tribes for dried fish eggs and such. |
| Also, removing the fat makes it that much harder for your body to absorb the fat-soluble vitamins that are one of the reasons to drink milk in the first place.
All this heroic and occasionally counterproductive food science has been undertaken in the name of our health—so that Sara Lee can add to its plastic wrapper the magic words "good source of whole grain" or a food company can ballyhoo the even more magic words "low fat."Which brings us to a related food policy that may at first sound counterintuitive to a health-conscious eater:
«i AVOID FOOD PRODUCTS THAT MAKE HEALTH CLAIMS. |
Tori Hudson, N.D.
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 A deficiency of lipase results in malabsorption of fats and fat-soluble vitamins.
• Amylases: enzymes that break down starch molecules into smaller sugars.
• Proteases: trypsin, chymotrypsin, and car-boxypeptidase break down protein molecules into single amino acids.
Supplementation with pancreatic enzymes is usually done to treat pancreatic insufficiency. Pancreative insufficiency manifests itself in symptoms of abdominal bloating, gas, indigestion, undigested food in the stool, malabsorption, and nutrient deficiencies. |
| Rhodiola: 200 mg per day
Celiac disease may lead ro decreased absorprion of fat-soluble vitamins, thereby causing deficiencies that may impair male fertility as well.
Topical or vaginal progesterone may help normalize menstrual cycles, improve implantation rates, and maintain pregnancies in women with history of repeated miscarriages but should only be used under the care of a physician. |
Andreas Moritz
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| Since this interferes with the absorption of vital fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, K and beta carotene, users are instructed to take a daily multivitamin. Alli's official website, MyAlli.com, admits that weight-loss cannot be achieved with Orlistat alone, stressing the importance of a good balanced diet and regular exercise—the typical disclaimer found on any weight-loss product that doesn't work.
High Protein Foods Make You Fat and Low Energy Foods Deplete Energy
Not such good news for the Atkins diet friends. |
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