Vitamins can be classified as
either water soluble which dissolve easily in water or fat
soluble which are absorbed through the intestine.
Water Soluble:
Vitamin A: A fat-soluble, organic alcohol formed in animal tissues from carotenoids found in plants. Also called retinol. It is formed from carotenoids, principally carotene, in the intestinal epithelium, except by cats, and stored in the liver. It is essential for proper growth and maintenance of surface epithelium, for the accurate sculpting and proper growth of bones, and for the maintenance of light-sensitive pigments in the eye.
Vitamin D: A group of closely related steroids that have antirachitic properties. They commence as provitamins in both plants and animals and are converted by exposure to ultraviolet light. In animals the provitamin 7-dehydrocalciferol is irradiated to form vitamin D3.
Vitamin E: An alpha-tocopherol, one of the three tocopherols found in wheat germ. It is an important nutrient with a number of physiologic and pharmacologic effects. As a potent antioxidant, it reduces fat oxidation, and it increases the production of HDL cholesterol. At higher doses, it also reduces cyclooxygenase and lipooxygenase activities thus decreasing the production of prostaglandins and leukotrienes. As such, it is a potent anti-inflammatory drug. It will, however, reduce platelet function and prolong the bleeding time slightly in healthy individuals. Levels greater than 100 IU/day can create hepatolipidosis in cats.
Vitamin K: Group of fat-soluble compounds which are required for the formation of prothrombin and therefore play an important role in blood clotting. They are present in most green feeds and are not likely to be absent from natural diets.
Water Soluble:
Vitamin A: A fat-soluble, organic alcohol formed in animal tissues from carotenoids found in plants. Also called retinol. It is formed from carotenoids, principally carotene, in the intestinal epithelium, except by cats, and stored in the liver. It is essential for proper growth and maintenance of surface epithelium, for the accurate sculpting and proper growth of bones, and for the maintenance of light-sensitive pigments in the eye.
Vitamin D: A group of closely related steroids that have antirachitic properties. They commence as provitamins in both plants and animals and are converted by exposure to ultraviolet light. In animals the provitamin 7-dehydrocalciferol is irradiated to form vitamin D3.
Vitamin E: An alpha-tocopherol, one of the three tocopherols found in wheat germ. It is an important nutrient with a number of physiologic and pharmacologic effects. As a potent antioxidant, it reduces fat oxidation, and it increases the production of HDL cholesterol. At higher doses, it also reduces cyclooxygenase and lipooxygenase activities thus decreasing the production of prostaglandins and leukotrienes. As such, it is a potent anti-inflammatory drug. It will, however, reduce platelet function and prolong the bleeding time slightly in healthy individuals. Levels greater than 100 IU/day can create hepatolipidosis in cats.
Vitamin K: Group of fat-soluble compounds which are required for the formation of prothrombin and therefore play an important role in blood clotting. They are present in most green feeds and are not likely to be absent from natural diets.
