Definition

Noun: A water-soluble vitamin is any vitamin that dissolves in water. These vitamins are not stored in significant amounts in the body and excess amounts are typically excreted in urine, meaning they need to be consumed regularly through the diet.

Usage and Examples

• General Statement:
  • A water-soluble vitamin, like vitamin C, is easily absorbed by the body.
• Dietary Context:
  • Citrus fruits are an excellent source of a key water-soluble vitamin.
  • To maintain health, ensure your diet includes a variety of foods containing each water-soluble vitamin.

Advanced Usage

• Scientific/Medical Context:
  • The biochemical stability of a water-soluble vitamin can be reduced by prolonged cooking in water.
  • Unlike fat-soluble vitamins, a water-soluble vitamin generally has a lower risk of toxicity due to its excretion pathway.

Variants and Related Words

• B-complex vitamins: A group of specific water-soluble vitamins that often work together in metabolic processes.
• Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C): A common example of a water-soluble vitamin.
• Fat-soluble vitamin: The contrasting category of vitamins that dissolve in fats and oils and are stored in body tissues.

Synonyms

• Hydrosoluble vitamin (a less common technical synonym).

Related Phrases and Concepts

• "To be rich in water-soluble vitamins": Describes foods containing high levels of these nutrients.
  • Broccoli and bell peppers are vegetables that are rich in water-soluble vitamins.
• "Depletion of water-soluble vitamins": Refers to a deficiency that can occur relatively quickly if intake is inadequate.
  • A very restricted diet can lead to a depletion of water-soluble vitamins.

Noun

1. any vitamin that is soluble in water