Concept:
Vitamins are essential micronutrients that an organism requires in small quantities for proper metabolic functioning, physiological regulation, and maintenance of health.
They are systematically classified into two distinct groups on the basis of their differential solubility: fat-soluble vitamins and water-soluble vitamins.
This chemical classification dictates their dietary sources, absorption pathways, storage capacity in animal tissues, and susceptibility to excretion.
Step 1: Identifying Fat-Soluble Vitamins:
Fat-soluble vitamins are hydrophobic organic molecules soluble in organic solvents and lipids.
They are absorbed along with dietary fats across the intestinal enterocytes and stored in significant amounts in the liver and adipose tissue.
The classic fat-soluble vitamins are:
1. Vitamin A (Retinol)
2. Vitamin D (Calciferol)
3. Vitamin E (Tocopherol)
4. Vitamin K (Phylloquinone/Menaquinone)
Step 2: Identifying Water-Soluble Vitamins:
Water-soluble vitamins are hydrophilic compounds that dissolve freely in water and are readily excreted in urine rather than stored long-term in the body.
These include:
1. Vitamin B-complex (e.g., Thiamine, Riboflavin, Niacin, Pyridoxine, Cyanocobalamin, Folic acid)
2. Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid)
Step 3: Matching with the Question Items:
From the given list:
- Statement A (Vitamin-A) is fat-soluble.
- Statement B (Vitamin-B) is water-soluble.
- Statement C (Vitamin-C) is water-soluble.
- Statement D (Vitamin-D) is fat-soluble.
Therefore, the fat-soluble vitamins among the choices are A and D only.
Step 4: Final Answer:
Thus, the correct combination is given by option (A) A and D only.