How many water-soluble vitamins are there in total?

Water-soluble vitamins consist of a specific group that includes vitamin C and the B-complex vitamins. The B-complex vitamins include thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), pyridoxine (B6), biotin (B7), folate (B9), and cobalamin (B12). This adds up to a total of nine distinct vitamins when counted along with vitamin C.

This classification as water-soluble is important because these vitamins dissolve in water, which affects how the body absorbs and utilizes them. They typically need to be consumed regularly through diet, as they are not stored in significant amounts in the body. Understanding the total number of water-soluble vitamins helps in planning nutritional intake and ensuring adequate consumption for maintaining health.