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And why is it essential for dietary supplements?
Sooner or later, if you explore the world of dietary supplements, you'll come across the term "bioavailability." While it may seem daunting, it actually refers to an extremely important factor in the effectiveness of supplements.
Like many scientific terms, it's more understandable once it's broken down so it can be "digested" more easily. Which is a good thing, because that's exactly what it's all about! Bioavailability is the rate at which a substance, such as a dietary supplement or medication, is absorbed into a living organism . 1 .
Why is this important with dietary supplements? Because the faster the essential elements of that supplement—whether vitamins, minerals, enzymes, or herbs—find the part of the body they're meant to target, the more effective they'll be.
Taking dietary supplements often involves taking capsules or tablets. They are swallowed and then digested: just like food, they enter the digestive tract and then the intestinal wall, pass into the bloodstream, and, thanks to an incredible nutritional GPS, reach the site or organ for which they are intended. Only then can they release their benefits. So the faster and more effective they are, the better we feel. Some supplements are ineffective precisely because they are never completely absorbed by the body.
Dietary supplement manufacturers often claim to have created a product with maximum bioavailability, but it's not that simple. Two factors come into play: the supplement itself and the body.
When it comes to supplements, critical factors include the form they come in, the time it takes for them to break down (in other words, how quickly the essential components can work), the quality of the ingredients, and their formulation. Some supplements are better absorbed when combined with other supplements. A calcium supplement, for example, may also contain vitamin D, which will help the body absorb more calcium . .
The other part of the equation is you. Your body is unique. Every human being is different. Therefore, regardless of the degree of bioavailability of a supplement, the other factors that come into play depend on the person taking the supplement: their age and gender, their health, the state of their digestive system (which, by the way, can also benefit from proper supplementation), the time of day the supplement is absorbed, and even how full their stomach is. That's a lot of variables!
Not to mention our nutrient needs: growing children, the elderly, and pregnant women all have different needs, which impact how easily supplements are absorbed.
Of course, you can always ask manufacturers questions about the supplements you're interested in. Ideally, they'll get ahead of you and actively promote the bioavailability of their products. You can also do some quick research online on some of the optimal nutrient combinations to consider.
Behind all this science, the key remains common sense. The faster you can absorb the beneficial ingredients in supplements, the faster they impact your health and vitality. Also, by taking the time to understand how bioavailability works, you'll be more likely to make informed choices about the right combinations for you!