In this article:
Defining bioavailability
Factors affecting bioavailability
Importance of bioavailable antioxidants as supplements
Vitamin C Bioavailability: Conventional vs. Liposomal dosage forms
The Master Detoxifier: Liposomal Glutathione & Importance of Liposomal Form
Bioavailability is a term you likely stumbled upon if you’ve done any research or googling on supplements prior to buying (which is always a plus!). However, it may have remained unclear as to what brands actually mean when talking about the elusive term, ‘bioavailability’. Although it could be considered a scientific term, it is still possible to define bioavailability in layman’s terms, avoiding unnecessary confusion - which is precisely the objective of this article.
Simply put, the level of bioavailability determines the amount of the nutrient the body is actually able to utilize. What proportion of the nutrient or active ingredient reaches the cells or parts of the body in need. Therefore, if you’re consuming a supplement which isn’t optimized in terms of bioavailability, you can expect a significant amount of the nutrient to be lost - especially when it bypasses the digestive system. Not really what most people have in mind when purchasing their supplements, right? Now, let’s get into a more detailed overview of bioavailability, as well as factors affecting it.
Bioavailability, what the heck is it exactly?
When choosing supplements, there are a lot of factors that go into making a purchasing decision including ease-of-use, cost, customer service, and flavor. Although these certainly do make a difference, two often-overlooked factors which should be prioritized are nutrient content, and of course - bioavailability of these nutrients, scientific evaluations in regard to toxicology and nutrient bioavailability show.