What is Bioavailability?
According to the National Institute of Health Office of dietary Supplements, bioavailability is defined as “the amount ( a given nutrient) in food, medications and supplements that are absorbed in the intestines and are ultimately available for biological activity in your cells and tissues “.
In terms of supplements bioavailability is not just the amount of nutrient that is absorbed into the bloodstream but also how much of it is used by the body or stored for future use.
Why is it Important?
The body is dependent on thousands of enzymes to carry out essential functions and maintain a healthy state.
These enzymes require vitamins and minerals to be a part of their structure or as necessary cofactor for the reactions they make happen. Without these essential nutrients, we cannot make and use energy. And without energy, there is no life.
Bioavailability of these nutrients is a decisive factor in how your body feels, looks and performs.
The Science
When you take a vitamin orally, your body has to do a lot of work to process that vitamin and move it into the bloodstream.
The digestive system uses enzymes and emulsifiers to convert the vitamins and minerals from your food and supplements into tiny, molecule sized dispersions, which are then absorbed across your gut lining and into the blood.
This absorption can be affected by many factors.
The following example will give you an insight into the complicated and inefficient absorption activity that occurs with oral vitamins.
Water soluble vitamins are large molecules, and therefore have to cross the lining of the gastrointestinal tract. These cells have phospholipid membranes that are impenetrable to water soluble vitamins and nutrients.
These nutrients need a special ‘ transporter ‘ to move the nutrients across the lining of the gastrointestinal tract.
One such transport is the Sodium dependent MultiVitamin Transporter ( SMVT ). The SMVT acts like the gastrointestinal tract border control – allowing or denying vitamins to cross the gut into the bloodstream.
SMVT is limited in its capacity and regulates absorption of several vitamins and nutrients – Biotin, B5 and ALA ( potent antioxidant).
As it is responsible for the transport of several nutrients, each of them must get in line, waiting to cross the border.
The result is oral vitamins lining up at the gut and blood circulation border and competing with each other for priority placement!
The whole process is further complicated due to the bioavailability of oral supplements being negatively impacted by :-
- Alcohol – Interfere with intake and absorption of B Vitamins and vitamins A, D and E alongside Potassium.
- Caffeine – Inhibits absorption of B Vitamins, Calcium, Iron and Magnesium due to tannins.
- Digestive Problems – Crohns, IBS, coeliac significantly hinder the body’s ability to properly absorb and utilise nutrients.
- Medications – Over the counter prescriptions impair absorption and utilisation of nutrients.
- Stress – Increased levels of cortisol deplete the body’s nutrients store.
- Smoking – Impair both uptake and the body’s ability to use oral vitamins and minerals for energy.
Anything negatively impacting the stomach lining will negatively impact on your ability to absorb oral nutrients.
Bioavailability is THE crucial factor in getting the most out of your nutrients, thus allowing your body to perform at its peak.
IV Vitamins-
- Bypass absorption completely – 100% bioavailability!
- Deliver a high concentration of nourishing vitamins unobtainable orally.
Symptoms such as fatigue, headache, weight gain, recurrent infections, dry skin, brittle hair and nails are signs of vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
IV Drips or injections can make an immediate impact on your health, with you feeling the benefits straight away.
Oral supplements have a role in certain situations. However, there is no comparison or equivalent of IV supplementation.
