Bioavailability Vs Absorption - NutriGold Publishes Tips to Help Consumers Make Informed Decisions for Their Health
Orem, UT (PRWEB) August 31, 2014 -- Asked to offer tips for consumers to better understand the difference between "Bioavailability" and "absorption," Dr. Priya Khan, Director of Research & Development at NutriGold, responded with great interest. "Bioavailability" and "absorption" are possibly the most misused, overused, and abused terms in the supplement industry, second perhaps only to the confusion over food-based and whole-food vitamins. Bioavailability and absorption, while related, are not the same. Bioavailability refers to the degree to which a nutrient is 'body-ready' or ready for use by the body, whereas 'absorption' refers to how much of the nutrient the body will actually assimilate and utilize."
Tip # 1: Bioavailability, in the context of dietary supplements, is an attribute of a nutrient and refers to the degree to which the nutrient is readily available to the body (cells) for use. The more bioavailable the nutrient is, the less work the body has to do to convert it into a body-ready state, which means it has more time to actually use the nutrient.
Dr. Khan offered examples to further clarify for the consumer this important concept. "Vitamin D, is an essential vitamin that a majority of the US population is deficient in. Available as either D2 (ergocalciferol) or D3 (cholecalciferol), it is the D3 form that is considered to be more 'bioavailable.' Although the body has to convert both D2 and D3 into a form that it can use, Vitamin D3 is converted into this active form more readily and efficiently than D2 because it is bio-identical to the D3 produced by the skin when exposed to sunlight."
"CoQ10 is a powerful antioxidant that helps support the body's natural defenses against oxidative damage. CoQ10 is efficiently converted to Ubiquinol by the body as necessary as long as the person taking CoQ10 is young, not taking any medications, and is in good health. However, older adults and those taking prescription medications or with compromised health are better off taking Ubiquinol rather than CoQ10 because it is already in the reduced state and in a body-ready form. The same argument applies to Turmeric versus THC, Fish Oil versus Krill Oil, synthetic vitamin isolates versus food-based vitamins, and so forth. Bioavailability is determined by whether or not the nutrient is in a form that the body can readily utilize."
Tip # 2: Absorption, while closely related to bioavailability, is not necessarily the same thing. Absorption is related to physiological factors and can vary from individual to individual. Just because something is more bioavailable does not mean that everyone will absorb the same amount of it. Absorption can be affected by whether or not the product is taken with or without food, time of day, individual health issues (e.g. compromised digestive or immune health), use of other supplements/medications, and other such factors. It is because individuals vary considerably in their absorption of nutrients / micronutrients from food / supplements that some people get more benefit out of one product (e.g. Krill Oil) and others get more benefits out of a similar, but different product (e.g. Fish Oil).
The body works hard, so it needs a helping hand by taking products that are formulated using highly bioavailable nutrients along with the co-factors necessary for optimal absorption. Understanding this concept will help consumers make the best choice for their optimal health.
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ABOUT NUTRIGOLD
NutriGold is a science-based nutraceutical company committed to identifying, developing, and offering cutting-edge nutraceutical products. With a portfolio of best-in-class products at reasonable prices backed by unmatched service, NutriGold is not just raising the bar on quality, but is helping define the standards for the rest of the industry to follow and this is reflected in its:
+ Use of non-GMO, organic, whole-food, and clinically-proven ingredients
+ Uncompromising efforts to manufacture products without artificial ingredients, Stearates, Laurates, Sulfates, and Dioxides
+ Voluntary, extensive third party testing of all raw materials and finished products for identity, purity, potency, and safety
+ Resolute efforts to ensure that all products are free of contaminants, adulterants, allergens, and GMOs
+ Unwavering commitment to transparency, accountability, and truth in advertising
+ Initiatives to educate consumers so they can make informed decisions that affect their health
Website: nutrigold.com
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Kristina Booth, NutriGold Inc., http://www.nutrigold.com, +1 (385) 444-2469, [email protected]
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