Bioavailability is a hot topic in the world of nutritional supplements, and for good reason. The main goal of taking a supplement is to get the active ingredients into your body so they can do their job. Improved bioavailability means a higher percentage of the active ingredient actually reaches your bloodstream, which can greatly boost a supplement’s effectiveness.
The Pros of Improved Bioavailability
The main advantages of using supplements formulated for higher absorption are centered on better results and a better consumer experience.
- Enhanced Effectiveness: When a greater amount of the active ingredient reaches the bloodstream, the supplement simply performs better.
- Reduced Side Effects: Improved efficiency often means using a lower dose, which can help mitigate common issues like gastrointestinal discomfort associated with poorly absorbed ingredients (such as iron, curcumin, or magnesium).
- Faster Onset of Benefits: Higher bioavailability can lead to a quicker impact, which is especially valuable for supplements used in areas like pain relief, stress management, or sports nutrition.
- Better Consumer Compliance: A more effective supplement often means a reduced “pill burden,” encouraging consumers to stick to their regimen.
- Competitive Advantage: Formulations using patented delivery systems, such as LipiSperse®, AquaCelle®, or PlexoZome®, can help a brand stand out in a crowded market. This innovation enables companies to charge a premium price and emphasize advanced technology in their marketing.
Spotlight on LipiSperse®: A Bioavailability Technology
LipiSperse® is a patented delivery system that supplement brands use as a competitive advantage. The primary benefit of such advanced formulations is to improve the bioavailability of certain ingredients, which means a greater percentage of the active compound is absorbed into the bloodstream.
The need for technologies like LipiSperse® often arises with highly hydrophobic (water-repelling) or poorly absorbed ingredients. When mixed with water (like in a drink or during digestion), these compounds tend to clump together, drastically limiting the amount that can cross the gut lining and be absorbed. LipiSperse® works to keep these particles finely dispersed in an aqueous (water-based) environment, preventing them from aggregating and making them more accessible for absorption.
Example
Curcumin: This active compound from turmeric is notoriously poorly absorbed in its standard form. Enhanced delivery systems are often used to boost their bioavailability, leading to greater effectiveness.
Final Comment
With the number of unique or new ingredients in the natural health field, technology will lead in creating innovative ways to enhance methods that have already been shown to support health improvements. However, keep in mind that as bioavailability improves, new safety and efficacy studies should also be conducted.