Understanding Bioavailability and Nutrient Absorption

When you're choosing a supplement, it's easy to focus on the ingredients and how much of each nutrient it contains. But there's another question worth asking: how well can your body actually absorb and use those ingredients?

This is where bioavailability comes in. The form of a nutrient, what you take it with and the way a supplement is formulated can all influence how readily an ingredient is absorbed. So, what exactly is bioavailability, why does it matter, and what should you look for when choosing a supplement?

What does bioavailability mean?

Bioavailability describes the proportion of a nutrient or active ingredient that reaches the bloodstream and becomes available for the body to use. When you take a supplement, its ingredients need to be released from the tablet or capsule, pass through your digestive system and then be absorbed. But not every ingredient is absorbed in the same way. Some nutrients are relatively easy for the body to absorb, while others can be more challenging. Certain plant compounds, including curcumin, quercetin and resveratrol, are known to have relatively low bioavailability. This is why the amount of an ingredient listed on the label doesn't necessarily tell you the whole story.

Why does bioavailability matter?

There are several things that can influence how well your body absorbs a nutrient.

The form of the nutrient

Different forms of the same nutrient can have different absorption characteristics. Magnesium is a good example. It's available in several forms, including magnesium citrate, glycinate and oxide.

What you take it with

Some nutrients are better absorbed when taken alongside certain foods. For example, fat-soluble nutrients are generally better absorbed when consumed with dietary fat.

Your digestive system

Digestion and individual differences can influence how nutrients are absorbed. Certain medications can also affect nutrient absorption.

How the supplement is formulated

The ingredients themselves aren't the only thing to consider. The way they're combined and delivered can also play a role in how they become available for absorption. This is an area that has become increasingly interesting in supplement development.

Does the form of a supplement really matter?

It can. Traditionally, supplement development has often focused on which ingredients to include and how much of each ingredient to provide. Today, there's also growing interest in how those ingredients are delivered. Rather than simply increasing the amount of an ingredient, supplement manufacturers are exploring ways to help certain nutrients dissolve, disperse and become more available for absorption. This can be particularly relevant for plant compounds that don't dissolve easily in water or can be broken down during digestion.

How does Terranova approach bioavailability?

Terranova is one example of a brand looking at not just what ingredients are in a supplement, but how those ingredients are delivered.

Its NextGen range combines two approaches:

• BioSNEDS™ Technology – a nutrient delivery system designed to improve the bioavailability of certain ingredients.
• MAGNIFOOD™ Complexes – combinations of botanicals, fruits, vegetables and other wholefoods selected to complement the main ingredients.

The idea is to look beyond simply putting an ingredient into a capsule and consider how that ingredient is delivered.

What is BioSNEDS™ technology?

The name might sound complicated, but the basic idea is fairly simple. Some ingredients, particularly certain plant compounds, don't dissolve easily in the watery environment of the digestive system. This can make them more difficult to absorb.

BioSNEDS™ is a self-emulsifying nutrient delivery system designed to help certain ingredients disperse into very small droplets during digestion, making them more accessible for absorption. Terranova reports that studies comparing its BioSNEDS formulations with conventional forms have demonstrated substantially improved bioavailability for several ingredients.

It's worth making an important distinction here: improved bioavailability means improved absorption. It doesn't automatically mean greater health benefits. Those are two different questions. 

What is MAGNIFOOD™?

Terranova's approach doesn't stop with delivery technology. Its MAGNIFOOD™ complexes combine plant-based ingredients such as botanicals, fruits, vegetables and other nutrient-rich wholefoods. Rather than using exactly the same combination in every product, Terranova tailors each MAGNIFOOD™ complex to complement the main ingredients in the formulation. Depending on the product, these can include ingredients such as freeze-dried berries, rose hips, fermented turmeric, ginger, green tea and mushrooms. It's an interesting combination of traditional botanical ingredients and modern supplement formulation.

A closer look at Terranova's NextGen range

The NextGen range includes a number of specialist formulations built around ingredients that have attracted scientific interest.

NextGen CurcuSol™ Curcumin Complex: Curcumin is one of the naturally occurring compounds found in turmeric and has been widely researched. One challenge with conventional curcumin is its relatively low bioavailability. Terranova's CurcuSol™ Complex uses BioSNEDS™ technology alongside curcumin and tetrahydrocurcumin from turmeric. It also includes a MAGNIFOOD™ complex containing matcha green tea, fermented turmeric and fermented ginger.

NextGen CoQXorb™ CoQ10 Complex: Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a naturally occurring compound found in cells throughout the body and is involved in cellular energy production. Terranova's CoQXorb™ Complex uses BioSNEDS™ technology to improve the bioavailability of CoQ10. The formulation also contains a spirulina-derived extract and a MAGNIFOOD™ complex featuring rice bran, aronia berry, rose hips and fermented reishi mushroom.

NextGen QuerceSol™ Quercetin Complex: Quercetin is a plant compound naturally found in foods including onions, apples and berries. Like a number of other plant compounds, quercetin can be difficult for the body to absorb. Terranova's QuerceSol™ Complex combines its specialist quercetin formulation with vitamin C and a MAGNIFOOD™ blend containing nettle leaf, parsley and fermented turmeric. Vitamin C contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress and supports the normal function of the immune system. 

Does better absorption mean a better supplement?

Not necessarily. Bioavailability is useful to understand, particularly when it comes to ingredients that are naturally difficult to absorb. But it shouldn't be the only thing you look at when choosing a supplement. The form of the nutrient, the amount provided, the overall formulation and the evidence behind the ingredients all matter too. It's also important to distinguish between research showing improved absorption and research demonstrating a specific health benefit. They're related, but they're not the same thing. So, next time you're comparing supplements, don't just look at the biggest number on the label. Take a look at the form of the ingredient and how the product has been formulated, too.

Why choose Terranova?

When it comes to supplements, it's worth looking beyond the ingredient list. Terranova takes a considered approach to formulation, combining nutritional ingredients with botanicals and wholefoods, while also looking at how certain ingredients can be delivered and absorbed. Its NextGen range is one example of this approach, using BioSNEDS™ technology and MAGNIFOOD™ complexes to create formulations that go beyond simply adding more of an ingredient. Of course, bioavailability is only one part of choosing a supplement. The right product will depend on the ingredients, dosage, formulation and your individual nutritional needs.

Which Terranova supplement might be right for you?

The Terranova NextGen range includes a number of specialist formulations, each designed around different ingredients. Interested in curcumin? CurcuSol™ combines curcumin and tetrahydrocurcumin with BioSNEDS™ technology and a botanical-rich MAGNIFOOD™ complex. Looking at CoQ10? CoQXorb™ combines CoQ10 with BioSNEDS™ technology alongside spirulina and a blend of botanical and wholefood ingredients. Want to learn more about quercetin? QuerceSol™ combines quercetin with vitamin C and a MAGNIFOOD™ blend featuring nettle, parsley and fermented turmeric. Whichever you're considering, it's worth taking a closer look at the formulation, not just the amount of the headline ingredient.