Jornal de Biomarcadores Moleculares e Diagnóstico

Essentials of Bioaccessibility and Bioavailability for Applied Nutritional Practices

Abstract

Helena Jenzer, Sandra Busser and Leila Sadeghi

Nutrients are partially bioaccessible to be extracted from their matrix. They may be partially lost by processing to a meal and by metabolism after absorption from the GI tract. Numerous steps in this cascade have an impact on the nutrient amount which will finally be bioavailable for an effect. Daily allowances are defined and widely recommended to obtain such an effect. However, these needs are derived from observation of healthy populations and are increased to cover needs for special consumer and patient groups or for pregnancy. Daily allowances are subject to frequent changes whenever new scientific evidence arises as is the case for vitamin D. This article describes reasons why generally reasonable recommendations may fail occasionally are found among the variation of genes, age, gender, or race, as well as epigenetics, which all contribute to the individual expression of metabolic capacity and thus to differences in individual bioavailability.