Enhanced Bioavailability

‘Bioavailability’ indicates that compounds in a natural product are being absorbed into the blood stream.  ‘Enhanced bioavailability’ suggests that a compound may be absorbed more rapidly, more effectively, and stay in the blood longer, compared to a standard compound. 

For example, we showed that liposome-encapsulated vitamin C is absorbed better and stays in the blood longer than vitamin C consumed without being liposome-encapsulated.  

When there are no blood markers that can be used, bioavailability may be demonstrated by downstream markers.  Many complex immune-modulating natural products initiate immune activity in the gut, where most activity is caused by the gut/immune axis in the gut lining, by compounds that are not absorbed into the blood.   This is where the Quiet Study model also shines.

 In many complex natural products and extracts, we know that antioxidants are present, but we may not know the exact levels of each of dozens of different antioxidant compounds.  Neither do we know which of the antioxidants can enter into the blood. However, in a Quiet Study we can document the overall change in blood antioxidant levels and protection rapidly after consuming a natural product. 

Due to the natural changes in the body, associated with the circadian (day/night) cycle, we also need to document the antioxidant levels at the same time of the day when the same person is not consuming the natural product. The difference is a measure of the antioxidant bioavailability in the natural product.