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Interesting Facts about
Oral Supplement Absorption
Absorption Rate Basics
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When you swallow a pill, not all of it is absorbed. Some is destroyed by stomach acid, some passes through unabsorbed, and some is metabolized (broken down) before it ever reaches your bloodstream.
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The percentage that actually enters circulation is called "BIOAVAILABILITY".
Typical Ranges for Oral Supplements (Pills/capsules)
Supplement Type
Estimated % Absorption (Bioavailability)
% THAT NEVER MAKES IT INTO YOUR SYSTEM
VITAMINS
(water-soluble
e.g. C, B-complex) 50 - 90% 10 - 50% LOST
Fat-Soluble Vitamins 10 - 60% 40 - 90% LOST
(A, D, E, K) (depending on
fat intake)
MINERALS
(e.g. zinc, magnesium, 10 - 50% 50 - 90% LOST
iron)
HERBAL EXTRACTS / 5 - 30% 70 - 95% LOST
PLANT COMPOUNDS (often very low)
AMINO ACIDS
(like L-glutamine) 70 - 90% 10 - 30% LOST
PROBIOTICS <10% >90% LOST
(less than survives stomach acid)
VITAMINS
-> Estimated Absorption 50-90%
-> % that never makes it to your system: 10-50% LOST
Water-soluble (e.g. vitamins C, B-complex)
-> Estimated Absorption <10% (Less than 10% survives stomach acid)
-> % that never makes it to your system: >90% LOST
Fat-soluble (e.g. vitamins A, D, E, K)
-> Estimated Absorption 10-60%
-> % that never makes it to your system: 40-90% LOST (depending on fat intake)
MINERALS
(e.g. zinc, magnesium, iron)
-> Estimated Absorption 10-50%
-> % that never makes it to your system: 50-90% LOST
HERBAL EXTRACTS
/ PLANT COMPOUNDS
-> Estimated Absorption 5-30%
-> % that never makes it to your system: 70-95% LOST
AMINO ACIDS
(like L-glutamine)
-> Estimated Absorption 70-90%
-> % that never makes it to your system: 10-30% LOST
PROBIOTICS
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