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PILLS & CHEWABLES vs. PATCH
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Interesting Facts about 
Oral Supplement Absorption

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Our Healthy Patches have many benefits over capsules, pills and gummies.  Our patches:
  • Bypass stomach acid — less destroyed in digestion
  • Avoid first-pass liver metabolism
  • Steadier release — patches deliver slowly instead of one big spike
  • Less stomach upset — such as nausea, reflux, constipation, or diarrhea
  • No sugar/fillers — gummies often contain sugars, dyes & gelatin
ABSORPTION RATE BASICS
  • When you swallow a pill, capsule, or chew a gummie, not all of it is absorbed. Some is destroyed by stomach acid, some passes through un-absorbed, and some is metabolized (broken down) before it ever reaches your bloodstream.
  • 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 Vitamins
(e.g. C, B-complex)
 
50 - 90%
10 - 50% LOST
Fat-Soluble Vitamins
(e.g. A, D, E, K)
10 - 60%
40 - 90% LOST
(depending on fat intake)
MINERALS:
(e.g. Zinc, Magnesium, Iron)
10 - 50%
50 - 90% LOST
HERBAL EXTRACTS /
PLANT COMPOUNDS
5 - 30%
(often very low)
70 - 95% LOST
AMINO ACIDS
(like L-Glutamine)
70 - 90%
10 - 30% LOST
PROBIOTICS
Less than 10% survives stomach acid
90%+ LOST
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