BIOAVAILABILITY

Yeshewas Abaynew (BSc, MPH)

 Objectives
 At the end of the session, students should be able to:
Define bioavailability
Factors affecting Bioavailability

2 By YAG 04/11/23
 Definition
Bioavailability: relative amount of an administered dose
which reaches the general circulation and the rate at
which this occurs.
It refers extent to which a nutrient is absorbed and used

3 By YAG 04/11/23
 Factors Affecting Bioavailability
Physiologic factors
1. pH Stomach and intestine
2. Surface area of the of the intestine – microvilli
3. Presence of carrier proteins for absorption
4. Enzymes
5. GI blood flow
6. Gastric Emptying & intestinal transit

Physicochemical Properties
1. Water & lipid solubility
2. Molecular size
3. Stability in GI environment (pH)
4. Specificity for carrier proteins and enzymes

4 By YAG 04/11/23
Bioavailability…
Form of nutrient or food component
Factors that affect absorption/utilization
Bioavailability Assumptions for B12

Normal gastric, pancreatic, ileal function

50% average absorption of all forms of B12
10–30% of those > 50 y have atrophic gastritis
 Requirements for Normal Absorption
of Vitamin B12…

Intact stomach
Intrinsic factor
Pancreatic sufficiency
Functioning terminal ileum

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