Functional Ingredient Bioavailability and Strategies to Overcome the Challenges
In the last decade or so, there has been a notable shift in what consumers are looking for in the next snack, beverage, and supplement. Today’s consumers are more knowledgeable about ingredients that support their health and wellness—which means manufacturers must find innovative ways to infuse their products with vitamins, minerals, and other functional ingredients.
The problem, of course, is that many functional ingredients pose challenges when it comes to formulation. Although they may potentially offer powerful health benefits, their natural physicochemical properties come with tradeoffs that impact the quality, effectiveness, and, ultimately, the bioavailability of the final product.
If functional ingredients are part of your product development strategy, bioavailability matters. The following is a look at the fundamentals of ingredient absorption in the human body, as well as current methods used to increase bioavailability to make a better product.
What is Bioavailability and Why Does it Matter for Supplements and Functional Ingredients?
Bioavailability refers to the amount of a nutrient or compound absorbed and utilized by the body. Bioavailability is a big concern for supplements and functional ingredients because many have a long path to absorption or simply an incompatible molecular constitution. The quantity of nutrients “advertised” on the label isn’t always what the body absorbs.
Spoke Sciences sees this as a significant problem for producers who want to deliver greater doses of beneficial compounds to consumers without the tradeoffs of undesirable surfactants or additional ingredients that are unpleasant to the end user.
What 3 Factors Alter Bioavailability?
The main three factors that impact a nutrient’s bioavailability include its:
Physicochemical properties (ex., solubility)
Formulation (ex., tablets, capsules, solutions)
Route of administration (ex., oral, sublingual, topical, etc.)
When it comes to a nutrient’s physicochemical properties, solubility is a major factor affecting a supplement’s bioavailability. For instance, hydrophilic (water-soluble) and lipophilic (fat-soluble) nutrients have different paths of absorption.
Hydrophilic nutrients typically require more complex processes to be absorbed, involving breakdown and transportation through the aqueous environment of the digestive tract before reaching the bloodstream.
Lipophilic nutrients are absorbed differently, often through the lymphatic system, which can bypass the liver initially. However, this route can lead to variable absorption levels, depending on whether the nutrient enters the bloodstream through the capillaries or the lymphatic system and whether it is subject to the “food effect.
How a supplement is formulated—whether as tablets, capsules, or solutions—also affects bioavailability. Different formulations can lead to varied absorption rates and efficiencies. For example, vitamin A in its preformed state from food sources like salmon and liver tends to have higher bioavailability than a tablet or capsule version, but pre-vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene may allow for one to achieve higher blood concentrations of vitamin without toxicity implications.
Finally, the method by which a nutrient or supplement is administered is crucial in determining its bioavailability. For example, oral administration is common but subject to first-pass metabolism by the liver, which can reduce the amount of active nutrient reaching systemic circulation. Sublingual administration (under the tongue) will bypass the digestive system and liver, leading to quicker and often more efficient absorption.
When formulating CPG with active or functional ingredients, it's critical to consider the implications of all three of these factors. It's not just a matter of deciding to launch a new vitamin-infused product—you have to formulate it so that the end consumer actually reaps those vitamin benefits.
Current Strategies to Improve Functional Ingredient and Supplement Bioavailability
Existing techniques for enhancing the bioavailability of certain compounds in consumer and pharmaceutical products often involve trade-offs.
Co-Solvents
Co-solvents are one strategy used to enhance the dissolution of hydrophobic substances. By adding substances such as ethanol, which can mix with water, the solubility of lipophilic compounds can be improved.
However, this approach can significantly affect the taste, potentially making the product less appealing to consumers. While co-solvents are commonly used in pharmaceuticals and beverages to improve the solubility of lipophilic compounds, their impact on flavor and consumer acceptability is a valid concern.
pH Adjustment
Adjusting the pH of a solution or liquid dispersion can alter the ionization state of a compound, which can affect its solubility. For example, acidic or basic conditions can make a compound more or less soluble depending on whether it is more soluble in an acidic or basic environment.
However, this method is not universally applicable and is only effective for compounds with pH-dependent solubility. In pharmaceuticals, for example, adjusting the pH can optimize the dissolution of drugs, leading to improved absorption and bioavailability. Similarly, adjusting pH can enhance the solubility of certain vitamins and minerals in dietary supplements.
Some compounds are not significantly affected by pH changes, and excessive pH alteration can affect the formulation’s stability and efficacy. And for some applications, such as beverages, low pH may be required for microbiological preservation approaches. Achieving the correct pH requires careful control and might not always be feasible depending on the intended use and formulation requirements.
Introducing Advanced Ingredient Technology to Increase Bioavailability
Spoke Sciences recognizes the challenges with traditional solutions and has developed IsoCaps™, a proprietary method for incorporating lipophilic substances into a water-dispersible format.
This advanced formulation technique delivers high concentrations of beneficial compounds in a concentrated dose. As just one example, IsoCaps VIT100 packs 100 percent of the recommended daily allowance of vitamins A, D, E, and K into just 1 ml, while IsoCaps RES100 delivers 100 mg of resveratrol per milliliter of water.
Spoke Sciences addresses the solubility problem with nanoemulsion technology, providing greater concentration and effectiveness of functional ingredients. Through our patented ingredient technology, we help formulators develop new products that minimize taste and quality issues but, most importantly, increase the bioavailability of bioactive ingredients.
Contact us to learn more about the IsoCaps solution and how it can work within your next product launch.