You will see many types of nutritional supplements lining the shelves at supermarkets, drugstores, pharmacies and health food stores. These supplements offer every imaginable vitamins and minerals from A to zinc as well as other lesser-known substances meant to make users stronger and healthier.

Of course, there are also supplements specifically targeted at niche markets such as weight loss watchers, bodybuilders, children, post-menopausal women, pregnant mothers and others. No matter the types and targets of the nutritional supplements, however, the ways in which these materials work in the body are very similar.

Workings in the Body

Just like regular food, nutritional supplements pass through your digestive system before being absorbed into the bloodstream. From there, the nutrients are distributed to the organs of the body and, add the necessary vitamins and minerals that may have been absent from the diet.

To be more specific, the active ingredients in the nutritional supplements are released to the stomach, passed through the small intestines and then finally absorbed into the bloodstream. Thus, it is very important that the ingredients be able to survive the harsh, acidic environment of the stomach so that the small intestines can secure majority of the nutrients and pass them on to the cells.

Unfortunately, many of the ingredients of nutritional supplements do not survive for many reasons. This is where the concept of bioavailability in supplements comes in.

Understanding Bioavailability

To borrow a popular phrase, not all nutritional supplements are manufactured equally especially in terms of bioavailability. To put it simply, bioavailability refers to the quantity of nutrients in the supplement available for absorption into the body. In turn, absorption refers to the body's capacity to receive said nutrients into the bloodstream and deliver them onwards into the tissues and cells.

The bioavailability spectrum is such that the hierarchy can be explained this way:

• Tablets have the least bioavailability at a maximum of 25 percent. This is because the active ingredients do not survive the acidic environment of the stomach, not to mention that they contain so many binders and fillers. Thus, all you get are basically starches and sugars.

• Liquid supplements have more bioavailability – up to 60 percent tops. However, bioavailability can be considerably lessened because of the presence of flavorings used to mask the unpleasant taste of certain herbs and oils contained in those supplements.

• Capsules, especially those with enteric coatings, have the greatest bioavailability, reaching up to 90 percent. This is because the coatings provide protection from the acid in the stomach, thus ensuring that most of the active ingredients are available to be absorbed by the small intestine.

In conclusion, when choosing from among the many nutritional supplements available, it is always advisable to read the labels to determine that the ingredients meet your needs, to opt for a reliable manufacturer and to choose capsules over tablets whenever you can. And that's how to ensure that your nutritional supplements will work for you!