From Absorption to Action: How Bioavailability Impacts Your Wellness
At Premium Jane, we specialise in various products, including hemp extracts, shilajit, and kava. Everything we sell is of the highest quality because we only use the best ingredients. However, we’re also acutely aware of the importance of bioavailability, as it plays a major role in any substance’s effectiveness.
Regardless of whether you’re using hemp oil, kava gummies, or NMN capsules, bioavailability dictates how much of the active ingredient your body can use. In this article, I discuss the science behind bioavailability, why it’s a critical factor in supplementation, and how it differs from absorption.
What is Bioavailability?
Bioavailability describes the percentage of an active substance that gets into your bloodstream and can be used by your body. For instance, if you take 50 mg of our hemp oil but only 10 mg reaches your bloodstream, the bioavailability is 20%.
Understanding this concept is very important, as it helps you learn more about the likelihood of a particular product having the desired effect. Imagine you consume 100 mg of hemp extract in a day but later find out that its bioavailability is only 7%. Suddenly, it makes sense why you’re not getting results; your body can only access 7 mg!
In a nutshell, bioavailability measures how much benefit you get from the dose of a substance you consume.
Types of Bioavailability
Believe it or not, there’s more than one type of bioavailability. Systemic bioavailability refers to the amount of a substance that reaches the bloodstream and circulates throughout the body. This is crucial for systemic effects, like those sought from hemp extracts or capsules.
On the other hand, localised bioavailability relates to the availability of a substance in a specific area. For instance, if you apply a hemp topical to manage the symptoms of joint pain.
Why is Bioavailability Important?
When you invest in a product, you want to ensure your body absorbs and uses as much of it as possible. The higher the bioavailability, the more effective the product, assuming it is of a reasonable quality in the first place. By contrast, low bioavailability means you may need a higher dose to achieve the desired effects. In this scenario, that 3,000 mg of hemp oil suddenly doesn’t seem like great value!
Also, products with higher bioavailability ensure you get the most out of your purchase, reducing the need to consume more to experience benefits. By maximising bioavailability, you’re more likely to experience the desired effects.
How Does Bioavailability Differ from Absorption?
Although often used interchangeably, absorption and bioavailability are not the same thing.
While absorption focuses on how a substance enters the body, bioavailability measures how much of it is active and usable by your system. For instance, when you take a hemp capsule, your digestive system absorbs it before the hemp extract enters your bloodstream.
So, when you swallow the capsule, some of it is absorbed in your stomach. However, much of it is broken down by stomach acid and the liver before it reaches your bloodstream. This process, known as first-pass metabolism, significantly reduces bioavailability.
By contrast, sublingual CBD (held under the tongue) bypasses the digestive system and first-pass metabolism, offering higher bioavailability.
Factors That Impact Bioavailability
Several factors influence how much of a supplement your body can use. These factors vary based on the supplement type, formulation, and individual differences. Understanding these variables allows you to make better choices and even optimise bioavailability.
Consumption Method
The way you take a supplement plays a big role in bioavailability. Oral supplements, like capsules or gummies, often face barriers like stomach acid and digestive enzymes, which break down the active ingredients before they reach the bloodstream. Sublingual administration or inhalation bypasses many of these obstacles, delivering more of the active ingredient to your system.
First-Pass Metabolism
When you consume a substance orally, it passes through the liver before entering the bloodstream. This process, known as first-pass metabolism, dramatically reduces the bioavailability of certain compounds, including CBD.
Formulation and Ingredients
High-quality formulations often include enhancers like liposomes, MCT oil, or nanoemulsions, which improve absorption and bioavailability. For example, hemp extract is fat-soluble and absorbs better with healthy fats.
Individual Differences
Your unique physiology affects bioavailability. Age, weight, metabolism, and gut health influence how well your body absorbs and processes supplements.
Timing and Food Pairing
The time you take your supplement and whether you consume it with food can affect bioavailability. Fat-soluble compounds like CBD are better absorbed with meals containing healthy fats.
The Bioavailability of Different Consumption Methods
The bioavailability of a product varies massively depending on how it’s consumed. For example, orally consumed ingested products, like capsules, gummies, and oils, have a bioavailability of 10% to 20%. So, while they are convenient (and often delicious), you must realise that much of the active ingredient is lost during digestion and first-pass metabolism. Formulations like water-soluble CBD or those combined with fats can improve absorption.
Many people prefer products like tinctures, oils, and sprays because sublingual consumption has a bioavailability rate of between 20% and 35%. The active ingredients are absorbed directly into the bloodstream through mucous membranes, bypassing digestion by holding the supplement under the tongue.
Inhalation via vaping or smoking potentially has a bioavailability of up to 50%. The substance enters the lungs and is absorbed almost immediately into the bloodstream.
A lot of people like to use topicals like creams and balms. Such products target localised areas, such as sore muscles or joints. While they don’t typically reach the bloodstream, transdermal patches are designed for systemic absorption. The bioavailability of topicals remains unknown.
Incidentally, there are ways to boost bioavailability. For instance, products with advanced (if not entirely proven) technologies, such as nanoemulsions or liposomal delivery, break down active ingredients into smaller particles, thus, in theory, making it easier for your body to absorb them.
Hemp extract absorbs better with foods rich in healthy fats, such as nuts or avocado. For this reason, the best hemp oils tend to include MCT oil.
From Science to Success: Make Every Product Count with Better Bioavailability
Understanding bioavailability helps you choose the most effective product and consumption method for your needs. For hemp products from Premium Jane Australia, consider factors like your goals, lifestyle, and preferences.
Always look for high-quality formulations that optimise absorption, such as those containing MCT oil or using advanced delivery technologies. Enhancing bioavailability ensures you get the most value and benefit from what you spend your hard-earned money on.
