Industry leaders explore the latest supplement absorption and bioavailability trends

Ensuring dietary supplements’ bioavailability so they can be absorbed by the human body is crucial for their effectiveness. We discuss how industry innovations and formulations are tackling this issue with experts from Kaneka Nutrients Europe, Albion Minerals by Balchem, Lubrizol Life Science, Solutex and Pharmako Biotechnologies.

“Consumers are increasingly prioritizing supplements that demonstrate both high bioavailability and bioidentical characteristics while also prioritizing sustainable manufacturing processes,” Filip Van hulle, general manager at Kaneka Nutrients Europe, tells Nutrition Insight.

“People are growing wary of chemical modifiers and preservatives that may compromise a supplement’s natural properties, so clear and clean labeling is becoming increasingly important too,” he continues. Van hulle further points to Innova Market Insights Top trends for 2024, showing that 64% of consumers actively seek clear sustainability communications on packaging.

Oliver Riemann, senior marketing and business development manager at Albion Minerals by Balchem, says: “In recent years, we have seen a boom in new, more convenient delivery formats emerging on the market. But, despite all of these emerging and trending dosage formats, it is important that brands partake in the necessary testing to ensure that the ingredients maintain bioavailability and stability.”

Isabel Gómez, global marketing manager for Nutraceuticals at Lubrizol Life Science, says: “We have seen a strong focus on bioavailability technologies to maximize ingredient efficacy.” 

Rubén Medina, chief commercial officer at Solutex, points out that “enhancing the absorption and bioavailability is, alongside convenience, key to making supplements more appealing to consumers.”

Selecting bioavailable ingredients 

Balchem’s Riemann says that brands need to know what to look for when seeking the most bioavailable ingredients for their supplement products. “Understanding the science is key here.”

“Take vitamin K2 as an example. While there are options to choose from, not all of them are equal. Here is where K2Vital Delta steps in as the world’s only patented microencapsulated vitamin K2 MK-7 — typically a 99.97% all-trans solution of the bioactive form of vitamin K2 MK-7,” he explains. 

Balchem’s Albion Minerals portfolio mostly features chelated mineral ingredients, such as calcium, iron, magnesium and zinc.“A market study by Balchem found that K2Vital Delta has superior stability in combination with calcium, L-arginine and magnesium, compared to unprotected vitamin K2. Results demonstrated that, after three months, only 8% of unprotected vitamin K2-plus-minerals products met or were close to the label claim. In comparison, 100% of all K2Vital Delta products met or were close to the label claim.”

Balchem’s Albion Minerals portfolio mostly features chelated mineral ingredients. “This chelation process means that the minerals we offer are shielded by amino acids such as glycine, which helps protect them from their environment in the body, supporting enhanced absorption.”

“This chelated structure can help brands overcome challenges related to the low bioavailability that can occur in the presence of so-called ‘anti-nutrients’ — compounds found in food that can interfere with the absorption of specific minerals such as calcium, iron, zinc and magnesium.”

Riemann says that chelating minerals with amino acids is an effective strategy to increase their absorption and promote optimal tolerability, giving consumers a digestive-friendly experience in their daily consumption. 

“Take our magnesium bisglycinate chelate ingredient as an example. Lab testing shows up to three times greater absorption of Albion Magnesium Bisglycinate compared to magnesium oxide or magnesium citrate, meaning superior bioavailability.”

“Similarly, our iron ingredient, Ferrochel, is recognized as the most studied brand of Ferrous Bisglycinate chelate on the market. Beyond bolstering bioavailability, studies on iron supplementation during pregnancy have shown that Ferrous Bisglycinate, the ingredient behind Ferrochel, when compared to the inorganic alternatives, causes less gastric upset and is safer than typical iron salts.”

Biotechnology to improve absorption

George Kokkinis, CEO and founder of Pharmako Biotechnologies, says the company has developed “several advanced technologies to enhance the absorption and bioavailability of dietary supplements.”

AquaCelle omega-3 improves EPA and DHA bioavailability (Image credit: Pharmako).“Pharmako’s innovative delivery systems are backed by scientific research and are designed to ensure that active ingredients are more effectively absorbed by the body, enhancing their overall functionality and health benefits,” he continues. 

He highlights the company’s LipiSperse patented technology, which improves the dispersion of solid lipophilic (fat-soluble) ingredients in water and makes them more bioavailable.

“For example, HydroCurc, a curcumin product, uses LipiSperse to significantly increase the absorption of curcuminoids to levels just over 800 ng per ml of blood plasma — levels that have not been achieved before.”

Kokkinis also points to the AquaCelle technology, which enhances the bioavailability of lipophilic ingredients by forming microemulsions in the gastrointestinal tract. “It has been shown to significantly improve the absorption of CoQ10 and other fat-soluble nutrients like omega-3s, lutein, astaxanthin and more.”

“HydroCurc is specifically designed to increase the absorption of curcumin, it utilizes LipiSperse technology to disperse curcuminoids in water, overcoming the typical bioavailability challenges associated with curcumin.”

CoQ10 absorption

Kaneka Nutrients Europe’s Van hulle spotlights the company’s Ubiquinol, the bioactive form of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). “Unlike conventional CoQ10 supplements that need to be converted by the body, ubiquinol supplements provide the same bioactive form that naturally makes up more than 96% of CoQ10 in human blood plasma.”

Kaneka Nutrients’ Ubiquinol is the bioactive form of coQ10.“Clinical studies have demonstrated Ubiquinol’s superior absorption compared to conventional CoQ10. The bioidentical nature of Kaneka Ubiquinol means it bypasses the conversion process required with standard CoQ10 supplementation,” he details.

“Recent studies have demonstrated that Ubiquinol achieves three to five times greater bioavailability than its oxidized counterpart — a game-changing advantage in the quest for optimal supplementation.”

Van hulle says that enhanced bioavailability becomes particularly crucial as people age, due to the gradual decline in the body’s natural ubiquinol levels. “By age 40, Ubiquinol levels typically drop by around 30%, with a continued downward trajectory in subsequent years.”

“Kaneka Ubiquinol also retains its efficacy as a cofactor in cellular energy production and antioxidant defense across various delivery forms, including soft gels, capsules, gummies, nutritional bars and shots. Consumers can also rely on the unique ubiquinol quality seal provided by Kaneka, prominently displayed on product packaging.” 

Stability, bioavailability and organoleptic properties

Gómez also discusses how Lubrizol Life Science products address absorption and bioavailability issues.

“The Lubrizol Nutraceuticals portfolio is designed to overcome problems associated with traditional minerals and botanicals, including stability, bioavailability and poor organoleptic properties. Each of our branded ingredients typically combines multiple technologies to ensure optimal performance,” she details.

“For example, to produce Lipofer iron microcapsules, the iron pyrophosphate is first micronized to reduce the average particle size. Micronization has been shown to increase the bioavailability of various nutrients, in part due to the increased surface area, which allows for greater absorption in the body. The micronized iron pyrophosphate is then encapsulated in protective matrices that aid in the release of iron into the body.” 

Gómez points to another technology developed by Lubrizol Life Science that was used in the NewCaff product line. “This technology allows for a sustained release of caffeine in the body once ingested, allowing for the caffeine to be absorbed slowly. This sustained absorption ensures that the positive effects of caffeine are maintained for several hours while preventing the negative side effects associated with caffeine, such as the caffeine crash.” 

MaGOmega optimizes bioavailability by delivering omega-3s in a monoacylglyceride form (Image credit: Solutex).Omega-3 bioavailability and absorption

Medina says that Solutex’s MaGOmega is specifically designed to “optimize bioavailability by delivering omega-3s in a monoacylglyceride form, a ‘pre-digested’ solution, as opposed to relying on digestive enzymes to break down their triglycerides in the small intestine.”

“Monoacylglycerides are naturally recognized by the body and absorbed directly without requiring lipase activity. This unique form of omega-3s not only ensures faster and more efficient absorption but also acts as an emulsifier thanks to its amphiphilic structure, interacting with both polar substances, such as water and nonpolar substances, like lipids, to facilitate micelle formation,” he continues.

“The result is enhanced absorption and bioavailability, with significant benefits for those with compromised enzymatic systems or malabsorption conditions.”

MaGOmega technology enhances omega-3 absorption over three times better efficacy than typical fish oil supplements, “meaning smaller doses can achieve the same benefits.”

“To further validate these benefits, Solutex is conducting pilot trials in South Korea and the US, generating robust clinical evidence to meet consumers’ increasing demands for transparency, sustainability and efficacy in the supplements they choose.”