Spotlight on technology “revolutionizing” bioavailability and enhancing supplement efficacy

Amid growing consumer scrutiny of supplement performance, nutrition experts highlight how advanced delivery systems and complex formulations can enhance efficacy by improving ingredients’ bioavailability.

Nutrition Insight continues discussing supplement efficacy focused on technology advances, microencapsulation and AI-powered solutions with Lubrizol Life Science, Kaneka Nutrients and Solutex. 

“Brands are highlighting better absorption properties in their on-pack marketing communications or including scientifically backed branded ingredients with proven data on improved absorption,” says Isabel Gómez, global marketing manager of Nutraceuticals at Lubrizol Life Science.

“This fosters an environment of transparency and education, ensuring that nutraceutical products not only meet but exceed consumer expectations for quality and efficacy and solidifying their trust and credibility in an increasingly informed marketplace.”

Filip Van hulle, general manager at Kaneka Nutrients Europe, highlights that food supplement manufacturers will be better equipped to address the demands of an increasingly sophisticated consumer base as science expands its understanding of how key factors, such as age, health conditions, genetics and dietary habits, impact active ingredients’ uptake and efficacy. 

“This knowledge may inform the development of tailored solutions that enhance bioavailability and overall product effectiveness, ensuring that consumer needs are met in an evolving marketplace,” says Van hulle.  

Challenges and opportunities

Van hulle emphasizes that innovation in supplement technology is revolutionizing bioavailability. 

“Firstly, through sophisticated oral dosage forms that ensure the optimal release of active ingredients at points within the body where absorption is most effective. Secondly, through advanced delivery systems or stabilized ingredients that facilitate the protection and delivery of active ingredients, thereby resulting in higher absorption rates and increased bioavailability.”  

He adds that Kaneka Ubiquinol, the company’s flagship antioxidant ingredient obtained through fermentation, performs with equal bioavailability in different dosage forms. Research supports the benefits of these ingredients in alleviating menopause symptoms, fertility, healthy aging and sports nutrition. 

At the same time, Van hulle cautions that the regulatory approval process for these technologies can be slow and may raise concerns among consumers who favor natural products. 

“Furthermore, access to the mass market may be difficult, particularly since such innovations typically come at a premium price point.”  

Van hulle says that sophisticated oral dosage forms can ensure the optimal release of active ingredients where absorption is most effective.Technology advances

Alan Connolly, global R&D manager of Nutraceuticals at Lubrizol Life Science, spotlights micronization as a key technology for ensuring maximum absorption of some nutraceutical ingredients, such as minerals. 

“It increases the bioavailability of the mineral by increasing the surface area, which allows for greater absorption into the body. Microencapsulation technologies are then applied to the micronized mineral.” 

He explains: “This protects the mineral from the environment and prevents interaction with other sensitive ingredients. This ensures that the active ingredient remains intact and is released at the optimal site in the body.”

Moreover, Connolly says that applying microencapsulation to active ingredients ensures better control of their release, thus enhancing functionality within a nutraceutical product. 

“In addition, it ensures that once ingested by the consumer, they are gradually and gently absorbed at the desired time and place, increasing absorption and significantly minimizing gastrointestinal side effects.”

AI-powered bioavailability

Looking at the future, Gómez from Lubrizol Life Science expects AI to enter the market space to support nutrient bioavailability and precision nutrition. 

“For example, using AI to pool data from knowledge bases, patents and previous bioavailability technologies will accelerate the creation of new delivery systems and help break down remaining bioavailability barriers to deliver health benefits more efficiently and safely.” 

Gómez says the technology can advance understanding and prevent potential ingredient interactions that may inhibit ingredient absorption in a nutraceutical composition.

“In addition, AI and technology advances can guide consumers toward more personalized supplement choices, such as providing customized recommendations for an individual’s unique absorption potential across a range of nutrients and delivery platforms based on their metabolic responses,” she adds. 

AI and technology advances can guide consumers toward more personalized supplement choices, according to Gómez.From efficacy to convenience

Rubén Medina, chief commercial officer at Solutex, says technology is pivotal in overcoming bioavailability challenges in omega-3 supplementation. “Enhancing the absorption and bioavailability is, alongside convenience, key to making supplements more appealing to consumers.”

He details several examples of technologies to achieve this, such as converting ethyl esters into reconstituted triglycerides, which closely mimic the natural form of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), developing PUFA-containing emulsions, creating micro- or nano-encapsulations and obtaining PUFAs in phospholipid form.

However, Medina says these methods “aren’t always the most effective.” Instead, Solutex uses a proprietary technology to manufacture its MaGOmega ingredients with superior absorption and user convenience. 

This technology utilizes controlled enzymatic reactions — an effective method for producing ingredients with high monoacylglyceride concentrations of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. 

“As the only company licensed to employ this technique, we leverage this proprietary process to deliver superior results, such as higher efficacy solutions in smaller dosages,” says Medina. 

In addition, he says that consumers are “increasingly seeking supplements that combine efficacy with convenience — easy to swallow, pleasant-tasting, and simple to incorporate into daily routines.” 

“This is significantly influencing the supplementation market, with manufacturers now putting greater focus on developing supplement formats that appeal to consumer demands,” adds Medina. 

With additional reporting by Milana Nikolova