The Bioavailability of Biomineral Compounds: Nutritional and Pharmacological Significance

Gabriela Daranyi1, Mirela Vincu2, Zeno Garban2, Adina Avacovici2, Camelia Clep2, Petru Velciov2, Alexandru Rinovetz2, and Codrut Selaru2

1 Institute of Public Health and Medical Research Timisoara, Timisoara; Romania
2 Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Food Products Technology, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Timisoara; Romania

Corresponding author: Gabriela Daranyi
    Institute of Public Health and Medical Research Timisoara
    Blvd. Dr. V. Babes Nr. 16-18
    RO-1900 Timisoara, Romania
    Telephone: (+40) 56 211 248
    Fax number: (+40) 92 395 860
    E-mails: zgarban@mail.dnttm.ro or doctor@cfitness.dnttm.ro

CEJOEM 2000, Vol.6. No.2-3.:156-160

Key words:
Bioavailability, biominerals, nutritional effects, pharmacological effects

Abstract:
In its present day interpretation, bioavailability as a concept is frequently used in basic and applied nutrition science and pharmacology. Experimental studies of bioavailability deal with absorption and kinetics as a function of concentration or dose. Its applied aspects are, in the field of nutrition, essential nutritive factors and chemical food contaminants, etc., and in pharmacological aspects, drug products with various uses. The study of bioavailability concerning mineral micronutrients was step by step extended from laboratory experiments to nutrition research and clinical pharmacology. Epidemiology (of e.g., nutritional deficiencies or endocrine diseases) also contributed to this development. At present, the bioavailability of mineral micronutrients is studied on the base of the source biochemicals (organic salts and complexes) and under consideration of numerous intrinsic and extrinsic variables. The intrinsic variables are absorption mechanisms and metabolic processes together with their mutual interactions. Solubility and the dimension of molecules, and chemical synergistic or antagonistic effects are considered as extrinsic variables.

Received:   31 July 2000
Accepted:  14  December 2000
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