Stephanie Ostrenga, Michigan State University Extension - January 30, 2018 An introduction to understanding the bioavailability of micronutrients. The term bioavailability refers to the proportion or fraction of a nutrient, consumed in the diet, that is absorbed and utilized by the body. According to a micronutrient lecture by Dr. Suzanne Cole at the University of Michigan, bioavailability is influenced by several factors including diet, nutrient concentration, nutritional status, health, and life-stage. Diet-related factors affecting foods include the structure of food, the chemical form of a particular nutrient, interactions between various nutrients and foods, and the processing or treatment of a particular food.What does this mean? One example of food structure influencing bioavailability or the utilization of nutrients is with plant foods. The rigid cell wall of plant cells can make the nutrients in plants less bioavailable or usable when eaten. Health or life-stage similarly affe...
