The ability of a drug or other substance to be absorbed and used by the body. Orally bioavailable means that a drug or other substance that is taken by mouth can be absorbed and used by the body
The availability of a nutrient for microbially-mediated degradation or transformation Typically, for a nutrient to be bioavailable, it must (1) be within physical proximity to the cell and (2) be dissolved in the aqueous phase, to be transported across the cell membrane Thus, nutrients that are adsorbed to surfaces or sequestered into micropores that physically exclude cells are generally considered unavailable Bioavailability should not be confused with recalcitrance, although distinguishing the two in the environment can be very difficult
The degree to which toxic substances or other pollutants are present in sediments or elsewhere in the ecosystem to affect or be taken up by organisms Some pollutants might be "bound up" or unavailable because they are attached to clay particles or are buried by sediment The amount of oxygen, pH, temperature, and other conditions in the water can affect availability
Nutritional bioavailability encompasses availablity, absorption, retention and utilization of nutrients Absorption in vivo is a key factor for the nutrient to have the suggested biological significance
A general term to describe the accessibility of contaminants to ecological populations Bioavailability consists of: 1) a physical aspect related to phase distribution and mass transfer, and 2) a physiological aspect related to the suitability of the contaminant as a substrate
The relative ability of nutrients in foods to be properly digested, and absorbed For example, the iron in vegetable foods is less absorbable than the iron in meat foods The bioavailability of iron in vegetables increases when vitamin C is also present, having been consumed during the same meal
The extent and rate of availability of a dose of a chemical substance to body tissues, affected by tissue absorption, body distribution, metabolism, and excretion rates
A test to determine how much metal may be absorbed by the body if ingested (eaten) This helps determine the risk posed by various levels of metals in the soil High levels with low bioavailability may pose less of a risk than lower levels with high bioavailability The source of the metal has a significant effect on its bioavailability
The rate and degree to which a drug is absorbed or otherwise available to the treatment site in the body Product/Service Category: Lab Services: Sub Category: Bioavailability Suggested Reading: Purification of Laboratory Chemicals, Drug Safety Assessment in Clinical Trials Suggested Trade and Journal Publications: American Biotechnology Laboratory, Cell, Drug Discovery & Development, Nature-Biotechnology Pharmaceutical Laboratory