Editing Bioavailability (section)

=== In nutritional science ===

In [[nutritional science]], which covers the intake of nutrients and non-drug dietary ingredients, the concept of bioavailability lacks the well-defined standards associated with the pharmaceutical industry. The pharmacological definition cannot apply to these substances because utilization and absorption is a function of the nutritional status and physiological state of the subject,<ref>{{cite journal |pmid=11285351 |year=2001 |last1=Heaney |first1=Robert P. |title=Factors Influencing the Measurement of Bioavailability, Taking Calcium as a Model |volume=131 |issue=4 Suppl |pages=1344–1348S |journal=The Journal of Nutrition |doi=10.1093/jn/131.4.1344S |doi-access=free }}</ref> resulting in even greater differences from individual to individual (inter-individual variation). Therefore, bioavailability for dietary supplements can be defined as the proportion of the administered substance capable of being absorbed and available for use or storage.<ref name="Srinivasan">{{cite journal |pmid=11285352 |year=2001 |last1=Srinivasan |first1=V. Srini |title=Bioavailability of Nutrients: A Practical Approach to In Vitro Demonstration of the Availability of Nutrients in Multivitamin-Mineral Combination Products |volume=131 |issue=4 Suppl |pages=1349–1350S |journal=The Journal of Nutrition |doi=10.1093/jn/131.4.1349S |doi-access=free }}</ref>

In both [[pharmacology]] and nutrition sciences, bioavailability is measured by calculating the [[Area under the curve (pharmacokinetics)|area under curve]] (AUC) of the drug concentration time profile.