The Science of Absorption
Most supplements rely on forms your body can barely use. Published research shows that molecular form, elemental load, and gut transport kinetics — not label dose — determine how much of an ingredient actually reaches your cells.
Foundational Concepts
Mineral supplements are sold as chemical salts. The milligrams on the label measure the salt — not the element, and not what your body absorbs. A plain-language guide to elemental density, gut absorption, and why the same number can mean very different things.
Does '500 mg of magnesium' on the label mean you absorb 500 mg of magnesium?
Read guide →BioavailabilityBioavailabilityBioavailability is the fraction of a supplement that actually reaches your bloodstream. It varies up to 90x across forms — and no label is required to tell you the number.
What does 'bioavailability' mean for a supplement, and why does it matter?
Read guide →AbsorptionAbsorption in the GutThree barriers in your gut determine whether a supplement reaches your blood. Form-specific dissolution, transporter access, and gut pH can each reduce absorption to near zero.
Why do some supplement forms absorb well in the gut while others pass through largely unabsorbed?
Read guide →DosingThe Dosing ProblemMost supplement labels carry a single dose for every adult on Earth. Decades of pharmacokinetic research show that the same supplement, at the same dose, can produce blood levels that differ by a factor of ten or more between individuals. A plain-language guide to why one-size-fits-all dosing fails — and what the research says about the variables that matter.
Is the dose on a supplement label right for everyone?
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