Dissolution and bioavailability
January 1999

Some labels contain a claim that a product meets a certain level of dissolution or bioavailability or that it is certified for a dissolution standard such as USP. Dissolution is the portion of an ingredient, usually expressed as a percentage, that dissolves in the human digestive tract, thereby making it available for absorption in the body.

Bioavailability (absorption) is a measure of the digestibility of a dietary supplement into the bloodstream. The combined effect of dissolution and absorption determines how much of a consumed ingredient ends up in the bloodstream.

Bioavailability is important because it indicates the degree to which consumption of a substance affects the level (status) of that substance in your body. A substance with poor bioavailability could have little or no impact and therefore provide no benefit.