Question

(a) What is bioavailability and what are three factors that alter bioavailability?

(b) Choose one (1) mineral discussed in course and describe two (2) specific ways the bioavailability is altered for this specific mineral.

Answer 1

Answer (a) : The bioavailability can be defined as the rate and extent to which the absorption of the drug take place directly from its dosage forms. Some of the factors that alter the bioavailability are:

• Absorption
• Food effect
• pH of gastrointestinal tract.
• Bile salt.
• Gastric emptying time.

Answer (b) : One of the minerals that is the calcium and the ways through which the bioavailability of this changes are:

• Presence of the oxalate reduces the calcium absorption.
• Presence of vitamin D increases the bioavailability.