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title: "2.2.1. Enhancers of nutrient bioavailability"
canonical: "https://wiki.groenkennisnet.nl/space/CPC/11993291/2.2.1.%20Enhancers%20of%20nutrient%20bioavailability"
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Nutrients can interact with each other or with other dietary components in the body, thereby influencing their bioavailability. Enhancers of bioavailability can act in different ways, such as keeping a nutrient well soluble or protecting it from interaction with inhibitors. For example, adding small quantities of fat or oil to the meal improves the bioavailability of the fat-soluble carotenoids and tocopherols.

Vitamin C is a strong enhancer of iron bioavailability, being able to increase iron absorption two to three-fold (Teucher *et al.* 2004). This means, for example, having a glass of orange juice with a bowl of breakfast cereals helps the body to absorb more of the iron present in the cereals (EUFIC).



> ℹ️ #### References
> ℹ️ 
> ℹ️ European Food Information Council. (n.d.). Nutrient bioavailability: Getting the most out of food: (EUFIC). Retrieved from [https://www.eufic.org/en/food-today/article/nutrient-bioavailability-getting-the-most-out-of-food](https://www.eufic.org/en/food-today/article/nutrient-bioavailability-getting-the-most-out-of-food)
> ℹ️ 
> ℹ️ Teucher B, Olivares M, Cori H. 2004. Enhancers of iron absorption: Ascorbic acid and other organic acids. International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research 74: 403–419. DOI: 10.1024/0300-9831.74.6.403.