Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2008 Apr;19(2):73-82.
doi: 10.1016/j.copbio.2008.03.003. Epub 2008 Apr 9.

Nutrients and phytochemicals: from bioavailability to bioefficacy beyond antioxidants

Birgit Holst  1 , Gary Williamson
Affiliations
Review

Nutrients and phytochemicals: from bioavailability to bioefficacy beyond antioxidants

Birgit Holst et al. Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2008 Apr.

Abstract

The effect of any dietary compound is influenced by the active bioavailable dose rather than the dose ingested. Depending on the individual predisposition, including genetics and medication, a bioavailable dose may cause different magnitudes of effects in different people. Age might affect the predisposition and thus the requirements for nutrients including phytonutrients (e.g. phytochemicals such as flavonoids, phenolic acids and glucosinolates). These are not essential for growth and development but to maintain body functions and health throughout the adult and later phases of life; they are 'lifespan essentials'. Major mechanisms involved in chronic, age-related diseases include the oxidant/antioxidant balance, but the latest research indicates indirect effects of dietary bioactives in vivo and adaptive responses in addition to direct radical scavenging.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

LinkOut - more resources