What characteristic of curcumin dictates that it is not easily absorbed into the bloodstream?
Answer
Relatively low bioavailability
The difficulty in achieving measurable health impacts from dietary turmeric consumption relates directly to its low bioavailability. This term describes the proportion of an administered substance that successfully enters the systemic circulation and is therefore available at the site of action. For curcumin, the body struggles to absorb it effectively into the bloodstream from the digestive tract, meaning that only a small fraction of the ingested amount reaches the tissues where it could exert its systemic anti-inflammatory or antioxidant effects. This limitation is a crucial factor when determining appropriate intake methods, often necessitating strategies to enhance absorption.
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