Bioaccessibility and associated concepts: Need for a consensus

The definition of the term ‘bioaccessibility' is not clear. In the fields of Nutrition and Food Sciences, the term bioaccessibility was introduced in the context of micronutrients, which can lead to some confusion when applied to macronutrients, the latter requiring hydrolysis (sometimes includ...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Trends in food science & technology 2024-03, Vol.145, p.104373, Article 104373
Main Authors: Grundy, Myriam M.L., Moughan, Paul J., Wilde, Pete J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
absorption
Bioaccessibility
bioavailability
digestibility
Digestion
digestive tract
food matrix
Hydrolysis
Mechanisms
Nutrients
plant-based foods
technology
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Summary:The definition of the term ‘bioaccessibility' is not clear. In the fields of Nutrition and Food Sciences, the term bioaccessibility was introduced in the context of micronutrients, which can lead to some confusion when applied to macronutrients, the latter requiring hydrolysis (sometimes included in the definition of bioaccessibility). In the context of macronutrient digestion, particularly in plant-based food where cell walls play a significant role, it seems coherent to differentiate between the release of nutrients from the food matrix, hydrolysis and absorption. We concluded that the terms bioaccessibility, digestibility and bioavailability have been misused over time and have lost some of their meaning. Therefore, in this study, we suggest a definition for “bioaccessibility” and related vocabulary, as well as a possible classification of the biochemical events occurring during food or feed digestion. It is critical to use precise, specific vocabulary to describe the mechanisms involved while food transits through the different compartments of the gastro-intestinal tract. This goes hand in hand with a recent realisation of the importance of the food matrix, which has an impact on the breakdown of food in the digestive tract and thus on human and animal health. •Different definitions of “Bioaccessibility” are found in the literature.•A clear definition is necessary to understand the set of events occurring during digestion.•Four main scenarios related to “Bioaccessibility” can be identified.•Some definitions are suggested.
ISSN:0924-2244
1879-3053
DOI:10.1016/j.tifs.2024.104373