Objective: To estimate the micronutrient (riboflavin, folate, vitamin C, vitamin B₁₂, iron, zinc and copper) bioavailability in healthy adults from a multi-micronutrient dietary supplement to assess the possible influence on it by the tablet disintegration properties and by the relative intestinal permeability of subject. Methods: The bioavailability of seven micronutrients from a single brand of multi-micronutrient dietary supplement was measured on two separate occasions in the presence of a standardized test meal in 15 healthy adult subjects. Each subject visited the Metabolic Research Unit on four separate randomized occasions for an absorption test. One test measured the intestinal permeability. The other three tests measured the postprandial changes in plasma or serum concentrations after consuming a test meal alone (control:placebo effect), or the test meal with either whole or crushed and powdered dietary supplements. 15 healthy Caucasian adult volunteers, aged 42 ± 14 years. Results: The 12 hour-post-dose AUC for riboflavin, folate and vitamin C (whole and crushed tablet), and that for vitamin B₁₂ (only for the crushed tablet treatment) and iron (only for the whole tablet treatment) were all significantly (p < 0.001) higher than after a test meal alone. In contrast there was no significant increase in the AUC after supplement intake for zinc and copper. Neither the form of the supplement for all micronutrients tested nor intestinal permeability of the subject for riboflavin, folate, vitamin C, iron, zinc and copper influenced the postdose nutrient AUC. In contrast, for vitamin B₁₂ the intestinal permeability of the subject influenced significantly the nutrient AUC (p = 0.003). Conclusion: Tablet disintegration characteristics of this dietary supplement did not limit absorption of these seven micronutrients. The intestinal permeability of subject was only positively correlated with the B₁₂ bioavailability. Results are suggestive of using multi-micronutrients dietary supplements as a vehicle to decrease the prevalence of multiple micronutrient deficiencies overall for vitamins in healthy adults.

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