• Immune System: Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Iron (Fe) and Selenium (Se)
  
• Energy Production:Magnesium (Mg), Phosphorus (P) and Manganese (Mn)
  
• Hormone System:Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Magnesium (Mg) and Potassium (K)
  
• Vitamin Production: Cobalt (Co)
  
• Blood Production: Copper (Cu) and Iron (Fe)
  
• Enzyme Systems: Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Potassium (K), Manganese (Mn), Magnesium (Mg), Iron (Fe), Calcium (Ca) and Molybdenum (Mo)
  
• Skeletal System:Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Zinc (Zn), Manganese (Mn), Boron (B) and Phosphorus (P)

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Bioavailability is the measure of the amount of an ingested nutrient that is absorbed and made available to the body for metabolic use. Bioavailability is important because nutritional intake must be available to various body systems for growth, maintenance of body tissues, reproduction and other performance factors. No matter how high the nutrient levels or how well formulated the product, if the nutrient is not bioavailable for use by body tissue, then money and effort have been wasted.

 

 

Because the body is very efficient at absorbing individual amino acids, it allows a mineral chelated to an amino acid to be carried along with its amino acid ligand into the intestinal cell during absorption. Clinical studies have shown that the intestinal absorption pathway of an amino acid chelate is different than minerals from inorganic metal salts. As the amino acid chelate approaches the intestinal wall, it remains the same molecule that was ingested. The chelate does not require digestion prior to absorption due to size. The glycine amino acid chelate for example is stable and does not become disassociated in the stomach.

On the intestinal wall are finger-like projections called villi. The villi increase the surface area for the amino acid chelate to be absorbed. On each villus are microvilli. It is through the membranes of the cell walls of the microvilli that the amino acid chelate is absorbed. Once inside the cells, the components of the chelate are used by the body as any mineral and amino acid would be after absorption. Chelating with ligands like glycine to form a glycine amino acid chelate makes more of the ingested minerals available for metabolic purposes (growth, reproduction, immunity, etc.) compared to other inorganic and organic mineral forms (metal proteinates or amino acid complexes).

Numerous clinical studies have proven that Albion's metal amino acid chelates are better absorbed than inorganic minerals, metal proteinates, or amino acid complexes. In fact the absorption pathway of a metal proteinate is unknown. Amino acid complexes are hydrolyzed in the stomach and intestine and the minerals absorbed similarly to inorganic metal salts.

Simply mixing inorganic minerals with amino acids in a liquid or dry mixture does not allow chelation to occur. Simple ionic and hydrogen bonding of minerals to amino acids does not produce a stable product. Minerals and amino acids must be processed according to a specific formula in order to create a stable (coordinate covalent) bond which is important for greater bioavailability. Albion's patented processes assure that this bond is formed Many products on the market are reported to be chelates. Some of these products are only complexed mixtures of minerals and proteins and cannot be identified as true amino acid chelates. These complexed mixtures lose stability during digestion, compromising the availability of the mineral nutrient. When looking for available minerals, look for Albion chelates. We guarantee purity and stability.

 

 

What are mineral antagonisms? 

A mineral wheel illustrates the interferences to absorption that exist between certain minerals. The arrowheads point toward the ionic minerals that are suppressed in intestinal absorption by the presence of the ionic forms of the mineral at the opposite end of the line. Double and opposing arrowheads on the same line show a mutual suppression between elements. Mineral antagonisms cause imbalances of some minerals in relation to others that cause problems with mineral utilization. This interference is called "mineral antagonism."

 

Through years of extensive research, clinical analysis, third party critiques and careful laboratory manufacturing, only Albion can produce this highly effective and bioavailable mineral form. Albion’s patented process assures the customer they are getting a unique product in the market place that closely duplicates the natural chelation process which occurs in the body.

Albion’s science turns inorganic mineral into very small individual organic mineral molecules which are neutral and therefore highly bioavailable and effective.

Size:
Picture in your mind the fuel filter on your car engine. The filter allows fuel to pass through but holds back large particles from entering the engine. The same idea applies to the absorption of minerals from the intestine to the blood stream. Large particles cannot easily pass through the intestinal wall. Many mineral products on the market have molecular weights too large to be absorbed intact. Through patented technology, Albion produces chelated minerals with molecular weights small enough to easily pass through the intestinal wall. The Albion chelate is similar to that which the body itself produces by natural chelation.

Neutrality:
The process of chelation results in the final mineral compound becoming neutral, i.e., containing no electrical charge. This is important because electrically charged mineral compounds can interact with other dietary components such as phytates and other oppositely charged molecules, and from substances that are not absorbable. In addition, charged mineral compounds are reactive and can deactivate other important nutrient factors, such as vitamin E, ascorbic acid, various B-vitamins, and certain medications.

Only Albion has been able to demonstrate that its patented technology produces totally reacted, nutritionally functional mineral amino acid chelates and has incorporated many scientific procedures showing the validity of their chelation technology. Numerous clinical studies have been performed over the years by leading universities and independent researchers, demonstrating the superior bioavailability of Albion's chelates. Only Albion has been able to demonstrate the superior bioavailability of the unique chelates formed via Albion's patented processes.

Testing procedures utilizing some of the following determinative methods are part of the proof.

• X-ray Diffraction
  
• Electron Paramagnetic resonance Spectrometry (EPR)
  
• Infrared Spectrometry (IR)
  
• Fourier-Transformed Infrared Spectrometry (FT-IR)