We’ve all been there. You want to feel better, so you go to the store and buy a bunch of vitamins. But when you get home, you learn they contain only a fraction of your body's needs. So, what are liposomal vitamins, and will they help you on your path to better health? In this article, we will explore what liposomal vitamins are, the liposomal benefits they offer, and how they can help you reach your health goals.
Eya Vitamins offers premium liposomal vitamin supplements to help you achieve your health goals. These nutrients are packed with liposomal technology to enhance absorption, so you can feel confident you’re getting the most out of every dose.
What Is a Liposomal Vitamin?
Liposomal vitamins are supplements encased in tiny lipid (fat) bubbles called liposomes. These liposomes protect the vitamins from digestive breakdown, allowing more of the vitamin to intact cells. This encapsulation technology is designed to improve absorption rates, potentially making the vitamins more effective than traditional forms.
The Promise of Liposomal Vitamins
Liposomal vitamins have been hailed as some of the best supplements for delivering vitamins to the body, but do they truly deliver sufficient amounts of vitamins? Liposomal vitamins are manufactured using Liposomal Encapsulation Technology (LET), so we need to look at this technology to understand why these supplements may be very effective within the body.
Understanding Liposomal Encapsulation Technology
Liposomal Encapsulation Technology consists of microscopic healthy fat particles called phospholipids and vitamins. This technology has been used for many years to deliver certain drugs to specific tissues within the body without affecting the other parts.
The Role of Liposomes
At the heart of this technology are liposomes. Liposomes are microscopic bubble-type particles that form a membrane made up of special molecules called phospholipids. Phospholipids are very similar to the membrane surrounding each cell within our body and either allow or hinder the absorption of a nutrient or a compound.
The Birth of Liposomal Vitamins
Researchers discovered many years ago that these liposomes could be filled with therapeutic agents and nutrients. The liposome's membrane would hold in the nutrient and not release it until it reached the bloodstream. This is the basis for the rise in liposomal vitamins.
The Science Behind Liposomal Technology
This incredible technology works because of the natural behavior of phospholipids when they are within a water solution under the right conditions. So if you were to make a solution of vitamin C or vitamin D and mix it with phospholipids, the result would be that the resulting liposome would contain either vitamin C or vitamin D suspended inside the liposome.
The Science Behind Liposomal Technology
Liposome technology protects these vitamins from degradation, for example, as they pass through the harsh environment of stomach acids. Once they pass the intestines into the blood, the nutrients are delivered to the cells because the cell membrane is similar in chemical structure to the liposomes, allowing the nutrients to enter the cells and replenish the body.
The exact mechanism is not fully understood. However, it is thought that because the cell membrane and the liposome resemble closely, the cell membrane cannibalizes the liposome to repair itself, releasing the vitamins.
This dual action of Liposomal encapsulated vitamins makes them more available to the body than traditional methods of capsules, tablets, or sprays.
Numerous scientific articles and white papers support the benefits of liposomal vitamins, which include:
- Higher absorption rates
- Reduced gastric discomfort
- Improved health
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Liposomal Vitamin Supplements vs Traditional Oral Supplements
Liposomal vitamins have been hailed as a breakthrough for supplement delivery, promising consumers higher absorption than regular oral vitamins. For this reason, liposomal vitamins cost significantly more than regular vitamins, costing as much as three times more. Are these supplements worth the extra cost? Do they deliver more potent vitamin punches, or is it all hype?
The Science Behind Liposomal Delivery
Liposomal vitamins are encapsulated in a sphere of phospholipids, the same material that makes up cell membranes. Liposomes are manufactured synthetically from cholesterol and other forms of fat. The idea is that because liposomal vitamins are made of the same material as cell membranes, the vitamin can quickly bond with cells and be better absorbed.
Protecting Nutrients from Digestion
The phospholipid sphere protects the enclosed nutrient from getting degraded in the digestive tract, meaning liposomal delivery could benefit those with digestive issues who do not absorb nutrients as readily as others. Given that high-dose vitamin C can cause digestive discomfort and diarrhea, liposomal vitamins could be an attractive option for those who want to take a high dose of C while avoiding those side effects.
Enhanced Nutrient Absorption
Bypassing the digestive system, more efficient delivery can be achieved, meaning a lower dose of the nutrient in liposomal form could be equivalent to a much higher dose of a conventional supplement in tablet or capsule form.
Liposomal delivery is especially advantageous for certain nutrients that are generally not absorbed well and have low bioavailability, like:
- Vitamin C
- Glutathione
- Curcumin
Bioavailability: What Is It and Why Does It Matter?
Bioavailability refers to how well a given material can be absorbed and used by the body. Vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other nutrients all have varying bioavailability in the human body, depending on their source and delivery method.
The Importance of Bioavailability
This concept has become more prevalent in the health and medical communities in recent years because unless your food and supplements are bioavailable, your body is not actually using those nutrients. Unfortunately, you might be wasting your money.
Fat-Soluble Vitamins and Bioavailability
Take vitamins A, D, E, and K as an easy example of bioavailability. These vitamins are fat-soluble, meaning they are utilized and absorbed by the body in combination with fats and are commonly found in foods with higher fat content. If you supplement with these vitamins, they will often be encapsulated in oil for better absorption and bioavailability, and they are even more effective when taken with a fat source, such as coconut oil or fried eggs. Their bioavailability is increased in combination with fat. Their bioavailability is decreased in the absence of fat.
So, if you’ve taken any of these fat-soluble vitamins on an empty stomach, you might want to reconsider.
How To Increase Vitamin and Supplement Bioavailability
Then the question becomes, how can we ensure that the vitamins and supplements we do take are being used by the body?
There are two main ways to increase vitamin and supplement bioavailability:
- Increase the body’s ability to absorb vitamins and nutrients
-
Increase the bioavailability of the vitamins and nutrients by improving the delivery system.
Route one might involve:
- Improving stomach acid, bile flow, and digestive enzymes for proper breakdown of nutrients
- Healing and sealing tight junctions in the gut that allow nutrients to be absorbed into the bloodstream
-
Balancing microbiome biodiversity so invasive pathogens aren’t stealing nutrients from the body.
Route two involves finding and using the most bioavailable nutrients and supplements.
- With food, this means prioritizing foods that are more bioavailable, often animal foods and easily digestible carbs, like fruits and root vegetables.
- With supplements, this means pairing synergistic vitamins and supplements together (like the fat-soluble vitamins) and separating opposing ones, consuming them with foods that will enhance absorption in the digestive tract.
- Using the most bioavailable formulation of that supplement, such as a liposomal form.
Liposomal Delivery, Absorption, and Assimilation
Liposomes allow whatever is inside them to be more easily absorbed and used by the body on a cellular level. Considering our general nutrient deficiency in modern life—both from our depleted soil and our considerably higher stress levels and daily brain usage—it’s more important than ever to ensure that we are actually absorbing and assimilating the nutrients we need to thrive.
Versatile Absorption Methods
The body can absorb any truly liposomal supplement you take in many ways. If it is encapsulated, it will still be absorbed through the digestive tract, but it can enter the cells without extra processing by the small intestine. A liquid liposomal supplement can be absorbed directly in the mouth, the throat, and anywhere else the supplement comes into contact with the body, even topically.
Benefits for Specific Populations
These liquid liposomal supplements may also be ideal for anyone with difficulty swallowing or digestive issues that block proper absorption. A liposomal supplement is capable of much more targeted delivery and absorption wherever it is most needed in (or on) the body.
Liposomal Vitamins: What Do the Studies Say?
These are the purported benefits of liposomal products; but what do the studies say? The evidence supporting liposomal products is promising. In one study of 11 men and women, researchers found that 4 grams of vitamin C delivered liposomally produced higher circulating concentrations of vitamin C than conventional vitamin C supplements.
The higher bioavailability of vitamin C encapsulated in liposomes was confirmed by a subsequent study in 2018. An article published in Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal states that liposomal vitamins increase intracellular delivery and had higher bioavailability and absorption compared with other oral supplements. A 2019 study found that white blood cells absorbed 50 percent more vitamin C from a liposomal product than a non-liposomal product. Another study found that liposomal vitamin A was more helpful than oral forms for delivering vitamin A directly to bone cells to help with osteoporosis.
However, there is some conflicting evidence. One small study found no better absorption of a 5-gram dose of liposomal vitamin C than non-liposomal vitamin C. However, at larger doses (20g and 36g vitamin C), liposomal vitamin C was better absorbed, leading some to believe that liposomal products are more valuable for larger doses than smaller doses.
The evidence's weight indicates that liposomal vitamins are, indeed, better absorbed. Note that some liposomal products are made with soy lecithin, so those with allergies should carefully read labels to avoid problematic ingredients. 94 percent of soy is genetically modified; we’ve previously reported the dangers of eating genetically modified foods, so consumers may want to avoid soy entirely unless it is organic.
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How Do We Know Which Products Are “True” and Effective Liposomal Vitamins?
Liposomes have been used for decades in drug delivery applications, and their benefits are well-documented. When it comes to liposomal supplements, however, many products take advantage of the absence of a definition for liposomal. The term is loosely used to mean containing fat. Products containing just fat (lipid) and vitamin C mixed can sometimes be called liposomal.
Differences Between Liposome and Liposomal
Instead of the term liposome, the term liposomal needs to be better defined. Many products take advantage of this absence of definition. A liposome is a spherical structure made from a shell formed by phospholipids and surrounded by water. At the center of a liposome is usually a main ingredient, like vitamin C or glutathione, also suspended in water. Liposomal, on the other hand does not mean liposome — these terms are not the same even though they do sound similar. The usual lipid that forms liposomes is a phospholipid.
Phospholipids in Liposomal Technology
Phosphatidylcholine is the most abundant phospholipid and the main building block of cell walls and the main constituent of the outer shell of liposomes. The lipid form that some supplements use is not a phospholipid and can simply be a fatty acid, which is not as effective. Products using fatty acids may be labeled liposomal vitamin C. Still, they might never result in formed liposomes, even when exposed to water, because the vitamin C is simply covalently bound to a fatty acid.
Fat-Soluble Vitamin C Esters and the Liposomal Deception
A perfect example of a product taking advantage of the liposomal term is a type of vitamin C a vitamin C ester. Usually labeled as fat soluble vitamin C, esters like Ascorbyl Palmitate are marketed as a liposomal but will never form an actual liposome.
Here are some important facts about fat soluble Ascorbyl Palmitate:
- Ascorbyl palmitate is not found in nature. It is synthetic, combining palmitate (an ester, fat) with vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid).
- Ascorbyl palmitate is a food preservative used to extend the shelf life of certain foods, medications, and cosmetics.
- Ascorbyl Palmitate is also known as Cetyl Ascorbate (two different names for the same compound) Ascorbyl Palmitate is only 42.5% Vitamin C Products that claim 1600 mg Liposomal Vitamin C
- Using Ascorbyl Palmitate only provides 680 mg of actual vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid). This last point is very important. Because Ascorbyl Palmitate is made by combining vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) with Palmitate (a fat), less than half of it is true vitamin C.
Ascorbyl Oleate is another vitamin C ester similar to the Ascorbyl Palmitate compound, binding Oleate (another fat) to ascorbic acid. Ester forms of vitamin C, like Ascorbyl Palmitate, are easily digested after oral ingestion by enzymes in the small intestine, which cleave the bond immediately, releasing just plain vitamin C (ascorbic acid molecule) and the ester, in this case palmitate, before any absorption can take place.
When this digestion happens, plain vitamin C is released from the ester, and no improved absorption occurs compared to a standard vitamin C supplement. The bioavailability of fat-soluble vitamin C esters is identical to plain vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) alone. The esters used may even have a negative impact, depending on the ingredient itself. Unlike natural vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), Ascorbyl Palmitate may actually be toxic to skin cells damaged by UV exposure, according to one study.
Why Aren’t All Liposomal Supplements Effective?
Liposomal vitamin C is not a hoax, but not all products labeled liposomal vitamin C truly offer the same benefits, especially those selling fat soluble vitamin C esters.
How to Choose the Best Liposomal Vitamin C Supplement
Several brands offer liposomal vitamin C supplements. Which vitamin liposomal vitamin C supplement is the best? Two basic types of liposomal supplements have to do with liposome formation.
- Already formed liposome vitamin C
- Pro-liposome
Pro-Liposomes: A Closer Look
A pro-liposome is chemically bound to vitamin C and contains phospholipids in a manner that will result in liposome formation in the presence of water at body temperature. The simplest way to tell if a product is a formed liposome is if the ingredients include water. If water is in the ingredients, you are likely dealing with formed liposomes. If not, you are looking at a pro-liposome. Ensure that both contain phospholipids like phosphatidylcholine (derived from lecithin).
The Formation of Pro-Liposomes
A pro-liposome has the potential to become a liposome when exposed to water, forcing the phospholipids to immediately congregate by natural hydrophobic forces into a bi-layer as described above. In the form of a pro-liposomal powder, the vitamin C is surrounded (conjugated) by a layer of phospholipids and other fats in a special technical process that can greatly vary in effectiveness.
Liquid Pro-Liposomes and Their Activation
How well this proprietary process of binding the lipids to vitamin C occurs is key because if the lipids and the vitamin C are only mixed (not bound), the formation of liposomes with vitamin C inside will be sporadic at best as the vitamin C can just disperse away separately from the lipids. Liquid pro-liposomes use lipids (fats) and vitamin C. Based on proprietary manufacturing techniques, these lipids will form liposomes around the main ingredient when they are exposed to water and correct temperature conditions, as are found the environment of the small intestine.
The Absorption and Delivery of Liposomal Supplements
The newly formed liposomes can then be absorbed by the intestinal walls, delivered to and processed by the liver, and released into systemic circulation. All liposome formulations (formed liposomes and pro-liposomes) utilize phospholipids, phosphatidylcholine and lecithin as the fatty agent to form liposomes.
What Else to Look For When Choosing Liposomal Vitamin C?
Unfortunately, many vitamin C supplements labeled liposomal cannot hold the lipid ingredient and vitamin C together when exposed to water in the small intestine. Make sure the vitamin C is well-sourced. A good liposomal vitamin C supplement should be non-GMO and preferably use phospholipids derived from sunflower lecithin.
Some customers even insist on knowing that vitamin C's origin is non-Chinese, but this is a personal preference. If this is important to you, then look for Quali-C brand vitamin C sourced and made in Scotland from non-GMO European-origin corn. Obviously, a liposomal vitamin C that also offers a satisfaction guarantee with a full refund is a major plus.
Avoid the Gimmicks When Choosing Liposomal Vitamin C
Avoid the gimmicks and purchase a high-quality liposomal supplement by following these steps: Choose a formed liposomal or a well-made pro-liposomal supplement that contains vitamin C and phospholipids like phosphatidylcholine. Avoid vitamin C esters "lipid soluble" vitamin C like include:
- Ascorbyl palmitate
- Ascorbyl oleate
- Cetyl ascorbate
While most brands use Chinese vitamin C, Quali-C is a brand of vitamin C manufactured in Scotland using non-GMO European-sourced corn. Ensure the supplement is non-GMO and soy, gluten, and dairy-free.
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Improve Your Health Today with Our Premium Liposomal Vitamin Supplements with Free Shipping.
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- Rigorous quality control
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What sets us apart isn't just our superior supplements; we believe health is a holistic journey unique to each individual. You'll have a dedicated registered dietitian as your wellness guide, available whenever you need support whether:
- Seeking nutritional advice
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At Eya Vitamins, we're not just selling supplements but partnering with you on your path to vibrant health. Take your first step towards vibrant health by ordering our premium liposomal vitamin supplements today with free shipping!