What are the Benefits of Liposomal Supplements?
What is Liposomal Encapsulation?
The liposomal form of a supplement or medication is one that uses liposomal encapsulation technology (LET) to increase its bioavailability. LET involves encapsulating the active ingredient in a hollow, microscopic sphere made up of two phospholipid bilayers. This is why liposomes remain sealed when immersed in water, allowing them to function as “delivery vehicles” for beneficial substances in the body.
Benefits of Liposomal Supplements
Liposomal supplements have numerous advantages over their conventional counterparts. Encapsulating an ingredient in liposomes may improve its absorption, allow for targeted delivery, and improve the supplement’s stability and shelf life.
Enhanced Absorption
One of the primary benefits of liposomal delivery is the fact that the liposome’s phospholipid layers shield the substance inside against stomach acid. This allows them to reach the small intestine as minimally altered, which is where many supplements are most effectively absorbed. Without the liposome’s protection, these supplements are likely to be dissolved or, at best, degraded by the harsh and highly acidic environment of the stomach.
Targeted Delivery
Liposomal encapsulation allows for highly targeted delivery of supplements to specific types of tissues and cells (such as the small intestine, as mentioned above). In other words, the vitamin or other beneficial substance is delivered to exactly where it needs to be. This is significant since it ensures that those taking the supplement will get the maximum benefit from it.
Improved Shelf Life
Many liposomal supplements have a longer shelf life than conventional supplements due to their encapsulating nutrients and other substances being in a phospholipid bilayer, which helps to reduce their exposure to air, light, and heat - all of which can cause the ingredients to lose their strength over time. This is especially important for supplements that are prone to breakdown via oxidation, such as vitamin C, which is known for being especially unstable.
Impact on Nutrient Bioavailability Through Digestion
The term “bioavailability” refers to the amount of a substance or nutrient that the body can absorb into the bloodstream. As previously described, liposomal supplements are more bioavailable because they are protected from damage during the digestive process and can reach the small intestine mostly unaltered, where they are then absorbed into the bloodstream.
Reduced Side Effects
Another benefit of liposomal supplements is the fact that they tend to have fewer side effects than their non-liposomal equivalents. This is due to the fact that encapsulating a supplement in liposomes increases that supplement’s bioavailability and absorption. As a result, it is possible to take a lower dose of the supplement in question to get the same effect that one would with the traditional dosage. The lower dose typically indicates a lower risk of a supplement causing side effects.
Improved Tolerance for Sensitive Stomachs
One of liposomal supplements’ benefits is the fact that they typically cause fewer digestive side effects than traditional supplements. This is since those taking the supplement end up absorbing more of the substance, which means that they are excreting less of the substance in their digestive system. As a result, there ends up being less of the substance present in the intestines that may cause digestive symptoms.
Do Liposomal Supplements Eliminate the Need for Additives?
Because liposomal supplements enhance absorption, allow for targeted delivery, have a longer shelf life, and are gentler on the digestive system, they do indeed eliminate the need for additives such as gelatin, coatings, and binders. (These substances are often used to improve supplements’ absorption and bioavailability, extend their shelf life, and impart other beneficial properties.) Liposomal supplements typically have fewer filler ingredients to which some people may be sensitive or have a negative reaction, which is yet another reason that they may be less likely to cause side effects.
Who Should Not Take Liposomal Vitamins?
Because liposomes themselves are quite safe, there are very few people for whom liposomal vitamins are contraindicated by virtue of being liposomal. The liposomes themselves are made of natural, non-toxic phospholipids such as cholesterol, sometimes coated with polymers of polyethylene glycol (PEG). Only those who are allergic to or cannot tolerate these phospholipids should avoid taking liposomal supplements across the board.
However, as a rule, those who are allergic to or cannot tolerate the side effects of a given vitamin should avoid taking that vitamin, whether or not it is in its liposomal form. Similarly, those taking prescription medications that interact with a particular vitamin supplement should ensure that they do not mix the two, as this can cause potentially serious health effects. This is why it is so important to speak with a doctor before incorporating a new vitamin supplement into your daily routine.
The Best Liposomal Vitamin C Supplement
Vitamin C is perhaps the most popular vitamin supplement that’s available in liposomal form. The best liposomal vitamin C supplement on the market is Body Kitchen’s Vitamin C Shield with Liposomal C.
With 1,000 mg of vitamin C per easy two-capsule serving, Body Kitchen’s Vitamin C Shield may protect against daily exposure to stressors and illnesses that can cause harm and weaken immune response. Each serving may help to boost immunity to reduce one’s chances of getting sick. Vitamin C has also been demonstrated to support the body’s ability to eliminate free radicals, which are harmful compounds that can contribute to the development of serious and even deadly illnesses. And for those concerned about skin health in particular, this supplement can also improve skin moisture, especially when taken in combination with any of Body Kitchen’s potent collagen supplements. Reviewers also comment that this supplement causes little to no stomach upset thanks to its high degree of bioavailability, along with the lack of added fillers that may cause digestive issues and other side effects.
The vitamin C in Body Kitchen’s supplement is in the high-quality form of non-GMO Liposomal PureWay-C. When compared with other sources of vitamin C, this liposomal form has been shown to have 120 percent improved absorption. Liposomal encapsulation technology protects vitamin C from oxidation in the body and improves the potency of the supplement, thereby increasing its health benefits. According to research conducted at the University of Miami and Adelphi University, this form of vitamin C also increases fibroblast wound healing by 40 percent, leads to 12 times more efficient neuron growth, and has 12 percent higher antioxidants than ascorbic acid (which is a much more common and less bioavailable form of vitamin C).
Talk with a Doctor Before Beginning a New Supplement
Liposomal vitamin C is generally considered to be safe when taken as directed. However, there are certain groups that should avoid taking vitamin C supplements, whether in the liposomal or conventional forms. For instance, those with blood disorders such as sickle cell disease, hemochromatosis, or thalassemia are advised not to take vitamin C supplements. Similarly, those with diabetes should be aware that vitamin C can increase blood sugar levels.
To ensure that a liposomal vitamin C supplement such as Body Kitchen’s Vitamin C Shield is an appropriate and safe choice for your specific medical situation, make sure to discuss your plans to begin taking it with your doctor, especially if you also take other supplements and/or prescription medications (since vitamin C could potentially interact with and influence the absorption or effects of such drugs).