Within the evolving field of dietary supplements, updated formulations of established products are frequently introduced, each claiming enhanced advantages. Liposomal supplements are one of these subjects that people are interested in. It makes us wonder what they are and how they are different from regular supplements.
Read on to find out more about Liposomal Supplements.
What Are Liposomal Supplements?
Liposomal supplements use cutting-edge nutrition delivery methods, like tiny lipid vesicles called liposomes, to wrap up vitamins and plant extracts. The body knows these vesicles right away since they are formed of the same fatty material as our cell membranes.
The main benefit is protection: when you take a regular supplement, stomach acid and digestive enzymes can break it down before it gets absorbed. Liposomes act as a protective barrier, making nutrients more stable as they go through the digestive system and making it easier for them to get into the bloodstream.
Liposomes may also merge directly with cell membranes because their structure is so close to that of our own cells. This would release the nutrition just where it is needed.
For decades, this technology has been used in medicine, especially to give people medications and vaccines. Now, it's making its way into nutrition, where it promises to help with absorption and possibly give more advantages from smaller amounts.
Do They Absorb Better?
The main claim about liposomal supplements is that they may help with absorption, or bioavailability. An increasing amount of scientific research is looking into how liposomal supplements absorb different chemicals.
A recent study found that liposomal multivitamins improve absorption and utilization of nutrients like calcium, iron, and vitamins A, C, and E compared to standard multivitamins in healthy individuals. Putting vitamins within liposomes may make them more stable throughout digestion, which could make them more available to the body. The results are promising, but it's crucial to remember that the study only looked at short-term effects (1).
The most relevant study has demonstrated that liposomal encapsulation improves vitamin C absorption and cellular uptake, providing a more effective supplementation method compared to traditional oral vitamin C (2).
A study from 2024 looked at liposomal ashwagandha in healthy young individuals to determine if it may make them feel better and improve their brain performance. Participants received 225 mg of ashwagandha or a placebo, administered as a single dosage and every day for 30 days.
The results were good: people who took ashwagandha did better on tests of memory and concentration, had faster reaction times, and said they felt less stressed and tired. After one dose and after a month of daily use, there were improvements. This indicates that liposomal ashwagandha may enhance focus, memory, and general mood, even in individuals without stress or cognitive deterioration (3).
Researchers have looked at other nutrients besides vitamin C. The body's "master antioxidant," glutathione (GSH), is not easily absorbed via the mouth because it breaks down in the digestive tract. Initial research on liposomal glutathione has yielded encouraging outcomes, indicating that this delivery system can successfully elevate glutathione concentrations in the body. This preliminary study provides initial evidence indicating that oral administration of liposomal GSH in humans may lead to increased body reserves of GSH (4).
Research indicates that liposomal curcumin, derived from turmeric, exhibits superior absorption compared to standard curcumin extracts, which often possess limited bioavailability. Curcumin was mixed with certain substances that were meant to make it more soluble and stable, which made it easier for the body to absorb (5).
Augment Life offers a wide range of supplements. More information about some of them can be found here:
Is it science or just hype?
Liposomal technology is based on solid scientific principles. Here is a list of the main benefits and reasons why liposomal technology is important:
- Better delivery of drugs and nutrients,
- Release that is controlled and aimed,
- Less harmful,
- Flexibility,
- Wide-ranging uses (6).
The research offers a solid theoretical basis for supplement delivery. However, transitioning from pharmaceutical research to the supplement industry presents certain challenges.
The production of liposomal supplements is a precise process, and it is important to note that their quality and effectiveness can vary significantly between different manufacturers (7).
The type of phospholipids utilized, the size and regularity of the liposomes, the encapsulation effectiveness (how much of the nutrient is actually inside the liposome), and the stability of the formulation during storage and digestion are all very important.
Clinical investigations have shown that some nutrients, such as vitamin C and glutathione, are more bioavailable in liposomal form (2,4). However, not all nutrients have been tested in the same way.
Additionally, liposomal supplements are usually more expensive than regular ones. If the absorption and effectiveness improve a lot, then this higher cost is worth it. But if the gains are small or not established, then it becomes a problem.
Who Will Benefit the Most?
Liposomal supplements can help the body absorb nutrients better, but not everyone needs them. Most healthy people do well with traditional forms of supplements, which are cheap and work well.
Liposomal delivery might be especially useful for:
- People who need bigger doses to get the desired effects
- Nutrients that are not easily absorbed by the body
- People who have stomach problems
- Anyone who wants a better way to provide nutrients for their body.
Consulting a health professional prior to modifying supplement intake is recommended. Liposomal formulations may offer benefits in specific situations, though their effectiveness varies among individuals.
Conclusion
Liposomes protect nutrients from breaking down and help the body absorb them better. This strategy is good for people who need more or harder-to-absorb nutrients, as well as for Vitamin C, glutathione, and people who have trouble digesting food.
But the ingredients and properties of liposomal products can be different. The quality of a product depends on its formulation, stability, and testing, so it's important to choose brands that are well-known and provide clear information. They can work for some people, but not everyone needs them.
When buying liposomal supplements, consumers should be well-informed and choose products that are backed by reliable scientific studies and made by trustworthy companies that can show that their formulation is of high quality and bioavailability.
A search on PubMed identifies at least nine scientific publications from the last five years investigating liposomal delivery systems for vitamins and supplements, with a growing number of studies focusing on vitamins such as vitamin C, vitamin D, and curcumin. Preclinical research highlights improved stability and targeted delivery of liposomal compounds, while clinical trials have reported higher plasma concentrations and better physiological effects in some cases.
Further research is necessary to determine whether long-term use of liposomal supplements provides measurable health benefits or improves vitamin levels. For a lot of people, traditional supplements are still trustworthy and cheap. Consulting with a healthcare professional can assist in determining whether liposomal formulations are appropriate for your specific health requirements.
Learn more about the bioavailability of supplements in our previous articles:
- How does our diet influence the bioavailability of supplements?
- Bioavailability of Supplements – Meaning and Importance
Literature sources
- Ko J, Yoo C, Xing D, Gonzalez DE, Jenkins V, Dickerson B, Leonard M, Nottingham K, Kendra J, Sowinski R, Rasmussen CJ, Kreider RB. Pharmacokinetic Analyses of Liposomal and Non-Liposomal Multivitamin/Mineral Formulations. Nutrients. 2023 Jul 7;15(13):3073. doi: 10.3390/nu15133073.
- Purpura M, Jäger R, Godavarthi A, Bhaskarachar D, Tinsley GM. Liposomal delivery enhances absorption of vitamin C into plasma and leukocytes: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial. Eur J Nutr. 2024 Dec;63(8):3037-3046. doi: 10.1007/s00394-024-03487-8.
- Leonard M, Dickerson B, Estes L, Gonzalez DE, Jenkins V, Johnson S, Xing D, Yoo C, Ko J, Purpura M, Jäger R, Faries M, Kephart W, Sowinski R, Rasmussen CJ, Kreider RB. Acute and Repeated Ashwagandha Supplementation Improves Markers of Cognitive Function and Mood. Nutrients. 2024 Jun 8;16(12):1813. doi: 10.3390/nu16121813.
- Sinha, R., Sinha, I., Calcagnotto, A. et al. Oral supplementation with liposomal glutathione elevates body stores of glutathione and markers of immune function. Eur J Clin Nutr 72, 105–111 (2018). https://www.nature.com/articles/ejcn2017132
- Jäger, R., Lowery, R.P., Calvanese, A.V. et al. Comparative absorption of curcumin formulations. Nutr J 13, 11 (2014). https://nutritionj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1475-2891-13-11
- Shade CW. Liposomes as Advanced Delivery Systems for Nutraceuticals. Integr Med (Encinitas). 2016 Mar;15(1):33-6. PMID: 27053934; PMCID: PMC4818067.
- Akbarzadeh, A., Rezaei-Sadabady, R., Davaran, S. et al. Liposome: classification, preparation, and applications. Nanoscale Res Lett 8, 102 (2013). https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/1556-276X-8-102#citeas
