Sustains Higher of Vitamin C Levels in the Body

Introduction

The study aimed to compare the concentrations of ascorbate (vitamin C) in plasma and white blood cells (WBCs) after oral administration of liposomal vitamin C versus traditional vitamin C in powder form. It also analyzed the effect of hydrocortisone on ascorbate intake by cells.

Key Findings

1. Vitamin C and Immune Function: Vitamin C is crucial for immunity, protecting immune cells against oxidative stress. It enhances antibody production, improves macrophage function, increases interferon production, and promotes the maturation of T-cells and B-lymphocytes.

2. Liposomal Vitamin C vs. Traditional Vitamin C: The study found that liposomal vitamin C results in longer retention of ascorbate in blood compared to non-encapsulated forms. It also showed faster intake by cells and a 50% larger area under the curve (AUC) for liposomal formulation.

3. Effect of Hydrocortisone: Hydrocortisone, when administered with vitamin C supplementation, increased the transport of ascorbate into white blood cells, resulting in higher intracellular ascorbic acid concentrations.

Study Design

The study involved five subjects and followed a rigorous protocol, including a washout period, different supplementation phases, and blood sample analysis for ascorbate concentrations.

Results

• Plasma Vitamin C: Maximum concentration of ascorbate in plasma was achieved 2 hours after intake of non-encapsulated ascorbate and 4 hours for liposomal ascorbate.
• White Blood Cells: Liposomal supplementation led to a faster and higher increase in ascorbate levels in WBCs compared to non-encapsulated forms.
• Hydrocortisone's Impact: Hydrocortisone significantly enhanced the uptake of ascorbate by cells, both for liposomal and non-encapsulated forms.

Conclusion

The study supports the benefits of liposomal vitamin C in terms of better retention and faster cellular uptake compared to non-encapsulated forms. Additionally, hydrocortisone appears to enhance the effectiveness of vitamin C supplementation.

Nina Mikirova¹; Tom Levy²; Ronald Hunninghake¹. "The Levels of Ascorbic Acid in Blood and Mononuclear Blood Cells after Oral Liposome-Encapsulated and Oral Non-Encapsulated Vitamin C Supplementation Taken Without and With IV Hydrocortisone." International Society for Orthomolecular Medicine, [Year], https://isom.ca/article/the-levels-of-ascorbic-acid-in-blood-and-mononuclear-blood-cells-after-oral-liposome-encapsulated-and-oral-non-encapsulated-vitamin-c-supplementation-taken-without-and-with-iv-hydrocortisone/