Within the medical community, there is a general consensus that taking micronutrients daily is vital for long-term health. This is because dietary supplementation affords numerous benefits that include [1]:
- Proper immune responses
- Optimal physical and cognitive health
- Healthy cardiovascular, respiratory, and circulatory function
Micronutrient supplementation also lowers the risk of experiencing health problems due to nutrient deficiencies. Therefore, a daily supply of essential vitamins such as A, B, C, D, and E is highly recommended [1]. To date, vitamin C is one of the most well-known nutrients due to its antioxidant properties as well as its ability to target oxidative stress, abnormal inflammatory responses, and cognitive issues, among many other important aspects of health [2].
However, research indicates that the absorption of micronutrients, including vitamin C, and how quickly they enter the bloodstream varies dramatically when they are consumed through food or traditional dietary supplements [2]. Furthermore, digestive enzymes and stomach acids generally degrade substantial amounts of nutrients as they pass through the intestinal tract—a process that decreases their bioavailability. Nutrient bioavailability is described as the concentration of an ingested nutrient that reaches the bloodstream as well as the time it takes for absorption to occur.
Fortunately, research shows that oral supplementation with nutrients, including vitamin C, that are encapsulated in liposomes leads to higher concentrations of vitamin C in the bloodstream than unencapsulated vitamin C supplements [2].
A liposome is a sphere-shaped transporter that encases nutrients inside a protective layer. Nutrients that are enclosed within liposomes bypass rapid digestion in the gut. This enhances nutrient absorption and bloodstream transport. It also means that formulating dietary supplements with liposomes efficiently heightens the bioavailability of micronutrients (e.g., vitamin C).
Liposomes Offer Substantial Nutrient Delivery Enhancement
Although there are several micronutrients that are essential for optimal health, clinical evidence demonstrates that liposome-infused vitamin C is particularly beneficial at [2-4]:
- Reinforcing pathways that bolster cardiovascular function
- Enhancing the structure and function of cells throughout the body
- Targeting tissue damage linked to injuries, oxidative stress, and unhealthy inflammation levels
Oral vitamin C supplementation is usually less efficient than liposome-infused vitamin C administration due to the inferior nature of vitamin C bioavailability. More specifically, oral vitamin C is poorly absorbed by the intestines and this allows large amounts to be excreted, even when high servings are consumed [2, 5].
Conversely, when dietary supplements such as vitamin C are encapsulated within liposomes, this delivery technology dramatically improves nutrient delivery [2-4].
This benefit is linked to the structural similarities between liposomes and cell membranes—the protective outer layer of human cells. The body recognizes the biological similarity and this gives liposomes the advantage of being able to quickly pass through the intestinal tract, releasing higher concentrations of nutrients into the bloodstream shortly after consumption. This is in opposition to the extended amount of time it takes the digestive tract to process unencapsulated vitamins—oftentimes causing excessive amounts to simply be excreted.
Therefore, the slow or poor absorption of oral vitamins, particularly vitamin C, is accelerated when micronutrients are encapsulated within a liposome. Quicker delivery and enhanced absorption equal more noticeable, long-term health benefits.
Haroutine offers an exclusive line of supplement products designed with liposome-infused nutrients, including vitamin C—a powerful, clinically proven antioxidant with exceptional versatility.
References
- Marra MV, Bailey RL. Position of the academy of nutrition and dietetics micronutrient supplementation. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2018 Nov;118(11):2162-2173.
- Davis JL, Paris HL, Beals JW, et al. Liposomal-encapsulated Ascorbic Acid: Influence on Vitamin C Bioavailability and Capacity to Protect Against Ischemia–Reperfusion Injury. Nutr Metab Insights. 2016;9:25-30.
- Kraft JC, Freeling JP, Wang Z, Ho RJ. Emerging research and clinical development trends of liposome and lipid nanoparticle drug delivery systems. J Pharm Sci. 2014;103(1):29-52.
- Rogers JA, Anderson KE. The potential of liposomes in oral drug delivery. Crit Rev Ther Drug Carrier Syst. 1998;15(5):421-480.
- Padayatty SJ, Sun H, Wang Y, et al. Vitamin C pharmacokinetics: implications for oral and intravenous use. Ann Intern Med. 2004;140(7):533-537.
