Liposomal Supplements: Bioavailability, Benefits, & More
“You are what you eat” is a common phrase, but it’s not entirely true. “You are what you absorb” is more accurate when it comes to nutrients.
Have you ever taken supplements and thought, “Are these nutrients actually helping my body?” The unfortunate truth is that sometimes, they might not be.
The delivery form of supplements significantly impacts your body’s ability to absorb them.†
Tablets and capsules used to be the only way to take supplements. But these pills are often formulated with fillers and binders. These unnecessary components make it difficult for your body to use the ingredients. In addition, supplements with hard to break down nutrients may not be bioavailable.
As science advances, more is learned about how to make nutrients accessible to your body. Liposomes provide a bioavailable way to deliver certain types of nutrients like antioxidants, phosphatidylcholine, or fatty acids.†
Liposomal delivery systems are an effective way to help get nutrients inside your cells, where they matter most.†
What Are Liposomes?
Liposomes are tiny phospholipid bubbles with a structure similar to human cell membranes. (1) Liposomes were first developed in the 1960s. Liposomal technology works because liposomes are made of the same type of lipids as the body’s cell membranes.
For many nutrients, liposomal delivery can be more effective compared to capsules or tablets.†
When liposomes enter the body, it recognizes them because they resemble your own cell’s structure. This helps increase the absorption of nutrients they transport. Liposomal delivery is an advanced nutrient delivery system that supports the benefits of supplementation.†
Many liposomal formulations derived from soy. Seeking Health’s liposomal supplements are 100% soy-free. We use non-hydrogenated phospholipids derived from GMO-free sunflower oil.
5 Benefits of Liposomal Supplements
Liposomes are a truly innovative choice for getting the nutrients you expect from your supplements.
- Superior delivery form: A liposomal delivery system helps get nutrients to specific areas of the body in a targeted manner. Liposomes escort active ingredients to locations in the body where they can be most efficiently absorbed.†
- Nutrient protection: Liposomes protect nutrients from degrading in the gastrointestinal tract. (2) This can help keep them intact through the stomach until they get to the small intestine or beyond.†
- Reduced side effects: Liposomal delivery decreases the risk of gut irritation. If you have stomach issues or digestive sensitivity, this may be a good option for you.†
- Enhanced absorption: The liposomal method increases bioavailability. This improves the absorption rate.†
- Easy to take: If you have trouble swallowing tablets or if you already take many capsules, liposomal delivery is a simple and easy option.
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Are Liposomal Supplements Safe?
Liposomes have been used in consumable products for decades. (3) There are virtually no known side effects from the liposomes themselves.†
There are also no known serious safety concerns reported or associated with liposomal supplements. Liposomes are biocompatible and non-toxic.
What Nutrients Are Better With Liposomes?
Studies show that liposomes support better digestion and absorption of certain nutrients. (4, 5) Liposomal forms are especially useful when taking antioxidant supplements that otherwise may have lower bioavailability.
Liposomal encapsulation is particularly effective for antioxidant compounds because it increases their bioavailability.† (6)
Antioxidants are a common part of supplement and nutritional therapies because they protect against free radicals. Free radicals trigger oxidative stress when they damage cells.†
Oxidative stress is the enemy of your body’s overall well-being. Oxidative stress has been linked to a variety of health concerns. Research confirms that consuming adequate amounts of antioxidants from food and supplements has many health benefits.†
Certain nutrients that support antioxidant activity in the body are:†
Liposomes support optimal absorption, delivery, and utilization of antioxidants, so you’re getting the most out of your antioxidant supplements.†
Vitamin C Liposomal Supplements
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is one of the most well-known antioxidants.
Vitamin C is supportive for your health for many reasons:†
- Supports the immune system
- Important for connective tissue development and joint health
- Supports skin health and collagen production
- Protects cells from free radical activity
Vitamin C bioavailability can vary widely based on how it is consumed. Some vitamin C supplements may give you little benefit at all. Liposomal encapsulation promotes the stability and delivery of this essential antioxidant. (7) Vitamin C taken in liposome form delivers greater concentrations than in tablets. (8)
Liposomal vitamin C has a better chance of reaching your cells, where it can provide the greatest benefits.†
Vitamin C is prone to destruction from stomach acid, digestive enzymes, intestinal microbes, and oxidative damage. Seeking Health liposomal formulas protect vitamin C by encasing it inside lipid droplets, so they don’t degrade too early in the digestive process.†
Liposomal Vitamin C is a bioavailable and great-tasting alternative to capsules or pills. It provides 1,000 mg of vitamin C in a liposomal delivery method that supports optimal absorption.†
Liposomal Vitamin C Plus also includes 1,000 mg of vitamin C in a liposomal delivery method. In addition, it contains a blend of rose hips extract and bioflavonoids for additional antioxidant support.†
Both vitamin C liposomal formulations are made with non-GMO sunflower oil. They are vegetarian and safe for people who are allergic to soy-based liposomal formulas.
Glutathione Liposomal Supplements
Glutathione acts as a powerful antioxidant in the body.†
It is found in the liver, brain, heart, lungs, eyes, and more. Environmental toxins and other exposures increase your body’s need for antioxidant support. Glutathione is a nutrient that supports normal cellular health in your body.†
Most glutathione supplements are sold in an unstable form. This means that the nutrient degrades quickly, perhaps before you have even received benefits from it.
Liposomal delivery allows your body to receive glutathione in an absorbable form for superior stabilization and absorption. When you consume liposomal glutathione, your body gets more of this nutrient in a useful form.†
Seeking Health’s glutathione supplements support optimal absorption. They protect the fragile glutathione molecules through the digestive tract. Optimal Liposomal Glutathione and Liposomal Glutathione Plus have several supportive features:†
- Support healthy free-radical defenses
- May support liver health
- Supports a healthy immune system
Both products are non-GMO and are formulated with sunflower oil, not soy.
The Bottom Line
It's not how many supplements you take each day that matters. It is how well your body absorbs them. Bioavailability is essential for vitamins and other nutrients to reach their full potential and efficacy. Liposomal delivery systems are an effective way to help get nutrients inside your cells, where they matter most.†
Research shows the clear benefits of liposomal delivery, such as:†
- Better bioavailability and absorption
- Protection of nutrients
- Efficient delivery to cells
- Added convenience for those who cannot or prefer not to swallow tablets
Not every company formulates liposomal dietary supplements. The ones that do often use liposomes derived from soy. There is an art and science to creating effective liposomal products. At Seeking Health, we are pioneering soy-free technology for liposomal and other bioavailable delivery methods to maximize the benefits you get from taking supplements.
Shop Seeking Health’s Liposomal Supplements Here
References
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.3109/21691401.2014.953633
- https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/ben/cdd/2017/00000014/00000002/art00016
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10717544.2016.1177136
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32717284/
- https://www.nature.com/articles/nrd2197
- An overview of liposomal nano-encapsulation techniques and its applications in food and nutraceutical - PMC (nih.gov)
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/227903593_Stabilization_of_ascorbic_acid_by_microencapsulation_in_liposomes
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4915787/
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