What are liposomes? And why are liposomal supplements better for you? NL-084

Taking supplements doesn't necessarily mean you are getting all the intended benefits. One of the biggest problems with ordinary or traditional oral supplements (in the form of standard powders, capsules and tablets) is that your body absorbs a very small amount of the ingested nutrients as most of it is invariably destroyed during the process of digestion, resulting in poor bio-availability and absorption. 

Traditional oral supplements also cause gastrointestinal side effects such as diarrhoea, bloating and abdominal pain, when taken in large doses. In addition, most of the traditional supplements are highly vulnerable to degradation by light and temperature, affecting their efficacy and potency. 

The optimum absorption of nutrients is also compromised by other factors such as age, poor gut health, and history of gastrointestinal surgeries and use of certain medications. In addition, there are some natural compounds such as curcumin, resveratrol and glutathione that offer incredible health benefits, but are quickly broken-down and cleared from the body, resulting in poor absorption and low bio-availability of these supplements. 

That’s why it is extremely important to take the right form of supplement that improves absorption and helps the nutrients and bioactive compounds to reach the target cells without getting damaged, destroyed or degraded in the process. That brings us to liposomal technology that uses a very unique and effective delivery system that protects the nutrients from the elements and action of the digestive tract, and ensures optimum delivery of nutrients directly into the cells and tissues. So what exactly is a liposome and how do liposomal supplements work?

Liposomes are very small, spherical structures that are made up of phospholipids, a type of fat that our cell membranes are made up of. A phospholipid molecule has a very unique structure with both fat-loving and water-loving components, which makes liposomes compatible to safely carry both fat-soluble and water-soluble nutrients. These nano-sized vesicles form a shield around the encapsulated substances (vitamins and minerals) and protect this content from the damage and decomposition that takes place during the process of digestion. There are other advantages of choosing liposomal supplements. You can take high doses without getting the gastrointestinal side effects typically associated with traditional ones and without going through the pain and discomfort associated with IV injections. 

These nano-sized bubbles work as a very efficient system to transport and deliver encapsulated vitamins, minerals, and antioxidant compounds directly to the cells, glands and tissues, ensuring high bio-availability and rapid absorption. 

By improving the bio-availability of the nutrients and antioxidant substances, and enhancing the absorption of nutrients, liposomal supplements make a huge difference and offer better health outcomes compared with other forms of supplements. 

Reference:

Ko et al. Pharmacokinetic Analyses of Liposomal and Non-Liposomal Multivitamin/Mineral Formulations. Nutrients. 2023