Liposomal products OR the liposomal revolution

Liposomal products OR the liposomal revolution

For some years now, we have been reading about so-called liposomal products when it comes to dietary supplements. There is even talk of the liposomal revolution. The reason for this is that the best possible bioavailability should always be achieved in the production of food supplements. This means that the body should be able to absorb as much of the nutrient it is supplied with as possible. To achieve this, it must reach its destination efficiently and quickly. And this is exactly where liposomes come into play.

What are liposomes?

Liposomes are microscopically small nanobodies. They are surrounded by a double lipid layer, i.e. a layer of fat, and are hydrophilic (water-attracting) both externally and internally. It is precisely this structure that makes them so valuable, as it enables the transport of fat- and water-soluble nutrients. For example, water-soluble substances such as B vitamins can be stored in the lipid layer and fat-soluble nutrients such as vitamin D can be stored inside the liposome.

Why do liposomes increase the bioavailability of a product?

By enclosing the nutrients, substances can be transported directly to the small intestine without being lost through stomach acid and aggressive digestive enzymes. This is where the next advantage of liposomal products comes into play: The lipid layer of the liposomes is so similar to that of our body's own cells that the liposomes can fuse directly with the cells and thus transport their nutrients directly to their destination. Thanks to this property, studies have shown that curcumin, for example, is absorbed 9 times better than other carriers (1).

Are there also disadvantages?

In general, it can be said that nutrients bound in liposomes do not harm the body. However, due to the more complex manufacturing process, they are often somewhat more expensive than conventional comparable products. Their shelf life is also shorter than that of capsule or powder products. For this reason, either potassium sorbate or ethanol is added to many products. The amount of alcohol in ethanol is very small and can be consumed safely in accordance with the recommended dosage.

Source:

(1) Shaikh J, Ankola DD, Beniwal V, Singh D, Kumar MN. Nanoparticle encapsulation improves oral bioavailability of curcumin by at least 9-fold when compared to curcumin administered with piperine as absorption enhancer. Eur J Pharm Sci. 2009 Jun 28; 37(3-4):223-30. doi: 10.1016/j.ejps.2009.02.019 Epub 2009 Mar 10. PMID: 19491009.