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Most people today have varying degrees of compromised digestive systems and microbiomes. We are eating more foods that exert inflammatory effects on the gastrointestinal system and which disrupt the microbiome e.g. gluten, dairy, processed foods. Glyphosate, heavy metals and antibiotics have become omnipresent in our food chain. With the intensification of EMFs and WIFI exposure, stress, and the lack of diversity in our diets – dietary supplementation and nutritional products are no longer a luxury, but pretty much a widely accepted essential in maintaining keeping the body biologically sane.

Just look at the absorption dynamics of Vitamin B12 from our food sources. Many factors have to be in working order such as sufficient levels of pepsin, HCL, pancreatic enzymes, right friendly bacteria balance, R protein, intrinsic factor and other cofactors such as Lithium and Calcium. Most of us do not have optimised digestive and pre-conditions including many of the above, thereby resulting in impeded utilisation by the body of such key vitamins and nutrients. Deficiencies are thus very common. The need to increase blood and tissue levels for such vitamins has thus become crucial and people logically turn to supplements.

With that in mind, it is imperative that nutritional products deliver on its very purpose – deliver its purposed nutrient!

There are a number of generally well-absorbed nutrients and compounds such as D-Ribose (a simple sugar), amino acids, compounds that work in the gut e.g. enzymes, prebiotics, gut cleansers. There are of course more examples but you get the idea.

However, a much greater number of nutritive compounds found in nutritional supplements are poorly absorbed orally.

Many of us are thus constantly on the lookout for nutritional products with increased absorption/bioavailability to reduce “expensive pee syndrome”. Many companies are thus always looking to come up with different ways to enhance nutrient delivery.

This has proven to be no mean feat, not just because our digestive systems are mostly compromised as we mentioned earlier, but also because our digestive environment itself can be very harsh on certain nutrients – denaturing them before they can even be absorbed systemically. There is thus a need to not just improve bioavailability through novel methods, but also to circumvent digestion.

This is especially true for compounds that are typically not well absorbed through the oral route. It thus pays to do your homework as it is not what you take, but what you absorb, right?

This is where liposomal delivery has emerged as the leading option for optimal nutrient absorption. A study by Zeevalk G.D. (2010) demonstrated that liposomal glutathione was 100-fold more potent than non-liposomal glutathione!

Liposomes possess the capability to be absorbed intra-orally and bypass digestion unscathed when swallowed. Best of all, it is absorbed very rapidly into the bloodstream and has a strong affinity for our cells – thereby not just increasing delivery into the blood, but into tissues where it matters most!

First, let’s explain what a liposome is.

A liposome is a spherical-shaped vesicle comprising one or more phospholipid bilayers, which closely resembles the structure of cell membranes. The ability of liposomes to encapsulate hydrophilic or lipophilic compounds have made it a superior “Trojan horse” like delivery system of nutraceuticals into the cell due to its ability to resist stomach acid and fuse into the cell membrane, thereby dropping off its encapsulated nutraceutical inside the cell where it matters

Technically, a phospholipid monolayer which encloses a liquid lipid core (for fat soluble nutraceuticals) is known as a nanoemulsion. A liposomes is a phospholipid bilayer that encloses an aqueous core (for water soluble nutraceuticals). However, for simplicity’s sake, we refer to both forms as liposomes.

Not All Liposomal Product are Equal

There are “pioneers” who champion the use of liposomal delivery systems and brands that they endorse. More companies are also coming up with liposomal products to ride on this wave and growing niche of savvy practitioners/consumers.

Yet, after testing a whole bunch of liposomal products, it became absolutely clear to us that not all of them are created equal – in fact, the disparity can be huge! What’s disappointing was that some reputable brands also fell short.

When you start looking deeper into liposome chemistry, you realise that there is a significant difference amongst liposomes. Some liposomes do not even absorb into the cell as well as a non-liposomal nutrient, assuming the non-liposomal nutrient has already entered circulation.

However, if you find the right liposomal product, you get cellular uptake that surpasses intravenous delivery, and circulation half-lives that are much longer as well. This translates to rapid effects that can be felt and measured – and ultimately an objective improvement in health.