How A Liposome Helps In The Absorption Of Vitamins And Medications

By Wanda Vaughn


Liposomes were discovered in the 1970s when they were first used to target the delivery of medications directly to where they were needed by the body. By producing a slower release of the active ingredients, the toxicity that could cause unwanted side effects was reduced. Liposomes are now used effectively in the nutritional supplement and cosmetic industries because it was discovered that the liposome technology improves nutrient absorption.

A liposome is a very small pouch with walls made up of phospholipids and filled with fluid. The phospholipids in the walls mimic those found in all cell membranes. It has been found that these liposomes are able to deliver various substances straight into the blood stream and directly to the cells of the body in a more efficient manner than the body normally can.

Another benefit of liposomal delivery is that the lipids used to create the molecules are fatty substances like lecithin, and these are effectively the building blocks of all cells, needed for replacement and repair of membranes. Modern diet and lifestyles drastically affect cell walls and this adversely affects the uptake of oxygen and nutrients by the cells. The effect of the liposomal delivery is increased health at a cellular level.

Scientific research has produced evidence that a liposomal delivery system can be effectively used in the treatment and relief of symptoms of several serious diseases and disorders. The aging process is one such condition and others are multiple sclerosis, autism, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's and congestive heart failure.

Nutrients and the components of some medications are frequently improperly absorbed by the body but liposomes have been found to increase the amount these substances are absorbed. CoQ10 is a classic example; it absorption rate is generally around 3 to 5 percent but when it is delivered in a liposome system, it shoots up to more than 90 percent.

Liposomal Encapsulation Technology or LET allows the active ingredient in many pharmaceuticals and nutrient supplements to reach the area of the body they are targeting. Many oral drugs and supplements are degraded during their passage through the digestive tract, limiting their strength and efficacy. Dosages can be reduced up to fifteen times the normal dose because of the efficiency of the system, saving money and reducing possible toxicity.

Vitamin C represents an excellent example for the use of LET, if only because it can be prepared in the home. Vitamin C is a vital nutrient for the body, as an antioxidant and immune booster. Humans do not make this vitamin and so must take it orally as food or supplements. Vitamin C supplements taken orally assimilate slowly and have a low rate of absorption. Intravenous injection was the only way to get higher doses of this vitamin and increase absorption rates. LET produces increased transfer rates straight to cells which produces greater rates of absorption than injections.

The advantages of LET have led to the introduction of the technique by some nutritional companies for their oral nutritional and dietary supplements. Look for your favorite supplements in a liposome format and increase the effectiveness of your supplement regime. It is also possible to mix your own liposome formulas at home and this is particularly popular with people taking vitamin C.




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