5 Benefits of Liposomal Vitamin C During Cold and Flu Season
Vitamin C plays essential roles throughout the immune system, as a first-line defense against pathogens and immune memory that allows you to fight a second exposure swiftly. These immune benefits explain why vitamin C is the go-to supplement to have on hand during cold and flu season.
"Vitamin C plays essential roles throughout the immune system, as a first-line defense against pathogens and immune memory that allows you to fight a second exposure swiftly."
Today's article will dive into the benefits of liposomal vitamin C supplementation. We will cover:
- Barrier protection
- Antioxidant protection
- Immune cells
- Genetic stability
- Cold symptom duration
Five Benefits of Liposomal Vitamin C for Immunity
The benefits of liposomal vitamin C are far-reaching as vitamin C is an essential antioxidant for every cell in the body. When it comes to vitamin C supplementation, liposomal preparations, like Core Med Science Liposomal Vitamin C - Softgels, are preferable for their superior tolerance, absorption, and bioavailability.
Let's explore how liposomal vitamin C helps the immune system fight colds and flus.
Barrier Protection
Vitamin C is a cofactor in the production of collagen, found throughout the body and in the skin. As the largest organ, the skin's primary job is to create a barrier between the body and the outside world, which keeps viruses and other pathogens out. Vitamin C is also involved in the epithelial barrier of the lungs and guts, which are other entry points for viral infections. These barriers are considered a part of the immune system and contain high concentrations of immune cells. (Source 1)
Antioxidant Protection
Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant which protects cells (including immune cells) from oxidative damage and the effects of pathogenic infections, which can damage cells. Further, the immune response against pathogens can damage cells, and vitamin C also protects against this damage. (Source 1)
In the cases of cell death (apoptosis) caused by cold and flu viruses, vitamin C supports the clearing of dead cells. (Source 1)
White Blood Cells
Immune cells (white blood cells) that ingest pathogens and harmful compounds contain high concentrations of vitamin C. It protects these cells and is part of the physiology that allows them to move and attack pathogens. (Source 1)
Because vitamin C helps regulate genes, it's involved in the production of immune cells. You might see elevated white blood cells on a lab test when you're fighting a cold, flu, or other infection.
Genetic Stability
Vitamin C doesn't change our genes but influences how DNA is expressed (epigenetics). Where methylation tends to turn "on" various genes throughout the genome, vitamin C is involved in de-methylation, which turns these genes "off." We need both the on and off actions, and the genetic regulation creates immune stability and aids in optimal immune function when faced with colds and the flu. (Source 2)
Shorten Duration of Cold Symptoms
All the mechanisms we discussed contribute to how supplemental vitamin C, and especially liposomal vitamin C, aids in the prevention and treatment of colds and flu. Here's what the evidence says:
- In people under physical stress (including athletes and soldiers) vitamin C supplementation decreases the incidence of the common cold by 50%.
- Regular vitamin C supplementation (1000 - 2000 mg per day) reduced the duration of the common cold by 8% for adults and 14% for children.
- Regular vitamin C supplementation reduces the severity of cold symptoms. (Source 3)
All in all, vitamin C:
- Aids in keeping pathogens out of the body
- Aids in killing and removing them once they enter the body
- Supports the body's integrity and recovery from infections
For these reasons, along with a high safety profile, vitamin C supplements are a good idea to have on hand at the first onset of cold symptoms. You can also take daily vitamin C throughout the cold and flu season to ensure vitamin C levels remain robust.
"For these reasons, along with a high safety profile, vitamin C supplements are a good idea to have on hand at the first onset of cold symptoms. You can also take daily vitamin C throughout the cold and flu season to ensure vitamin C levels remain robust."
Core Med Science Liposomal Vitamin C - Softgels make it easy to get vitamin C benefits through the cold and flu season. This expert formula is convenient, potent, and highly absorbable because of the advanced liposomal delivery system. It utilizes liposomes, from a sunflower-derived phospholipid complex, which mimics the body's cell membranes, to deliver vitamin C to all the cells where it's needed most, including immune cells.
Stock up on liposomal vitamin C today; your immune system will thank you!
References:
- Carr, A. C., & Maggini, S. (2017). Vitamin C and Immune Function. Nutrients, 9(11), 1211. Full text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5707683/
- Camarena, V., & Wang, G. (2016). The epigenetic role of vitamin C in health and disease. Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS, 73(8), 1645-1658. Full text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4805483/
- Bucher, A., & White, N. (2016). Vitamin C in the Prevention and Treatment of the Common Cold. American journal of lifestyle medicine, 10(3), 181-183. Full text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6124957/