The Different Forms of Liposomals

Do you need clarification about all the forms of liposomals, including the most common of this type of supplement – liposomal vitamin C? Should you take a liquid, capsule, soft gel, powder, or some other type of liposomal supplement for optimal absorption? The truth is that liposomal nutrients can exist in all these forms and carry the benefits of the liposomal delivery system compared to standard supplements. 

In today’s article, we will dive into vitamin C supplements specifically, their benefits, and how to choose the best form of liposomal vitamin C product for you. Keep reading to learn more about: 

• Different forms of liposomals
• What liposomal form is right for you?
• What is vitamin C?
• Benefits of vitamin C supplements
• Liposomal vitamin C vs. regular vitamin C

Let’s dive in! 

What are Liposomals, and What Liposomal Form is Right for Me?

Liposomals are a type of supplement that can come in many different forms and provide a range of health benefits. 

Liposomals are a type of supplement that can be found in many different forms, each offering unique benefits and advantages. The most common form is as a liquid, but other forms such as sprays, capsules, soft gels, and powders also provide health benefits. By using liposomal delivery systems, absorption of nutrients is significantly improved compared to standard supplements. 

One of the most popular forms of targeted liposomes is in liquid liposomals, which are generally administered in two types of liposomes – LipoCeuticals and LipoSpheres. LipoCeuticals are a type of liquid liposomal supplement that utilize a patented process to stabilize the nutrient in an emulsion like form. This helps to ensure optimal bioavailability when it enters the body. Meanwhile, LipoSpheres use tiny lipid vesicles to form a protective barrier around the nutrient so that it can enter your bloodstream more easily and efficiently for proper permeability and circulation time, as well as maximum absorption.

You can take liquid liposomals in spoonful doses, or as a spray. These forms of liposomal supplements offer superior absorption compared to standard supplements. 

Another type of liposomal supplement is capsule or soft gel form, which has become increasingly popular due to its convenience and ease-of-use. With this type of supplement, nutrients are encapsulated inside a soft gel or hard capsule shell which then breaks down in your stomach for better absorption eventually entering your bloodstream quickly. Capsules and soft gels offer faster absorption rates than liquids since there’s no need for digestion or processing prior to entering your system for optimal effectiveness.

Powders are another option available in the form of liposomals when taken orally, as they provide a more convenient way to deliver nutrient supplementation without having to take multiple pills or liquids at once. Powders usually contain micronized particles which dissolve quickly allowing them to absorb into your bloodstream faster than larger particle sizes might allow with higher bioavailability too. 

Although all forms of liposomals offer superior absorption compared to standard supplements, some may be better suited for certain individuals depending on their needs and preferences. For example, liquid liposomals may be best for those who need quick results while capsules or tablets may be more suitable for those who prefer long term supplementation since they don’t require daily ingestion like liquids do. Ultimately, it’s up to each individual user but it’s important to understand the differences between each form before making any decisions about which one you should use as part of your health routine.

Other Delivery Systems

Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are similar to liposomes but are structurally different nanocarriers and drug delivery systems. LNPs encapsulate a variety of nucleic acids (RNA and DNA). Conventional liposomes include rings of lipid bilayer surrounding an aqueous pocket, but not all LNPs have this bilayer structure. They are more like a micelle structure, encapsulating drug molecules in a non-aqueous core.

But what about peptides?

Peptides are short chains of amino acids that have the ability to bind various receptor proteins on the surfaces of cells, making them a powerful tool for targeting and guiding drug delivery. Peptide-based liposomes have become increasingly popular in modern medicine as a safe and reliable method for delivering drugs directly to the target site. 

Peptide-based liposomes can be designed to selectively bind to specific receptor proteins on the cell surface, allowing them to guide medications directly to where they are needed most. This form of precision medicine has helped to reduce side effects, improve treatment outcomes, and increase therapeutic efficacy. Additionally, peptides offer increased stability compared to other drug delivery vehicles due to their small size and chemical properties. 

While the applications of liposomes vary, they are all considered a potentially better delivery system for vitamins in general.

Now let's dive into the most common form of liposomals – liposomal vitamin C.

Vitamin C – Food Sources, Blood Tests

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a water-soluble nutrient essential to obtain from the diet. Bell peppers, oranges, kiwi, broccoli, strawberries, and Brussels sprouts are good sources. (Source 1) 

Doctors don’t regularly assess blood levels of vitamin C as most people in developed countries eat enough vitamin C in their diet to prevent vitamin C deficiency called scurvy. Eating just 10mg per day is enough to prevent deficiency. The RDA (recommended dietary allowance) is 90mg per day for men and 75mg per day for women. (Source 1)

Vitamin C is measured in the plasma; optimal levels are over 50 micromoles per L. In some cases, vitamin C is measured inside blood cells. For example, measuring vitamin C inside lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) may be a biomarker for Parkinson’s disease. (Source 2)

However, the absence of deficiency or even meeting the RDA doesn’t necessarily mean you are achieving levels of vitamin C for optimal health benefits. Evidence suggests positive effects of vitamin C at supplemental dosages. 

Health Benefits of Taking Vitamin C Supplements

Vitamin C is a critical nutrient throughout the body. It’s an enzyme cofactor for collagen, l-carnitine, and neurotransmitter synthesis. It’s an essential antioxidant for neutralizing free radicals and protecting cells from oxidative stress. It’s also a key player in immune function and helps prevent chronic disease. (Source 1)

So, it’s not surprising that the benefits of vitamin C supplementation are widespread. Let’s take a closer look at some health benefits of supplementing higher doses of vitamin C than you typically obtain from food alone. 

• Immune support – Vitamin C plays a leading role in immune system health. Vitamin C supplementation prevents and treats respiratory and systemic infections, including colds, flu, and COVID-19. (Source 3, 4 )
  
  For more on vitamin C supplementation and immunity, please read The Role of Vitamin C in Immunity, How Much Vitamin C to Take When Sick, and How Vitamin C Helps with Seasonal Allergies.

• Skin health – Because vitamin C is essential for collagen production and concentrates in the skin to protect cells from UV radiation, optimal vitamin C levels combat skin aging, support wound healing, and promote vibrant skin. (Source 5) 

• Cardiovascular health – It’s well known that diets high in fruits and vegetables (and therefore vitamin C) protect against heart disease. Newer research suggests that higher vitamin C levels correlate with a decreased risk of cardiometabolic stroke. Conversely, vitamin C deficiency correlates with increased cardiovascular disease and mortality risk. (Source 6, 7, 8)
  
  Vitamin C in supplement form may be one way to improve endothelial function, lipid balance, and blood pressure, and evidence suggests supplementation over 700mg per day reduces heart disease risk. (Source 8, 9)

For more vitamin C benefits, please read The Science of Vitamin C: Benefits Beyond the Common Cold. 

Vitamin C Supplements

High doses of vitamin C dietary supplements are effective for various therapeutic uses, such as immune support. Typical over-the-counter supplements, such as sodium ascorbate or calcium ascorbate, are widely available and inexpensive, but there are some downsides. 

Vitamin C supplements tend to be poorly absorbed. You need to take higher doses for adequate uptake, which can lead to side effects. The primary side effect of vitamin C supplements is gastrointestinal upset, including loose stools. 

Why Liposomal Vitamin C is Superior

Liposomal C solves the problems of poor absorption and digestive system side effects. Liposomal delivery creates superior bioavailability and is the best type of vitamin C to use. 

A Liposomal formulation delivers nutrients within a phospholipid, the same lipid molecules that make up the cell membranes in the body. At Core Med Science, we use phosphatidylcholine, an naturally abundant phospholipid derived from high-quality sunflower lecithin. Phosphatidylcholine has many benefits of its own that you can read about here. 

Packaging high concentrations of vitamin C within phospholipids essentially turns a water-soluble vitamin into a fat-soluble one allowing for a higher absorption rate and fewer side effects. The liposome can bypass stomach acid and digestive enzymes, absorb easily, and move throughout the body. (Source 10)

A small study compared IV vitamin C, liposomal encapsulated vitamin C, standard vitamin C supplement, and placebo at doses of 4 grams. It found that liposomal delivery increased vitamin C levels substantially over non-liposomal vitamin C. (Source 11)

Only IV vitamin C is better absorbed than liposomal because it bypasses the digestive system and goes directly into the bloodstream. However, IV vitamin C is expensive and more challenging to access than oral liposomal supplements. (Source 11)

Different Forms of Liposomal Vitamin C and How to Choose the Best One for You

Liposomal vitamin C supplements come in several forms, including capsules, soft gels, powders, and liquids. 

Core Med Science Liposomal Vitamin C Liquid is our original formula. It provides 1000mg of vitamin C in a 1 teaspoon dose. The liquid liposomal form is suitable for those who don’t like or can’t swallow capsules and those who want more freedom to adjust their dosage. 

For other types of liposomal vitamins, try Liposomal PC Complex, a liquid formula that contains phospholipid complex to help prevent sluggishness, fatigue, low energy, memory or concentration issues. This supplement also serves as a building block for your body at the cellular level and high high bioavailability and solubility.

Core Med Science Liposomal Vitamin C Capsules use a powdered form of liposomal vitamin C (ascorbic acid + phospholipid blend). This version appears more like a typical powder or capsule of vitamin C but is in liposomal form with higher availability. A 2-capsule dose contains 1000mg of vitamin C. The capsules are perfect for travel and easy to swallow. However, we don’t recommend opening the capsules as they are designed to open in the small intestine. If you need more freedom in adjusting your dose, try the liquid. 

Core Med Science Liposomal Vitamin C Softgels are another version of liposomal vitamin C. The soft gel cap encapsulates liquid vitamin C. Our soft gels require 3 capsules for a 1000mg dose of vitamin C and provide 350mg of phospholipids. This is an excellent option if you are good with swallowing pills and want a therapeutic dose of phospholipids along with vitamin C. 

Some customers call in to ask about the different forms of liposomal supplements, and we hope this clears up the confusion. There are many various forms of vitamin and drug delivery systems. Whether you are choosing a liquid, capsule, or gel cap, all the vitamin C formulas are liposomal. In fact, our whole supplement line is liposomal or sublingual for optimal absorption and bioavailability.  

Please note the information in this article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Although I am a doctor, I’m not your doctor. The use of liposomes is up to you. Please consult with a functional medicine healthcare professional to discuss supplements and your health. 

References

1. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin C Health Professional Fact Sheet. Accessed 4/27/23: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminC-HealthProfessional/ 
2. Ide, K., Yamada, H., Umegaki, K., Mizuno, K., Kawakami, N., Hagiwara, Y., Matsumoto, M., Yoshida, H., Kim, K., Shiosaki, E., Yokochi, T., & Harada, K. (2015). Lymphocyte vitamin C levels as potential biomarker for progression of Parkinson's disease. Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.), 31(2), 406–408. Abstract: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25592020/ 
3. 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/ 
4. Holford, P., Carr, A. C., Jovic, T. H., Ali, S. R., Whitaker, I. S., Marik, P. E., & Smith, A. D. (2020). Vitamin C-An Adjunctive Therapy for Respiratory Infection, Sepsis and COVID-19. Nutrients, 12(12), 3760. Full text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7762433/ 
5. Pullar, J. M., Carr, A. C., & Vissers, M. C. M. (2017). The Roles of Vitamin C in Skin Health. Nutrients, 9(8), 866. Full text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5579659/ 
6. Padayatty, S. J., Katz, A., Wang, Y., Eck, P., Kwon, O., Lee, J. H., Chen, S., Corpe, C., Dutta, A., Dutta, S. K., & Levine, M. (2003). Vitamin C as an antioxidant: evaluation of its role in disease prevention. Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 22(1), 18–35. Abstract: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12569111/ 
7. Chen, L., Sun, X., Wang, Z., Lu, Y., Chen, M., He, Y., Xu, H., & Zheng, L. (2021). The impact of plasma vitamin C levels on the risk of cardiovascular diseases and Alzheimer's disease: A Mendelian randomization study. Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland), 40(10), 5327–5334. Full text: https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0261-5614(21)00407-6 
8. Moser, M. A., & Chun, O. K. (2016). Vitamin C and Heart Health: A Review Based on Findings from Epidemiologic Studies. International journal of molecular sciences, 17(8), 1328. Full text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5000725/ 
9. Knekt, P., Ritz, J., Pereira, M. A., O'Reilly, E. J., Augustsson, K., Fraser, G. E., Goldbourt, U., Heitmann, B. L., Hallmans, G., Liu, S., Pietinen, P., Spiegelman, D., Stevens, J., Virtamo, J., Willett, W. C., Rimm, E. B., & Ascherio, A. (2004). Antioxidant vitamins and coronary heart disease risk: a pooled analysis of 9 cohorts. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 80(6), 1508–1520. Full text: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15585762/ 
10. Shade C. W. (2016). Liposomes as Advanced Delivery Systems for Nutraceuticals. Integrative medicine (Encinitas, Calif.), 15(1), 33–36. Full text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4818067/ 
11. Davis, J. L., Paris, H. L., Beals, J. W., Binns, S. E., Giordano, G. R., Scalzo, R. L., Schweder, M. M., Blair, E., & Bell, C. (2016). Liposomal-encapsulated Ascorbic Acid: Influence on Vitamin C Bioavailability and Capacity to Protect Against Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury. Nutrition and metabolic insights, 9, 25–30. Full text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4915787/