Liposomes can be described as liquid-filled bubbles that are bilayer and are made from phospholipids. They are basically spheres that are filled with nutrients and are primarily meant to protect and deliver those nutrients in the body and to specific cells of the body for that matter.
Their bilayer structure has a strong resemblance to the double-layer construction of cell membranes that surround all cells in the body. The phosphate head that characterizes phospholipids is hydrophilic in nature, which means that it loves water, while the fatty-acid tail is hydrophobic and hates water.
Liposomes are comprised of phospholipids that occur naturally and which are mixed with lipid chains. Alternatively, they can be composed of pure surfactant components such as DOPE. There are different types of liposomes available and this is dependent on both the number of lamellae and the size.
How Liposomes Help With Nutrient Delivery
For the longest time it was a challenge for manufacturers producing nutritional supplements to find a delivery system that would enable the human body to use the nutrients in a manner that is both efficient and effective.
The main reason for this was that several nutrients could be degraded by the digestive system’s harsh environment prior to accessing the bloodstream where they would be conveniently delivered to the cells of the body that need them. Fortunately, this stopped being a challenge with the discovery of liposomes and their importance in nutrient delivery.
Liposomes are used in the delivery of nutrients into the human body because they are considered to be better at transporting nutrients into the body and delivering the nutrients into cells.
They are way better compared to the powders that constitute most capsules and tablets that we have all grown accustomed to. Usually, the phospatidylcholine part of a liposome is consequently added to cell membranes as healthy fat.
Liposomes are made using high heat, toxic chemical solvents, and high pressure. Liposomes have also been found to offer greater absorption as well as cell utilization compared to conventional nutrients like vitamin C.
There are crucial elements that greatly contribute to the liposomes’ long-term stability, they include the following:
i. The manufacturing technique that is used as well as the preparation of the liposomes.
ii. The liposome constitution, their quality, and the kind of raw phospholipid that was utilized in both the formulation and the manufacturing process.
iii. The ability to make liposome particle sizes that are homogenous, stable, and maintain their encapsulated payload.
The above three factors are the essential elements that make up the foundation of any effective liposome carrier system that can be utilized in enhancing the bioavailability of the oral dosage of both nutritional and dietary supplements.
The above factors also have a significant effect on the actual quantity of realized entrapment of liposomes, as well as the quality of the liposomes themselves.
Making High Quality Liposomes
In order to make high quality liposomes for the purpose of nutrient delivery, there are certain factors that need to be taken into account. These include the following:
i. Phospholipids that are sourced from highly refined sources and have a natural mix of phospholipids should be used so as to guarantee that they will effectively encapsulate nutrients and not easily break. Furthermore, they should be comprised of a high percentage of Phosphatidylethanolamine and Phosphatidylcholine.
ii. High quality liposomes that will ensure efficient nutrient delivery must achieve an equal ratio of key nutrients to phospholipids.
iii. High quality liposomes which will ensure nutrient delivery should be protected from oxygen. This is because liposomes are quite sensitive to factors like oxygen and heat.
iv. In order to produce high quality liposome products primarily for nutrient delivery then uni-dose packaging should be observed. Uni-dose packaging shields liposome products from oxygen until it can be consumed thus keeping effective and safe in the course of its shelf-life.
Advantages of Liposomes Nutrient Delivery
There is an array of advantages that are associated with liposomal delivery, the major ones include the ones that have been listed below:
i. It is cost-effective since one can take a lower dose to achieve the same effect.
ii. Liposomal liquids have been designed to allow incremental and adjustable dosing for both children and adults.
iii. Liposomal nutrient delivery has very low gastrointestinal upset.
iv. Liposomal nutrient delivery has the ability to incorporate as well as release 2 materials that have varying solubilities simultaneously.
v. Liposomal nutrient delivery is ideal for individuals who dread swallowing tablets.
vi. It is possible to complex positively and negatively charged molecules with liposomal nutrient delivery.
vii. Liposomal nutrient delivery has high adsorption and bioavailability when compared to the other oral forms of nutrient supplement delivery. This is because it has a delivery rate of 90% compared to the 20% delivery rate of other oral delivery methods.
viii. It is a delivery technique that is non-invasive since it avoids the discomfort and pain that is associated with injections. In addition, it completely removes the risk of contamination.
ix. The nano-encapsulation feature of liposome nutrient delivery offers protection from the harsh environment that characterizes the gastrointestinal tract. It also increases both oral uptake as well as absorption.
Vitamins and Products
Currently, there are an array of nutrients that are being delivered to the human body using liposome technology such as Liposomal Vitamin B12, Liposomal Vitamin C, Liposomal Vitamin D, Liposomal Magnesium, Liposomal Melatonin, and Liposomal R-Lipolic Acid, among others.
Risks and Side Effects
There are a few negative side effects of consuming high doses of Vitamin C that have been delivered into the body by liposomes. The side effects include gas, diarrhea, and an upset stomach.
However, due to the fact that the delivery of Liposomal Vitamin C is highly efficient, more often than not there are little to no side effects that are experienced.
Liposomes Nutrient Delivery Review Summary
The importance of liposomes nutrient delivery cannot be under-estimated, as it happens to be a new nutrient delivery method and the most effective one for that matter. The oral delivery of nutritional and dietary supplements via liposomes is a breakthrough that will revolutionize the nutritional supplement industry for the better and should be fully embraced due its high efficacy. What makes this technology even better is that it has been advanced to the point that liposomes cannot be detected by the immune system of the human body.
