large wooden Trojan Horse
large wooden Trojan Horse

Liposomes - A Trojan Horse for Supplement Effectivity?

Editorial stewardship: SupplementRelief.com | Originally published: 12/23/16

Many factors are involved in how efficiently a supplement gets absorbed into the body where it is intended to go. Scientific research has shown that many tablet, capsule and liquid vitamins and supplements have an average bio-availability and absorption rate of only 5-20%. Liposomes are purported to increase the bioavailability and absorption rate by up to 80% in some cases.

Learn more about NuMedica's new line of advanced liposomal professional-grade supplements.

How the Greeks Won the Trojan War

According to Greek mythology, the Greeks, during the Trojan War, and after 10-years of a stalemate to capture the city of Troy, built a large wooden horse and hid soldiers inside of it. Then they pretended to sail away. The Trojans then brought the horse into their city as a spoil of war. That night the Greek soldiers came out of the horse and opened the gates of the city so that the Greek army, which had been hiding in a ship outside the harbor, could enter in. Their army took the city and ended the war.

Liposomes are kind of like a Trojan Horse. As the horse carried soldiers safely through the enemy's gate, liposomes carry micronutrients directly into the blood and cells bypassing the normal digestive process where they are broken down and often degraded before reaching their intended target.

Liposomes increase the bioavailability and absorption rate so that more of the supplement's active ingredients are actually delivered to the target cells and tissues.

Supplement Bioavailablity and Absorption

Absorption begins with digestion in the stomach. When food is chewed, it gets broken down by enzymes in our saliva as it travels to the stomach. From there, all of the nutrients, including proteins, carbohydrates, fats, water, vitamins and minerals, pass to the small intestine and then enter the bloodstream. However, the walls of the small intestine have a protective layer to restrict what enters the bloodstream. There are two processes called active and passive transport whereby nutrients pass through this layer. Passive transport is like pouring spaghetti noodles through a strainer- the larger particles (noodles) do not fit through the small holes while the water passes through easily. Active transport requires a helper or carrier molecule to get through the intestinal wall- similar to a key unlocking a door to get someone into a room.

When thinking about supplements, what you actually absorb is important. Nature intended for us to get the nutrients we need from natural, whole food sources where the naturally occurring vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and enzymes work together synergistically to give your body the nutrition it requires for optimal health. However, the typical S.A.D (Sad American Diet) that has become common over the last 40 years, is dominated with processed foods that have little if any nutritional value. Quality vitamins and supplements are used to provide the amount of nutrients our body needs when we are not getting them naturally through our diet. Given the lower bioavailability and absorption potential of many supplements, particularly lower-quality consumer-grade vitamins and supplements, liposome-delivered supplements may increase significantly the amount of nutrients that actually get delivered.

How Do Liposomes Work?

Liposomes (a carrier molecule) are actively transported. A liposome is a phospholipid (important molecules that provide structure and protection to cells) that forms a barrier around its contents. This barrier is resistant to enzymes in the mouth and stomach, alkaline solutions, digestive juices, bile salts, and intestinal flora that are generated in the human body, as well as free radicals. Liposomes pass through the digestive process much like the Trojan Horse passed through the city gates of Troy. Inside of the liposome is the target nutrients of the supplement much like the Greek soldiers were hidden inside of the horse. The liposome stays in tact until it passes through the small intestine wall and gets into the bloodstream. It then breaks down and releases its active ingredients whereby they have a much better opportunity to reach their targeted cells and tissues.

Liposomes have been around since their discovery and publication in the early 1960s by British haematologist Alec D Bangham in 1961 (published 1964), at the Babraham Institute, in Cambridge. Over time the application of liposomes has been matured to include advanced delivery techniques used to administer commercially-viable drugs directly to targeted glands, organs or systems for cancer and other diseases.

NuMedica Advanced Liposomal Delivery Technology

NuMedica, known for it's innovative, professional-formulas, provides five high-quality supplements delivered using liposomes called Liposomal CoQ10 + PQQ, Liposomal Curcumin, Liposomal Glutathione, Liposomal Methylsorb, and Liposomal Vitamin C. NuMedica's supplements are further known as professional-grade due to the high-quality ingredients used and the stringent adherence to cGMPs (Current Good Manufacturing Process).

All NuMedica Liposomal formulas are delivered in phosphatidylcholine liposomes from non-GMO, identity protected, European sunflower seeds for optimal absorption and bioavailability.

NuMedica Liposomal CoQ10 + PQQ - 6oz

NuMedica Liposomal CoQ10 + PQQ - 6oz

Provides 100 mg of CoQ10 (Ubiquinone) and 5 mg of PQQ.

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NuMedica Liposomal Curcumin - 180 ml

NuMedica Liposomal Curcumin - 180 ml

Provides 250 mg of curcuminoids.

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NuMedica Liposomal Glutathione - 120 ml

NuMedica Liposomal Glutathione - 120 ml

Provides 500 mg of pure glutathione.

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NuMedica Liposomal Methylsorb - 30 ml

NuMedica Liposomal Methylsorb - 30 ml

Provides four essential nutrients to support healthy homocysteine levels and optimal methylation.

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NuMedica Liposomal Vitamin C - 150 ml

NuMedica Liposomal Vitamin C - 150 ml

Provides 1,000 mg of Vitamin C delivered in phosphatidylcholine liposomes for optimal absorption and bioavailability.

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1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trojan_Horse
2 https://journolink.com/release/worlds_bestabsorbed_vitamins__supplements_164 3 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liposome
4 http://www.everydayhealth.com/columns/jackie-arnett-green-plate-special/are-vitamin-supplements-really-bioavailable/
5 https://experiencelife.com/article/all-about-absorption/
6 https://numedica.com

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