What the liposomal form of a vitamin means

A liposome is a microscopic, spherical vesicle. Its wall consists of two layers of phospholipids, molecules with one part that is attracted to water and another part that avoids it. In a watery environment, phospholipids arrange themselves so that only their heads face the water. This creates a bilayer that closes into a vesicle. Cell membranes have a similar phospholipid bilayer.

The name comes from the Greek words lipos, fat, and soma, body. Liposomes are studied and used in many fields, from food production to cosmetics.

In Naturlabs texts and product names we use the word liposomal. A liposome is the vesicle itself, and liposomal describes an ingredient or a product that contains liposomes. Both words refer to the same technology.

A liposomal ingredient contains a vitamin or another substance together with phospholipids, which form the liposomes. The phospholipids are obtained, for example, from sunflower. Raw material manufacturers often give their liposomal blends a trade name.

The available Naturlabs labels do not give the same information about the LipoCellTech™ blend for every product. For D3 + K2, the ingredients explicitly list sunflower phospholipids (LipoCellTech™), 190 mg per capsule. For Vitamin C, the ingredients list a LipoCellTech™ blend with vitamin C, and for Skin. a blend with hyaluronic acid and vitamin C. For Vitality. and the multivitamin, the label lists the LipoCellTech™ blend as a separate ingredient but does not give its full composition.

The label of a liposomal product may show two different figures: the amount of the vitamin itself per daily dose and the weight of the liposomal blend or phospholipids. To compare with other products, what counts is the amount of the vitamin, which is also where you will find the % NRV.

Vitality., for example, contains 500 µg of vitamin B12 and, alongside it, 15 mg of the LipoCellTech™ blend. Those 15 mg are the weight of the blend, not of the vitamin. In D3 + K2, 190 mg is the weight of the phospholipids, while the capsule contains 24 µg of vitamin D3.

In the list of ingredients, look for the exact name of the blend and the information the label gives for that specific product. For D3 + K2, the label lists sunflower phospholipids. For other Naturlabs products, the source of the phospholipids and the full composition of the blend cannot be determined from the available label. If the phospholipids came from soya, soya would have to be highlighted as an allergen in the list of ingredients, as for any other food.

A liposomal product may also contain other substances. Besides vitamin B12, Vitality. also contains 34.5 mg of D-ribose. Substances without a set nutrient reference value are shown in the ingredients table with their amount only, without a % NRV. You will find the full ingredients of each product on its product page, in the ingredients section.

The liposomal form describes the technology of the ingredient, not an effect of the product. It does not mean that the product does more or works faster. The EU list of authorised health claims contains no claim about the liposomal form.

A claim always belongs to the vitamin itself and relates to its amount per daily dose. For example: Vitamin C contributes to the normal function of the immune system. Vitamin B12 contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism. So if you see absorption percentages or comparisons with another form for a liposomal product, these are not authorised health claims. Base your choice on the ingredients, the dose and the price per day.

Like other food supplements in capsules: according to the recommended daily dose on the label, which you should not exceed. Choose the time to suit your routine. You will find tips in the article When to take vitamins and minerals.

If you combine several products with the same nutrient, add it up. Vitamin C and Skin. together provide 620 mg of vitamin C a day. If you take medication or are pregnant or breastfeeding, talk to a doctor or pharmacist before use.