There is no doubt that there is exponentially increasing knowledge of, and interest in, liposomes and liposomal nutraceutical formulations amongst health aware end users, savvy physicians and their patients, and, rightfully so, as liposomal formulations definitely increase the efficacy of their encapsulated nutraceuticals significantly.
So, whether they are used in a supportive role in-between IV treatments as part of an “alternative” cancer protocol, or, used on their own to address deficiencies of hard to absorb nutrients or vitamins, liposomes certainly have an important role to play in wellness.
However, liposomal formulations are expensive to manufacture, package and distribute and the high cost certainly does somewhat limit the accessibility of this potentially quality-of-life saving tool.
This has lead to an increasing number of products coming onto the market, all of which claim to be “liposomes”” and some of which are priced as low as 1/4 of that of the established brands.
Now this would be an absolutely fantastic thing if we could be assured that the products are actually what they claim to be.
You see, there is “information” available on the internet that says that you only need to dissolve Vit C powder into water, add in some lecithin granules and then blend in a kitchen blender, in order to make liposomal Vit C that is “superior” (so it’s claimed) to commercial brands of liposomal Vit C, and, on that basis, there are “products” being put into the market that are being manufactured in this way in someones kitchen or garage and which are being branded as “liposomal”.
In fact, there is even a high profile US based health blogger physician who has been selling “liposomal Vit C” capsules at great pricing, but which have subsequently been analyzed to reveal that the product is not liposomal at all, but merely an emulsion that is easily created with the previously mentioned blender method.
They have even acknowledged that the product is in fact not liposomal, and yet continue to brand and sell it as such.
The truth of the matter is that producing quality liposomal formulations with consistency that ensures the intended efficacy of the end product and with a practical shelf life, is a little more complicated than simply operating a blender and a jewelry cleaner in the kitchen.
Before we even get to the liposomes themselves, some of the nutraceutical ingredients themelves require delicate handling throughout the process to avoid oxidation (for example). After all, what’s the point of a liposomal formulation where the supposedly active ingredient is mostly inactive due to faulty handling or processing? And, how would you as the consumer even know this?
There are also different types of “liposomes” that can be formed during processing as well as different sizes of these tiny “carriers” and, the size and type of liposome formed during the manufacturing process will significantly impact the stability of the product and also it’s ability to carry and increase the bio-availability of the nutraceutical itself.
For example, large multilamellar vesicles are less stable, tend to be considered as “leaky”, and are less efficient at delivering the contents than a smaller unilamellar liposome is.
Types of liposomes
As one of the world’s leading manufacturers of liposomal formulations, Lipolife (www.lipolife.co.uk) have published a 20+ page independent lab analysis of their product, and this analysis confirms the stability, size and dispersion of the liposomes throughout the product, and even goes further, to demonstrate the efficacy of the product against cultured bacterial and cancer cell lines.
This gives the end user the assurance of quality that should be expected from a manufacturer.
The analysis can be viewed here: http://www.lipolife.co.za/independent-laboratory-test-lipolife-gold/
I have yet to see similar assurance from any other manufacturer worldwide!
There certainly is lots of marketing talk, and, only one other manufacturer at least regularly tests their product, but not in an independent facility, and the test is only for size of liposomes, not dispersion, stability or efficacy.
So, when someone is offering to sell you “liposomal Vit C” at 1/4 of the price for double the volume, exercise some due diligence, as it’s your health and your money, and ask them for an independent analysis showing that the product actually contains liposomes, as, without that, you are at best, buying a very expensive emulsion, and at worst, buying a product that may be completely ineffective for the intended purpose.
And remember, just because someone puts the letters “Dr” in front of their name, or product, that does not necessarily infer integrity of product or ensure that there are liposomes present.