What is vitamin C?

Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is one of the 50 essential nutrients you need every day for optimal health. Vitamin C is water soluble meaning it’s found in bodily compartments that are water-based such as the blood, in the spaces in between cells and within cells themselves. Because vitamin C isn’t fat soluble, it doesn’t make its way into fatty tissue such as your fat cells or within the fatty part of the membrane that makes up the cells of your body. Human beings have lost the ability to make their own vitamin C, unlike most other animals. Therefore, we must get it from our diet (or supplements). Vitamin C is an essential cofactor in various biochemical reactions such as collagen and carnitine synthesis, regulation of gene expression, immune support, neuropeptide production and more.

 What does vitamin C do?

Besides being a cofactor in various biochemical reactions, vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant. What is oxidation? Think of it this way. Oxidation is what happens to an apple core when it’s exposed to the air, it browns or when an iron nail is exposed to water and oxygen; it rusts. Oxidation of bodily structures like protein, fats, carbohydrates, and even the DNA, found in all tissues and organs, increases inflammation and the risk for chronic degenerative diseases. In the case of DNA, oxidation can lead to mutations increasing the risk of cancer. Vitamin C helps to prevent this from happening. It protects you from dangerous compounds generated during normal metabolism. Vitamin C also protects you from free radicals from exposure to toxins and pollutants. These toxins include first or second-hand smoke, exposure to, and the metabolism/breakdown of recreational and prescription drugs. Other toxins include alcohol, air pollution, inflammation from trans fats and diets high in sugar and refined carbohydrates. You’re exposed to toxins produced by viruses, bacteria and other pathogens that your immune is faced with every day.

What are the benefits of taking vitamin C?

There are many benefits from getting more vitamin C in your diet and by including vitamin C supplements. Vitamin C is a versatile nutrient that supports your health in many ways including*:

• Helps the body to metabolize fats and proteins
• A factor in energy production
• Aids in the development and maintenance of bones, cartilage, teeth, and gums
• It helps in connective tissue formation
• It helps with wound healing
• An antioxidant for the maintenance of good health
• Protects against free radicals and the damage & oxidative effects of free radicals
• Helps to prevent vitamin C deficiency
• Supports a healthy immune system & reduces the risk of chronic diseases
• Supports collagen production for healthier skin, muscles, ligaments, cartilage and joints
• Improves the appearance of skin; more supple, improved clarity
• A dietary antioxidant that significantly decreases the adverse effects of free radicals on normal physiological function & lipid oxidation in body tissues
• Supports optimal overall health

However, vitamin C is only as good as its ability to be where it needs to be and in amounts known to confer the greatest benefit. 

What are liposomes?

Liposomes are actually similar to cells. The same phospholipids, those makeup cell membranes also make up the outer shell of liposomes. The inner and outer walls of the liposome are made up of phospholipids, the most common being phosphatidylcholine, to create a lipid bilayer. A double layer of phospholipids (phospholipid bilayer) creates a sphere around an aqueous (water-containing) component, such as dissolved vitamin C. Because the liposomes’ outer shells imitate our cell membranes, liposomes can “fuse” with certain cells upon contact, delivering the liposome’s content to the cell. This is the scientific advantage of the liposomal delivery system. Liposomes were discovered in the 1960s. This novel delivery system offers a targeted method to get nutrients into the bloodstream without being destroyed by the digestive enzymes and acid found in the digestive tract and stomach respectively.

What is liposomes vitamin C?

In the case of liposomal vitamin C, these phospholipids encapsulate vitamin C at their core. As mentioned above, liposomes are thought to fuse with the cells responsible for absorbing nutrients making up the gut lining called enterocytes. Because they bypass the normal mechanism of absorbing vitamin C through slow vitamin C receptors type 1 (sodium-dependent vitamin C receptors SCVT 1), the bioavailability is much higher than standard vitamin C supplements. Taking a liposomal form of vitamin C is much more effective and efficient than traditional methods of vitamin C supplementation in terms of absorption.

Benefits of liposomal vitamin C

Taking standard vitamin C (ascorbic acid) offers several benefits to the human body. These benefits may be magnified when taking liposomal C.

• Bioavailability

The best-understood advantage is that liposomal vitamin C has a much higher bioavailability than standard vitamin C. Bioavailable simply means how well vitamin C absorbs into your system. As we already mentioned liposomal vitamin C supplement allows your small intestine to absorb more of the nutrient than a standard vitamin C supplement.

• Heart and brain health

Vitamin C intake (via diet or supplements) may decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease by about 25%, according to a 2004 analysis published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Any form of vitamin C supplement improves endothelial function, as well as ejection fraction. Endothelial function involves the contraction and relaxation of blood vessels, enzymatic release to manage blood clotting, immunity, and platelet adhesion. Ejection fraction defines “the percentage of blood that is pumped (or ejected) out of the ventricles” when the heart contracts on every beat. Together, these results suggest that vitamin C may play an important part in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and the improvement of heart health.

• Cancer

Intravenous vitamin C can be used in high doses to fight cancer in tandem with traditional chemotherapy. It may not eradicate cancer on its own, but it can definitely improve the quality of life, increasing energy and mood for many cancer patients. 

• Collagen production

Collagen is the most abundant protein in our bodies, however our own natural collagen production slows around the age of 25. Vitamin C is a cofactor in the enzymes that produce collagen, meaning it is necessary to the function and health of your bones, blood vessels, and joints where collagen abounds. When vitamin C levels run low, such as in times of stress, infection, chronic illness (i.e. diabetes, autoimmune illness which generate high levels of free radicals and oxidative stress), less of it is available for collagen production. Since collagen is the structural protein that holds us together, this can manifest as weaker joints, tendons, blood vessels and connective tissue. More superficially, weaker collagen can manifest as sagging skin with more wrinkles.

• Oxidative stress:

In general, some level of oxidative stress occurs within every living thing. As a 2006 review puts it: “There is increasing evidence connecting oxidative stress with a variety of pathological conditions including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, chronic inflammatory disease, post-ischaemic organ injury, diabetes mellitus, xenobiotic/drug toxicity, and rheumatoid arthritis.” 

Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant and is found in generous quantities within the human body. 

Is liposomal vitamin C truly effective?

There has been a lot of scrutiny of liposomal vitamin C. One of the most frequently asked questions about liposomal supplements is: Is liposomal vitamin C a “hoax”? True liposomal or pro-liposomal supplements are non-toxic and can greatly increase your body’s ability to absorb the nutrients they incorporate. Because of extensive equipment and technology needed to manufacture them, liposomal supplements tend to be more expensive than conventional vitamin C but they can deliver superior absorption. However there is great variability between products and a little bit of homework and knowledge helps.

These “lipid-soluble” forms of vitamin C (ascorbyl palmitate, alscorbyl oleate and cetyl ascorbate, are rapidly digested before any absorption takes place, releasing plain vitamin C in your small intestine. Unfortunately, this results in unassuming customers paying top dollar for a product that is not much different than a standard vitamin C capsule or powder but has the term “liposomal” attached to it. Because these forms are inexpensive to make they typically have lower prices, yet they tout very high doses per serving such as 1200-1800 mg of vitamin C. So, to answer the question: Liposomal vitamin C is not a “hoax”, but not all products labeled liposomal vitamin C truly offer the same benefits.

How to Choose the Best Liposomal Vitamin C Supplement?

Several brands offer liposomal vitamin C supplements. Which vitamin liposomal vitamin C supplement is the best? The better C is Liposomal Vitamin C supplement which is great for immunity, health and anti-aging benefits; it’s also really great for energy support. It is clinically proven, World Record 95% Absorption Rate!, 100% Vegan, Non-GMO, Wheat-free, Dairy free and Soy free. Unlock the true power of Vitamin C with Better C (Liposomal Vitamin C) by VitaBetter. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that is known to support the immune system, energy production, collagen production, connective tissue and much more.

Dosage of Liposomal Vitamin C

The National Institute of Health advises men and women to never take more than 2,000 milligrams of vitamin C dietary supplement each day. For specific health issues, a higher dose may be warranted. The Linus Pauling Center recommends a dose of 2,000 milligrams per day, which is generally very safe and can account for the poorer absorption capacity in some individuals. People who may benefit most from this high dose include the elderly and smokers, who also have an increased need for vitamin C.

Generally, 1000-2000 mg/day should afford you the general health benefits of vitamin C:

• Immunity
• Brain health
• Collagen production
• Cardiovascular protection
• Energy production
• Increased antioxidant presence

4,000 milligrams of liposomal vitamin C has been used to protect against the oxidative damage that can happen post-heart attack or stroke due to reperfusion.

In Summary

• Liposomal vitamin C is a revolutionary approach to introducing vitamin C into your system.
• Liposomes use a phospholipid bilayer formed around water and, in this case, vitamin C. The outer casing protects the nutrient inside from damage that might otherwise occur during normal digestion.
• The absorption of liposomal vitamin C is significantly higher than that of a standard vitamin C supplement.
• Benefits of liposomal vitamin C include increased bioavailability, cardiovascular support, skin health, improved collagen production, and reduced oxidative stress throughout the body.
• While many supplements are labeled as “liposomal,” some of these use esters of vitamin C (ascorbyl palmitate, ascorbyl oleate, and/or cetyl ascorbate) that do not actually increase the bioavailability of vitamin C and are not going to result in formation of a liposome.
• Standard doses of vitamin C are between 200-1,000 mg/day.  We recommend 2000 mg per day for most adults.