Liposomal Delivery: A New Paradigm for Vitamin C Supplementation

New data show that liposomal delivery systems may increase vitamin C bioavailability in patients. According to multiple studies released in recent months, a liposomal administration may provide significant improvements in pharmacokinetics and tissue uptake—a development that pharmacy professionals may find intriguing while they supervise supplement intake, patient expectations, and safety.¹

Vitamin C contributes significantly to immune functions, collagen production, antioxidant activities, and general well-being, but conventional oral products are constrained by absorption and transport. Formulators and medical practitioners often consider advanced delivery systems for patients. As more studies examining the efficiency of liposomal administration for vitamin C release their results, it could signal a shift in the standard of care for patients with deficiencies of this mineral.

Bioavailability Challenges with Conventional Vitamin C

Ascorbic acid, being a highly water-soluble molecule, is taken up in the intestinal epithelium via sodium-dependent vitamin C transporters (SVCTs). The process of its absorption is limited by saturation and competitively inhibited; the excess is rapidly cleared through the kidneys, and it is also degraded in the gastrointestinal tract; therefore, only a small fraction of the dose administered orally reaches the blood plasma and the target tissues.

One randomized, crossover trial of 27 healthy adults showed that compared to placebo, both standard vitamin C and liposomal vitamin C increased plasma and leukocyte vitamin C concentration, yet the liposomal form achieved approximately 27% higher maximum concentration (Cₘₐₓ) and 21% higher area under the curve (AUC) in plasma relative to standard vitamin C. These findings underscore that while supplementation elevates levels, formulation matters.¹

Emerging Evidence of Liposomal Encapsulation

Liposomal delivery involves encapsulating the active compound within phospholipid vesicles that mimic cell membrane structures. These vesicles may protect the nutrient from degradation, facilitate transit across enteric membranes, and deliver the payload closer to target tissues.

According to a 2024 study published in the European Journal of Nutrition, the liposomal vitamin C (500 mg dose) resulted in higher plasma and leukocyte uptake than the non-liposomal control.¹ At the same time, a clinical comparative study on liposomal and non-liposomal ascorbic acid, conducted earlier, reported increased bioavailability, thus leading to significant changes in systemic absorption and retention.²

More recently, a human study was summarized in a 2024 report in NutraIngredients, which showed that liposomal vitamin C might elevate serum vitamin C levels by about 55% above normal ascorbic acid levels after 2 hours and also increase antioxidant capacity by 2 to 3 times.³ In total, the accumulating pool of evidence points to the absorption and retention being better with liposomal forms; however, the data are still at the early stages and not yet fully robust.

Clinical and Practice Implications for Pharmacy Professionals

For pharmacists and other medication-safety professionals, the essential questions revolve around whether enhanced bioavailability actually leads to a significant clinical benefit and what the effects are on dosing, cost, interactions, and safety. Although the pharmacokinetic enhancements look good on paper, only a handful of studies have shown actual clinical outcomes (such as better immune response, lower infection rates, quicker wound healing) resulting specifically from liposomal rather than standard vitamin C.

In practice, if a patient requests a “high absorption” vitamin C product, the pharmacist may counsel that liposomal forms may offer better uptake but also note the higher cost, limited long-term outcome data, and potential variability in liposome quality (particle size, phospholipid composition, encapsulation efficiency).⁴ The quality of the liposomal carrier may influence bioavailability more than simply the presence of a liposome label.

The Take-away

Liposomal vitamin C is an exciting breakthrough in nutrient delivery, offering greater bioavailability than traditional formulations. New data show that there is higher plasma and leukocyte uptake, longer exposure, and possibly a greater antioxidant capacity. The role of pharmacy professionals is to evaluate scientific evidence, align with patient expectations, and integrate supplementation with overall personalized nutrition, financial limitations, and evidence-based practice.

As further clinical outcome trials emerge, liposomal formulations may find more clearly defined roles, but for now, the message is clear: optimization of formulation matters, but real-world benefit awaits more data.

REFERENCES

1. Purpura M, Jäger R, Godavarthi A, Bhaskarachar D, Tinsley GM. Liposomal delivery enhances absorption of vitamin C into plasma and leukocytes: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial. Eur J Nutr. 2024;63(8):3037-3046. doi:10.1007/s00394-024-03487-8

2. Gopi S, Balakrishnan P. Evaluation and clinical comparison studies on liposomal and non-liposomal ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and their enhanced bioavailability. J Liposome Res. 2021;31(4):356-364. doi:10.1080/08982104.2020.1820521

3. Richards L. Liposomal vitamin C may boost serum vitamin C levels by 55%. NutraIngredients. Published November 27, 2024. Accessed October 29, 2025. https://www.nutraingredients.com/Article/2024/11/27/liposomal-vitamin-c-may-boost-serum-vitamin-levels-by-55/

4. Żmuda P, Khaidakov B, Krasowska M, Czapska K, Dobkowski M, Guzowski J, Kowalczyk P, Lemke K, Folwarski M, Foryś A, et al. Bioavailability of Liposomal Vitamin C in Powder Form: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Cross-Over Trial. Applied Sciences. 2024; 14(17):7718. https://doi.org/10.3390/app14177718