Liposomal delivery enhances absorption of vitamin C into plasma and leukocytes: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial.

PURPOSE: L-Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is an essential water-soluble vitamin that plays an important role in various physiological functions, including immune health. The stability of vitamin C in the gastrointestinal tract its bioavailability is limited. This study aimed to investigate if a liposomal form of vitamin C can increase absorption compared to standard vitamin C.

METHODS: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover fashion, 19 males and 8 females (n = 27; 36.0 ± 5.1 years, 165.0 ± 6.9 cm, 70.6 ± 7.1 kg) ingested a single-dose of placebo (PLA), 500 mg vitamin C (VIT C), and 500 mg liposomal vitamin C (LV-VIT C, LipoVantage® , Specnova, LLC, Tyson Corner, VA, USA). Venous blood samples were collected 0, 0.5-, 1-, 1.5-, 2-, 3-, 4-, 6-, 8-, 12-, and 24-hours after ingestion and were analyzed for plasma and leukocyte vitamin C concentration.

RESULTS: VIT C and LV-VIT C demonstrated significantly greater Cmax and AUC0 - 24 in plasma and in leukocytes compared to placebo (p < 0.001). Additionally, LV-VIT C had significantly higher Cmax (plasma + 27%, leukocytes + 20%, p < 0.001) and AUC0 - 24 (plasma + 21%, leukocytes + 8%, p < 0.001) values as compared to VIT C.

CONCLUSION: Liposomal formulation of vitamin C increases absorption into plasma and leukocytes.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Trials Registry - India (CTRI/2023/04/051789).