The term liposomal comes from two Greek words: 'lipos' meaning fat and 'soma' which means body. Liposomes were discovered in the UK in 1961. As well as vitamin C, liposomal nano-technology has been used as a delivery system for anti-cancer drugs such as Doxorubicin, Camptothecin and Daunorubicin and to deliver enzymes and nutritional supplements to foods.
Liposomal or lypospheric vitamin C (Lypo-C for short) is a new form of vitamin C delivery that is taken orally, just like vitamin C powders or tablets, but that has an absorption rate similar to that of vitamin C given intravenously (IVC).
As The Vitamin C Foundation explain,
Almost 100% absorption is the key. Liposomal vitamin C is released from the liposomes in the liver almost perfectly imitating the animal release of vitamin C. The liposomal form of vitamin C may become important oral cancer adjunct by helping to maintain high blood levels of ascorbate - vitamin C, especially in people who have trouble tolerating ordinary pills due to gas and diarrhoea.
Our tests with liposomal vitamin C have been amazing. No gas or diarrhoea at double the dosages that usually create these effects in our subjects. The Foundation recommends utilizing Lypo-C after you reach bowel tolerance with ordinary ascorbic acid.
‘Liposome-encapsulated Ascorbate Liposomes were first proposed as a unique drug delivery system approximately 35 years ago (Bangham, 1995; Gregoriadis, 1995). One of the primary reasons for utilizing a liposome-encapsulation delivery system is to assure a near complete absorption of the encapsulated nutrient or drug into the bloodstream. The physical qualities of the liposome also eliminate the need for digestive activity before absorption.’
How much does liposomal vitamin C cost?
Lypo-C is significantly more expensive than standard vitamin C powders or tablets, although it is still significantly cheaper than vitamin C given by IV.
A 50 g vitamin C IV may cost roughly $110 to $150; 50 g of Lypo-C costs roughly $50 to $70, while 50 g of plain ascorbic acid costs roughly $2 to $5.
A standard dose for a vitamin C IV is 50 g and the cost is $110 to $150; a standard dose of Lypo-C is 2 -6 packets, costing $2 to $6; a standard high dose of 25 -50 g of plain ascorbic acid costs roughly $1 to $5.
The absorption, bio-availability and tolerance level of each type of vitamin C must be taken into account along with price, however.
How well is each of the different types of vitamin C absorbed?
The amount of vitamin C that enters the bloodstream with oral vitamin C is around 20%. For Lypo-C this figure is around 90%, and IVs deliver 100% of the vitamin C into the bloodstream directly.
Vitamin C given by IV is vastly superior to vitamin C taken orally. Vitamin C experts Dr Levy explains that after much experimentation and deliberation, he has concluded that liposomal vitamin C may in fact be superior to vitamin C given by IV, but that the most powerful clinical effect may be achieved with a combination of the two.
In a recent lecture, Dr Levy explained that Lypo-C may be far more readily absorbed intracellularly than IVC. This makes it far more clinically effective as intracellular absorption, where the vitamin C gets inside the cells that are most in need of it, is ‘your ultimate bio-target.’ He explains that he has observed the superiority of liposomal vitamin C as compared to IV vitamin C in practice many, many times, though he readily acknowledges that this theory has not yet been rigorously proven.
In the lecture Dr Levy states ‘5-6 g of liposomal vitamin C is more effective clinically than 50 g of vitamin C by IV.’
He goes on to talk about the benefits of liposomal vitamin C in developing countries such as Africa, where he has been working recently, where it is impossible to administer the 48 hour or more constant IV vitamin C favoured by vitamin C experts such as the late Dr Frederick Klenner. He describes one case where he was able to successfully treat a patient seriously ill with hemorrhagic dengue fever with 10 – 12 sachets of Lypo-C given over 2 days, where previously he would have had to administer hundreds of grams of vitamin C by IV to have had the same effect. Dr Levy also comments that he has observed these same affects in many other diseases.
To view the video of this lecture, see: Dr Levy’s presentation to the 35th Annual Cancer Convention pt3-4
Dr Levy writes:
I found that liposome encapsulated vitamin C, taken orally, was roughly 10 times more effective clinically in resolving infectious diseases than the IVC. Having given thousands of IVCs and taken hundreds myself, this was difficult to comprehend, even though the clinical observation was quite straightforward. I subsequently realized that the liposome gave the ultimate bioavailability: intracellular delivery, including the mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, and even the nucleus. 2 to 6 packets daily covers most individuals for most situations.
How well is liposomal vitamin C tolerated by the gut?
Liposomal vitamin C utilises nano-technology and so is very small, and requires no digestive activity prior to assimilation. The liposomes are rapidly absorbed in the small intestine and then transported intact throughout the bloodstream to the cells that need it. This means that it may be the best choice for those patients that cannot tolerate the gut irritation caused by standard oral vitamin C supplements or that wish to reduce the load on the gut due to severe M.E. (which causes a lack of blood flow to the gut) or other diseases.
Lypo-C also has no binders, fillers, gelatines, capsule materials, dyes, sweeteners, or flavourings common with tablet and capsule supplements. It contains a mixture of ‘essential phospholipids’ – predominately phosphatidylcholine – and pharmaceutical-quality ascorbic acid.
How does one take liposomal vitamin C?
Lypo-C (which is GMO-free) is sold in 1 g sachets. One pours the contents of the sachets into a glass of water and then drinks it. Lypo- C is best taken 15 minutes before meals. Some people say they like the taste of this supplement, and others say it tastes terrible.
Only one sachet should be taken at a time, and the doses should be spread out as much as possible over the course of a day. Dosage is usually 2 – 6 sachets daily.
Is having vitamin C by IV still worthwhile?
Dr Levy says that if you are very ill, then you should not replace vitamin C by IV with Lypo-C – you should have both. He believes that if you have some liposomal vitamin C and then you have a 50 g vitamin C IV, and will will absorb even more vitamin C from the IV intracellularly because of the liposomes circulating in the blood and waiting to facilitate that second stage of absorption and bioavailability. Again he comments that while he has observed this effect in many of his patients, it is yet to be proven.
Looking at Dr Levy’s comments, it seems as if 1 g of Lypo-C may be considered roughly camparable with 10 g of IVC. Taking 1 g of Lypo-C is about the same as taking 3-4 g of standard oral vitamin C.
Conclusion
There are many ways that liposomal vitamin C may be combined with other forms of vitamin C. How much Lipo-C is taken may depend on budget and tolerance. For example, one might:
* Take 8 – 30 g of ascorbic acid powder (with bicarb if needed) plus 1 – 4 sachets of Lypo-C daily
* Take 8 – 30 g of ascorbic acid powder daily, plus 2 – 4 sachets of Lypo-C once or twice a week or once a fortnight.
* Take 2 - 4 sachets of Lypo-C daily, plus 2 extra sachets of Lipo-C once or twice a week.
* Take 2 - 6 sachets of Lypo-C daily, plus a 50 g vitamin C IV once a week.
* Take 8 – 30 g of ascorbic acid powder plus 1 – 4 sachets of Lypo-C daily, plus a 50 g vitamin C IV administered (at the doctor’s surgery or at home with the assistance of a friend or family member that is a qualified nurse) once or twice a week or once a fortnight (and trial discontinuing the IVs after 6 - 12 months).
* Take 8 – 30 g of ascorbic acid powder plus 1 – 4 sachets of Lypo-C daily, plus a 50 g vitamin C IV administered once or twice a week or once a fortnight (and trial discontinuing the IVs after 6 months).
It is generally recommended that Lypo-C and/or vitamin C by IV be used only after bowel tolerance has been reached with ordinary oral vitamin C, or at least a reasonably high dose. Building up the dose slowly is ideal.
This new nano-technology vitamin C delivery system may be a good choice and a wonderful new discovery for those that can afford it. It provides an alternative to IVs and for those who do not have access to IVs.
This treatment should be trialled for at least 2-3 months. After 6 – 12 months of treatment it may not be necessary to take such a high dose as was needed at the beginning of treatment. The maintenance dose of vitamin C is often much lower than the initial effective dose.
Dr Levy’s presentation to the 35th Annual Cancer Convention pt3-4 (a video which talks about liposomal vitamin C)
The Many Faces of Vitamin C by Dr. Thomas E. Levy (mentions Lipo-C, recommends avoiding calcium ascorbate and offers information to physicians which are interested in prescribing Lipo-C.)
List of international suppliers of liposomal vitamin C sachets from Livon labs. Liposomal vitamin C from LivOn Labs is the form recommended and used by Dr Levy. Some brands of liposomal vitamin C may not be repuatable and may not be selling the same quality product.
LivOn Labs Lypo-Spheric Vitamin C Part 1 (video)
Click here to read a free except from one of Dr Levy’s books on vitamin C.
PC Liposomal Encapsulation Technology by Robert D. Milne, see also: http://www.vitaminc.co.nz/pdf/LIPOSOMAL-ENCAPSULATION-ROBERT-D.-MILNE-MD.pdf
The Vitamin C Foundation website.
Vitamin C: The Facts, the Fiction, and the Law (presented by Dr Levy in New Zealand on 9/17/2010). The powerpoint lecture on vitamin C and the law can be found here and the video listing is: Thomas Levy Talks To Vitamin C Can Cure Coalition Part 1/9 (video)
Vaccination---The Shot That Keeps on Shooting by Dr Thomas Levy MD
Curing the Incurable with Vitamin C: (video) with Dr Levy
Antioxidant Balance is Essential to Health (video) with Dr. Thomas E. Levy
Pulsed Intravenous Vitamin C (PIVC) Therapy by Dr. Thomas E. Levy
Vitamin C and Severe Influenza: a case report by Dr. Thomas E. Levy
Vitamin C, Pumonary Embolism, and Cali, Colombia by Dr. Thomas E. Levy
Curing the Incurable: Vitamin C, Infectious Diseases and Toxins by Dr Thomas E.Levy
Dr. Donsbach Pt7 Liposomal Anti-Cancer Formula - Health Freedom Expo 2009 (video)
Protective Effect of Coenzyme Q10-loaded Liposomes on the Myocardium in Rabbits with an Acute Experimental Myocardial Infarction
A Special Interview with Dr. Ronald Hunninghake about Vitamin C by Dr. Mercola
Always talk to your vitamin C educated doctor for dosage information specific to your own case. If you don’t have such a doctor, it is highly recommended that you try and find one. For more information on vitamin C generally, including why the other antioxidants should be taken with vitamin C and how to determine a ‘bowel tolerance’ dose of vitamin C and adjust your dose over time, see the main HHH vitamin C paper.
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Note that the aim of this site is to provide a starting point for health and healing research for ill people; especially very overwhelmed and disabled ill people. This site provides recommendations, summaries and reviews of books but is not meant to be a replacement for actually reading some of these wonderful health books if the reader is at all well enough to do so. (Plus getting individualised advice from a doctor that is also an orthomolecular medicine expert if possible). There is no substitute for reading as many of these books as you can. The HHH site can only really hint at their full brilliance. The amount of insight, scientific references, logic, intelligence, compassion and experience in the recommended books will most likely amaze you. HHH aims to encourage people to do their own reading and learning, and to always make up their own minds. All content copyright Jodi Bassett 2006 - 2014.