Buyer Beware: How To Tell When A Product Is NOT Liposomal

Since LivOn Labs launched Altrient (US name Lypospheric) the world’s first liposomal vitamin C supplement back in 2004, liposomes have taken the health and wellness world by storm. ‘Liposomal’ has become a buzzword in the industry and liposomal supplements are a steadily growing trend among beauty, health and wellness experts – one that’s only expected to get bigger.

But with all that hype comes pretenders. More and more liposomal products have been entering the market, and, according to Dr Thomas Levy, many of them are fraudulent, containing no liposomes at all.

Altrient and LivOn Labs have been at the forefront of Liposomal Encapsulation Technology (LET) for nearly twenty years. They’re the true pioneers of liposomal vitamins and their patented process involves rigorous testing, high-quality ingredients and thoroughly researched formulas. It’s what they pride themselves on and what makes Altirent so effective and safe.

There’s a big difference between ‘standard’ vitamin C supplements and liposomal vitamins. Seeing non-liposomal products marketed as such is worrisome, but until the government cracks down on fake liposomal products, not much can be done other than to warn buyers about the difference. That’s why Dr Levy, one of the leading vitamin C researchers, shared his tips on how to spot a fake liposomal product, and what to keep an eye out for when shopping for vitamin C supplements.

Meet Dr Levy

Dr Thomas Levy MD is one of the world’s leading experts on vitamin C and liposomal research. He believes that vitamin C is an extremely powerful way to help support the body and contribute to normal immune function during challenging times. He has written numerous books on the topic, including Primal Panacea and Curing The Incurable.

During a recent seminar, he spoke about vitamin C, the history of liposomes, Altirent and how to tell when a product is truly liposomal.

What is Liposomal Vitamin C?

 For a number of reasons, standard tablets and capsules don’t always reach their full potential. One reason could be because the enzymes in the stomach and intestinal tract damage the product. The addition of things like sugar and gelatins to the formula could also disrupt vitamin C, as could nutrients not being able to cross cell membranes efficiently. 

Enter liposomes. Liposomal technology allows nutritional supplements like vitamin C to be better absorbed by the body by mimicking the structure of a cell membrane.

Liposomes themselves were “discovered and created back in the 1960s” according to Dr Levy. They are sub-microscopic bubbles that are able to encapsulate nutrients like vitamin C and transport them rapidly through the bloodstream and to the cells. Altrient’s unique delivery system of liposomes helps to create a much better absorption of vitamin C compared to other standard forms of vitamin C supplements.

As Dr Levy says: “The liposomes that are produced, in this case by LivOn and Altrient, containing vitamin C or another nutrient actually serve in the same way that cells communicate with each other to naturally deliver the contents they are carrying to the cell.”

Liposomes deliver nutrients via two different mechanisms which are dependent on the size of the liposome. Small liposomes are able to utilise the tiny existing transport channels located within the cell membrane to deliver their nutrients. Whereas larger liposomes simply fuse and merge with the cell’s outer membrane. The outer membrane of the liposome and the outer membrane of the cell are both formed from a phospholipid bilayer, so this meeting of ‘like meets like’ surfaces provides an efficient and easy nutrient delivery.

The benefits of Liposomal Encapsulation Technology (LET)

Liposomal Encapsulation Technology means that your supplements are far more likely to have the impact you want them to.

LET allows the enhanced absorption and efficiency of vitamin C, but not only that, there are other benefits to Altrient’s liposomal technology, including:

• Nutrients contained in double-layered phospholipid membrane, similar to cell membranes

• Protect nutrients from being destroyed in the gut

• Provide maximised absorption into the bloodstream as intact liposomes

• Transport nutrients directly to the cells where they are needed most

• Achieve a more sustained release of nutrients

• Protect nutrients from oxidation, pH and temperature

• Prevent nutrients being utilised by gut microbiome

And much more. This all means that Altrient’s patented LET vitamin C supplement ensure maximised absorption compared to other oral forms of vitamin C, they’re gentle on the stomach, offer ease and convenience and are more cost-effective - what’s not to like.

How can you tell when a liposomal product is fake?

Sadly, the increased attention on the benefits of liposomes and LET is not wholly a good thing. Today, many of the so-called liposomal vitamin C products on the market aren’t exactly what they seem.

“Most of the products are fraudulent,” Dr Levy explains. “We tested a lot of liposomal products on the market, and most of them had no liposomes in them at all.” 

True liposomal supplements are tested to provide maximised absorption of the nutrients they hold through encapsulation technology. Without LET, the products won’t be absorbed as much by the body, as it does not have the unique delivery capabilities that liposomes have in regards to transporting nutrients all the way to the cells.

While you can’t tell what products are and aren’t liposomal unless you have a microscope, there are a few ways to tell when a product is fake. 

Price check

Firstly there’s the cost of the product. If something seems cheap or too good to be true, chances are, it is.

As Dr Levy says: “Altrient and LivOn, when compared to other vitamin C supplements, many think it’s a little bit pricey. That’s because it’s an incredibly involved process to create Altirent, not only to make the liposomes but also to do the quality control and test every batch for purity, liposome size and everything else.”

Always read the box

Make sure you pay careful attention to the box. Check that it’s a reputable manufacturer and that the product has met rigorous testing standards – you’re looking for certification from NSF, GMP or Informed Sport. You should check if the products have been prepared and stored in an oxygen-free environment and that it’s a pure formula with only 4-5 essential ingredients. 

Other things to watch out for

Other differences between liposomal vitamin C and standard tablets are:

• Delivering nutrients all the way to the cells

• Suitable phospholipids used in equal proportions

• Consistency and structure (bilayer not monolayer)

• Liposomal products don’t dissolve in water and cannot be blended or mixed with hot drinks

Shop confidently with Altrient’s Liposomal Vitamin C

You can still benefit from regular vitamin C supplements, but if you want the unique advantages of liposomes – and you want to be sure you’re getting them – then Altrient and LivOn are your best options.

Altrient have spent years researching the best formulation techniques and manufacturing processes for liposome encapsulated supplements. Each sachet contains ​​1000mg of vitamin C and extra 500mg phosphatidylcholine. Every batch is tested to ensure liposome stability, while every ingredient is tested for identity strength and purity. We invest heavily in independent research to ensure everything is backed by scientific data, and we are manufactured in an NSF, GMP certified installation.

Shop with trust. Shop with Altrient.