Liposomal products: Your heart’s desire

According to the WHO, cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally¹. Cardiovascular diseases refer to a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels. In 2019, 17.9 million people (32% of all global deaths) died from CVDs. Many coronary artery diseases can be prevented by changes to an unhealthy lifestyle, including dietary changes.

In this blog post, we outline some food supplements that can help support the normal functioning of your heart.

Coenzyme Q10

Coenzyme Q10, also known as ubiquinone or CoQ10, is a compound found in all cell membranes in our body². It serves to transfer electrons across cell membranes and is critical to the function of several energy-yielding metabolic pathways and the maintenance of cellular pH. CoQ10 is also useful as an antioxidant. Since our body uses it so often, CoQ10 levels can reduce due to ageing or certain pathological conditions.

Coenzyme Q10 serves as an antioxidant and is critical to the production of cellular energy

Being fat-soluble, Coenzyme Q10 can benefit from being supplemented through liposomes³. One of the highest levels of CoQ10 is found in the heart. Liposomal CoQ10 supplementation may therefore, support the normal functioning of your heart. The European CoQ10 market is considerably small⁴, thus providing ample business opportunity for niche liposomal CoQ10 products.

Resveratrol

As a polyphenolic phytochemical, resveratrol, is most famously known as the compound in red wine that has beneficial cardiovascular effects⁵. While this particular claim has not been scientifically substantiated, resveratrol found in grapes, peanuts and some berries, has shown promise as a cardioprotective agent.

As with most plant extracts, resveratrol’s bioavailability is low because it is fat-soluble. It is also rapidly metabolized and eliminated from the body. Liposomal encapsulation of resveratrol has demonstrated potential in increasing the bioavailability and thus, effectivity of this potential antioxidant⁶.

Liposomal resveratrol can overcome the problems of low bioavailability, rapid metabolization and excretion

The global antioxidants market was estimated at USD 377.1 million in 2016. It is forecasted to reach USD 485.17 million at the end of 2021⁷. With a high demand for natural antioxidants, liposomal resveratrol supplements could meet the needs of consumers.

Omega-3 fatty acids (ALA, EPA and DHA)

Omega-3 fatty acids are important structural components of cell membranes, affecting their permeability and even the function of membrane-bound enzymes⁸. Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and its derivatives, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are omega-3 fatty acids. They are essential fatty acids that cannot be synthesized by humans. It is, therefore, recommended to consume foods rich in ALA, EPA and DHA.

The dietary consumption of omega-3 fatty acids increases the omega-3 content of different cell types throughout the body, including in cardiac tissue. In addition to their structural functions, omega-3 fatty acids also provide a source of energy. ALA is important for the maintenance of normal blood cholesterol concentrations⁹. The EFSA recommends a daily intake of 250 mg of EPA and DHA to maintain normal cardiac function.

Magnesium

As one of the most ubiquitous minerals found in our bodies, magnesium is essential to many physiologic pathways. These include energy production, nucleic acid and protein synthesis, ion transport and cell signaling¹⁰. On a macro level, this means that magnesium maintains normal heart muscle contraction, amongst others⁹.

The adequate intake of magnesium for adult women and men is 300 mg/day and 350 mg/day, respectively¹¹. However, the maximum chronic daily intake is 250 mg/day, for both sexes.

A single dose of PlantaCorp’s liquid liposomal magnesium supplement was found to be 5.18-times more bioavailable than a non-liposomal supplement of the same concentration. Our Business Development Team would be happy to share more information on our liposomal magnesium bioavailability study.

Liposomes

Thiamine

Also known as vitamin B1, thiamin or thiamine, is a water-soluble B vitamin¹². It is a coenzyme for several metabolic reactions. In this role, it helps convert the carbohydrates and amino acids that we consume into useable energy. Thiamine also helps maintain normal cardiac function⁹.

The recommended dietary intake for adult (>18 years) women and men is 1.1 mg/day and 1.2 mg/day, respectively¹³. This is normally achieved through a balanced diet of legumes, whole grain products and red meat. A thiamine deficiency can however, occur in cases of diets high in processed carbohydrates (white rice and flour), alcoholism, strenuous physical exercise and in those with malabsorption syndromes¹⁴. In all these cases, supplementation of thiamine is recommended.

Thiamine supplementation is recommended in cases of high processed carbohydrates consumption, alcoholism and strenuous physical exercise.

Liposomal thiamine was shown to have a 4.5-fold higher retention than unpackaged vitamin B1 in laboratory studies¹⁵. This likely means that liposomal delivery of thiamine will make it more bioavailable than non-liposomal supplements.

Conclusion

There are several vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and plant extracts that can support the health of our hearts. Most of them can benefit from liposomal supplementation. Liposomal supplements help increase their bioavailability. These supplements can then help your cardiovascular system function efficiently.

Liposomes

Key takeaways

• Coenzyme Q10, resveratrol, omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium and vitamin B1 supplements can help maintain normal heart function
• One of the highest levels of CoQ10 is found in the heart. Coenzyme Q10 can benefit from being supplemented through liposomes.
• Resveratrol is a proven cardioprotective agent. Liposomal encapsulation has demonstrated potential in increasing the bioavailability of resveratrol.
• A daily intake of 250 mg of EPA and DHA (omega-3 fatty acids) is recommended to maintain normal cardiac function.
• Magnesium maintains normal heart muscle contraction. PlantaCorp’s liquid liposomal magnesium supplement was found to be 5.18-times more bioavailable than a non-liposomal supplement.
• Vitamin B1 or thiamine, helps maintain normal cardiac function. In laboratory studies, liposomal thiamine was shown to have a 4.5-fold higher retention than unpackaged vitamin B1.

References

1. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cardiovascular-diseases-(cvds) – Find Out More
2. https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/dietary-factors/coenzyme-Q10 – Find Out More
3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16873950/ – Find Out More
4. CoenzymeQ10 Ingredients for Dietary Food Supplements Market, Forecast to 2025 (frost.com)
5. https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/dietary-factors/phytochemicals/resveratrol – Find Out More
6. Chimento A et al. Progress to Improve Oral Bioavailability and Beneficial Effects of Resveratrol. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019.
7. https://store.frost.com/global-antioxidants-market-forecast-to-2021.html – Find Out More
8. https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/other-nutrients/essential-fatty-acids – Find Out More
9. EU Register of nutrition and health claims made on foods (v.3.6)
10. https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/minerals/magnesium – Find Out More
11. https://multimedia.efsa.europa.eu/drvs/index.htm – Find Out More
12. https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/vitamins/thiamin – Find Out More
13. Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine. Dietary Reference Intakes: Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Pantothenic Acid, Biotin, and Choline. Washington D.C.: National Academy Press; 1998:58-86
14. https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/vitamins/thiamin – Find Out More
15. Juhasz et al. Int J Mol Sci. 2021.