Why does the form of a dietary supplement matter?

As you probably know well, you provide most nutrients (vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, and other useful ingredients) to your body through food.

From a chemical point of view, the foods you consume are complex compounds that "hide" valuable active ingredients within them. They serve as carriers for these active ingredients, which in themselves are often unstable, poorly soluble, and have low bioavailability. Carriers ensure that a given ingredient reaches where it should and is absorbed by the body [1-2].

When creating a dietary supplement, it is also necessary to provide an appropriate carrier for its active ingredients. You could say it's a chemical "packaging" for the main substance. However, it is this carrier that determines how long the substance survives in the digestive system, where it dissolves, and how effectively it is absorbed [2].

In short, even the highest quality active ingredient will not bring the expected results if its carrier is not appropriate.

What are liposomes?

Liposomes are effective carriers of active substances. They are microstructures composed of two rings of phospholipids, a hydrophobic bilayer, and a watery core in the middle. In appearance, they resemble two beaded bracelets – a larger and a smaller one – placed one inside the other. Inside the smaller one is water or another solution, and between the bracelets is a hydrophobic bilayer containing, among other things, cholesterol molecules [3-4].

Thanks to their structure, liposomes can carry both hydrophilic substances (those soluble in water) and hydrophobic ones (those that do not dissolve in water, such as fats and oils). Hydrophilic substances are "enclosed" in the watery core of liposomes, while hydrophobic ones are in the hydrophobic bilayer [3-4].

Liposomes and the bioavailability of active ingredients

Liposomes are a technology designed for optimal protection of the ingredient. This is ensured by the structure made of phospholipids. These are compounds that are the main components of cell membranes in all living organisms. Thanks to this, they exhibit high biocompatibility and stability [3,7].

The liposomal "packaging" protects active substances from external factors as well as enzymes and the chemical environment present in the digestive tract. Thanks to this, they reach the intestines safely and can be effectively absorbed [4].

Liposomes and the digestive system

Since liposomes are built from phospholipids, substances present in cell membranes, they are natural for the body. Moreover, ensuring their breakdown only in the intestines (and not, for example, in the acidic environment of the stomach) minimizes the negative impact of the substance they transport on the earlier sections of the digestive system. They provide both high biocompatibility and biodegradability in the body [4,8]. This means that they are well tolerated by the body and are also easily removed from it.

Liposomal zinc 15 mg with Liposovit®-Zn

Liposomes are a scientifically recognized carrier of active substances [9]. In the care for the highest quality of their products, the Osavi brand has created the Liposomal Zinc 15 mg dietary supplement, in which zinc (zinc citrate) is enclosed in innovative liposomes – this formula is Liposovit®-Zn.

Thanks to the latest drying technology, Liposovit®-Zn is in powder form, which features excellent stability and ease of storage. It also does not contain animal-derived products, GMOs, preservatives, or allergens [4].

What distinguishes Liposomal Zinc 15 mg from the Osavi brand?

Liposomal Zinc 15 mg Osavi is:

• no unnecessary additives, dyes, or preservatives;
• no GMOs, gluten, lactose, or soy;
• optimal daily dose of zinc;
• convenient capsule form for supplementation;
• compatibility with the requirements of vegetarian, vegan, kosher, and halal diets.

Why is zinc important for the body?

Zinc is a mineral component that the body cannot store in excess. That is why it is very important to ensure its daily intake at an appropriate level. Zinc contributes to the proper functioning of enzymes in the human body [10-11].

Zinc participates in the metabolism of carbohydrates and other macronutrients, protein synthesis, and even DNA itself, as well as cell division and their protection against oxidative stress. Moreover, this mineral component is also important for the immune system or maintaining the correct vision process. It also contributes to maintaining the proper condition of skin, hair, nails, and bones. [10-14].

Sources:

1. Borum, Peggy R. „Supplements: questions to ask to reduce confusion123”. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, NIH Workshop on the Role of Dietary Supplements for Physically Active People, t. 72, nr 2, sierpień 2000, s. 538S-540S. ScienceDirect, https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/72.2.538S.
2. Frosi, Ilaria, et al. „Natural Carriers: Recent Advances in Their Use to Improve the Stability and Bioaccessibility of Food Active Compounds”. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, t. 64, nr 17, 2024, s. 5700–18. PubMed, https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2022.2157371.
3. Nsairat, Hamdi, et al. „Liposomes: structure, composition, types, and clinical applications”. Heliyon, t. 8, nr 5, maja 2022, s. e09394. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09394.
4. „About us”. Liposovit, https://liposovit.com/about-us/. Dostęp 8 stycznia 2026.
5. „Nanostructured Biobased Systems for Nutrient and Bioactive Compounds Delivery”. Nutrient Delivery, Academic Press, 2017, s. 43–85. www.sciencedirect.com, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-804304-2.00002-0.
6. „Estrogenicity of Beer: The Role of Intestinal Bacteria in the Activation of the Beer Flavonoid Isoxanthohumol”. Beer in Health and Disease Prevention, Academic Press, 2009, s. 523–39. www.sciencedirect.com, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-373891-2.00052-3.
7. Phospholipid - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/phospholipid. Dostęp 8 stycznia 2026.
8. Teleanu, Raluca Ioana, et al. „Liposomal and Lipid-Based Drug Delivery Systems: Bridging Gut Microbiota and Pediatric Disorder Treatments”. Pharmaceutics, t. 17, nr 6, maja 2025, s. 707. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17060707.
9. Luo, Minfang, et al. „Liposomes as Sustainable Delivery Systems in Food, Cosmetic, and Pharmaceutical Applications”. Journal of the American Oil Chemists’ Society, t. 102, nr 3, marca 2025, s. 547–68. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1002/aocs.12907.
10. Zinc: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews. https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-982/zinc. Dostęp 8 stycznia 2026.
11. Office of Dietary Supplements - Zinc. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Zinc-HealthProfessional/. Dostęp 8 stycznia 2026.
12. Gammoh, Nour, i Lothar Rink. „Zinc in Infection and Inflammation”. Nutrients, t. 9, nr 6, czerwca 2017, s. 624. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9060624.
13. Baltaci, Abdulkerim Kasim, et al. „Review: The Role of Zinc in the Endocrine System”. Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, t. 32, nr 1, stycznia 2019, s. 231–39.
14. Mocchegiani, Eugenio, et al. „Zinc: Dietary Intake and Impact of Supplementation on Immune Function in Elderly”. Age (Dordrecht, Netherlands), t. 35, nr 3, czerwca 2013, s. 839–60. PubMed, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-011-9377-3.