Nutrition and Metabolic Insights (Jan 2016)

Liposomal-encapsulated Ascorbic Acid: Influence on Vitamin C Bioavailability and Capacity to Protect against Ischemia–Reperfusion Injury

  • Janelle L. Davis,
  • Hunter L. Paris,
  • Joseph W. Beals,
  • Scott E. Binns,
  • Gregory R. Giordano,
  • Rebecca L. Scalzo,
  • Melani M. Schweder,
  • Emek Blair,
  • Christopher Bell

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4137/NMI.S39764
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9

Abstract

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Intravenous administration of vitamin C has been shown to decrease oxidative stress and, in some instances, improve physiological function in adult humans. Oral vitamin C administration is typically less effective than intravenous, due in part to inferior vitamin C bioavailability. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of oral delivery of vitamin C encapsulated in liposomes. On 4 separate randomly ordered occasions, 11 men and women were administered an oral placebo, or 4 g of vitamin C via oral, oral liposomal, or intravenous delivery. The data indicate that oral delivery of 4 g of vitamin C encapsulated in liposomes (1) produces circulating concentrations of vitamin C that are greater than unencapsulated oral but less than intravenous administration and (2) provides protection from ischemia–reperfusion-mediated oxidative stress that is similar to the protection provided by unencapsulated oral and intravenous administrations.