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Enhancing bioavailability through nature’s example

By Kelly C. Heim, Ph.D.

Every cell in the body is an organized coalescence of aqueous and lipid components. Thus, to sustain physiological function and overall health, the body requires both water- and fat-soluble nutrients. While the digestive tract has evolved ways to absorb both types, water solubility offers a salient advantage. As the intestinal environment is aqueous, or watery, these compounds can readily dissolve and disperse, contacting a large area of epithelial surface in the intestine. Maximal surface contact facilitates optimal absorption across the epithelium.‡

Bioactives that are partially water-soluble, such as resveratrol, dissolve and disperse to a limited extent, while fat-soluble compounds, such as coenzyme Q10 and vitamin D, are ineffective in this capacity. To be absorbed, fat-soluble compounds require packaging into spherical droplets, known as micelles, which are endowed with a water-soluble exterior. However, micelle assembly, which occurs in the intestine, is limited unless the bioactive is consumed with a meal containing an adequate amount of fat.‡

Micelles are instructive natural models for technological innovations in bioavailability for two reasons. Foremost, due to their water-soluble exterior and oily core, they sequester the bioactive until the site of absorption is reached. Secondly, micelles seldom exceed 100 nanometers in diameter. Both characteristics afford even dispersal throughout the aqueous milieu of the GI tract. Importantly, micelles easily traverse the layer of water just above the epithelium, known as the unstirred water layer, to maximally access the absorptive surface.‡

VESIsorb® is a delivery system that mimics the natural process of micelle formation, enhancing bioavailability of supplements with limited solubility. Developed by Vesifact, a research-driven Switzerland-based company, this patented system allows nanosized micelles to self-assemble immediately upon contact with the aqueous environment of the digestive tract without requiring concomitant fat intake. These droplets are colloidal, which denotes their uniform dispersal and ability to diffuse across the unstirred water layer (Figure 1).‡

Figure 1. Mechanism of enhanced absorption by VESIsorb®

In a double-blind, human pharmacokinetic study, the VESIsorb® delivery system enhanced CoQ10 bioavailability by 622% compared to oil-based CoQ10 and 499% compared to solubilized CoQ10.1

Pure Encapsulations offers three products incorporating the unique VESIsorb® delivery technology in liquid-filled Caplique® Capsules:

  1. Ubiquinol VESIsorb®: 100 mg ubiquinol, the bioactive form of CoQ10‡
  2. Vitamin D3 VESIsorb®: 2,000 IU vitamin D3
  3. Resveratrol VESIsorb®: 100 mg resVida®, a 99% pure resveratrol

These highly bioavailable products provide powerful tools for practitioners seeking advanced levels of support, particularly in cardiovascular, metabolic, neurocognitive and anti-aging applications.‡

References

  1. Liu Z-X, Artmann C. Relative bioavailability comparison of different coenzyme Q10 formulations with a novel delivery system. Alt Ther Health Med 15(2), 2009.

For educational purposes only. Consult your physician for any health problems.

‡These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Caplique® Capsule is a registered trademark used by Pure Encapsulations under license. Each Caplique® Capsule is preserved with a nitrogen bubble, which may give the appearance of the capsule not being full. Contents may appear cloudy or thick and may settle or separate.

is a registered trademark of Source One Global Partners.

is a registered trademark of Kaneka corporation.

This product contains resVida®. resVida® is a registered trademark of DSM Nutritional Products, Inc.