Sucrosomial Vs Liposomal Technology: Which Is Better?

I recently came across the term Sucrosomial, after writing an article about the best magnesium supplements. One magnesium supplement called MicroMag had the word “sucrosomial magnesium” on its label.

What on earth is sucrosomial anyway?

After a quick search I found out that Sucrosomial “technology” offers better bioavailability in minerals and vitamins.

Immediately my thoughts went to Liposomal technology which is another type of supplement technology that enhances supplement bioavailability and that I covered extensively is previous articles.

Subsequently the question was born: Which one is better. Sucrosomial or Liposomal supplements?

Both sucrosomial and liposomal technologies are proven to enhance bioavailability in minerals, thus both technologies are starting to gain ground in terms of supplement usage. But, which one of the two technologies offer better bioavailability?

So I decided to write Sucrosomial Vs Liposomal Technology, to try understand which one of the two technologies offer better bioavailability.

Sucrosomial Vs Liposomal Technology Comparison Table

First things first. Here’s a quick table comparing the sucrosomial and liposomal technologies:

	Sucrosomial Technology	Liposomal Technology
Definition	Encapsulation of minerals within a sucrose matrix.	Encapsulation of minerals within lipid-based vesicles.
Bioavailability	Aimed at enhancing the absorption of minerals in the body.	Aimed at improving the solubility and stability of minerals as well as enhancing absorption.
Mechanism	Protects minerals from degradation in the gastrointestinal tract and facilitates their absorption.	Enhances absorption by promoting better vitamin incorporation into cell membranes.
Advantages	✅ Potential for increased bioavailability. ✅ Protection of minerals from degradation. ✅ Improves absorption.	✅ Improved solubility and stability of minerals. ✅ Enhanced absorption through lipid bilayer incorporation.
Disadvantages	🔴 Limited scientific research on specific minerals. 🔴 Formulation variations may impact effectiveness.	🔴 May require specific storage conditions to maintain stability. 🔴 Potential for variable effectiveness depending on formulation.
Application	Used in supplements to enhance mineral bioavailability.	Widely used in various industries, including pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
Research Studies	Limited studies available, but promising results for certain minerals.	Extensive research and application in various fields, providing a substantial body of evidence.
Availability	Increasing availability in the supplement market.	Widely available in various formulations and applications.
Considerations	Consider specific mineral and formulation effectiveness.	Consider lipid composition, stability, and specific formulation requirements.

💡Overall, both sucrosomial and liposomal technologies have been developed to enhance the bioavailability of various compounds, including minerals and vitamins.

What is Sucrosomial Technology?

Sucrosomial technology involves encapsulating the mineral within a sucrose matrix. This technology aims to protect the mineral from degradation in the gastrointestinal tract and enhance its absorption in the body.

The sucrose coating may help facilitate the passage of the mineral through the intestinal membrane, potentially improving its bioavailability.

Sucrosomial Technology is a way of delivering some nutrients, like iron, magnesium, zinc and others, to your body in a more efficient and gentle way.

Basically, it wraps the nutrient molecules in a layer of fat and sugar, called a Sucrosome, that protects them from being broken down by your stomach acid or interacting with other stuff in your gut.

Illustration of Sucrosomial technology applied to an Iron molecule

This way, the minerals can reach your intestines intact and get absorbed into your bloodstream more easily. It also means you don’t get any nasty side effects like nausea, constipation or metallic taste that some other forms of nutrients can cause.

Sucrosomial Technology was invented by a company called Alesco, and they have patented it and applied it to various products, like Sideral Forte for iron deficiency, Ultramins for mineral supplements, and some phytoextracts and vitamins too.

As a patented technology, they sell it to other supplement manufacturers to use it on their supplements (like for example the Sucrosomial magnesium I mentioned earlier).

There are some studies that show that this technology works better than other types of oral delivery systems for nutrients, especially for iron, which is a common problem for many people.

For example, this study concluded that Sucrosomial Iron is better and safer than regular iron pills and can even replace iron infusions in some cases.

Another study tested different forms of vitamin D3 supplements in people with low vitamin D levels. They used an sucrosomial® Vit D3, a chewable tablet, and soft gel capsule (SGC) Vit D3. They found that the sucrosomial® Vit D3 worked better in raising and maintaining vitamin D levels in the blood.

What is Liposomal Technology?

Liposomal technology on the other hand, is a way of making tiny bubbles of fat that can carry different substances inside them (lipid-based vesicles).

These bubbles are called liposomes, and they are made of the same kind of molecules that form the outer layer of our cells.

Liposomal Encapsulation Technology Image

The lipid coating enhances the absorption of the mineral by promoting its incorporation into cell membranes.

Liposomes can protect the substances they carry from being broken down by our body, and they can also deliver them to specific places where they are needed.

Liposomal technology can be used for many purposes, such as delivering drugs, nutrients, vaccines, or genes to our cells.

For example, liposomal technology can help improve the absorption and effectiveness of water-soluble vitamins like vitamin C and vitamin B12, which normally get degraded by our stomach acids and enzymes.

Liposomes can also help transport molecules that are too big or too unstable to cross our cell membranes, such as DNA or RNA.

Liposomal technology is an advanced and innovative way of creating supplements and medications that can have better results and fewer side effects than traditional forms.

Liposomes are not new, though. They were first discovered in 1961 by a British scientist named Alec Douglas Bangham, who was testing a new electron microscope. [1]

Since then, liposomal technology has been developed and improved by many researchers around the world.

So, which one offers more bioavailability?

To be honest, it is hard to say.

Both technologies have shown promising results in increasing the bioavailability of minerals in various studies.

However, the effectiveness of each technology can vary depending on factors such as the specific mineral, the formulation, and the delivery method.

Ultimately, the best choice between sucrosomial and liposomal technologies for enhanced bioavailability would depend on the specific mineral you are interested in.

For example:

Sucrosomial Technology: Sucrosomial Iron has been shown to be significantly more bioavailable than other iron formulations. [2]

Sucrosomial Zinc has also been reported to be 80% more bioavailable than zinc gluconate, a commonly used zinc supplement. [3]

Liposomal Technology: Liposomal Vitamin C has been found to have much higher bioavailability than standard Vitamin C. [4]

In another study, liposomal drug delivery was found to increase bioavailability by 2 folds compared to the plain drug. [5]

Frequently Asked Questions

Sucrosomial technology is commonly used to deliver a variety of micro-elements, macro-elements, and phytoextracts. Here are some nutrients that are often delivered using Sucrosomial technology:

Iron: The first studies and applications of Sucrosomial technology were carried out on iron¹. Sucrosomial iron has been shown to have high bioavailability, tolerability, and efficacy compared to other types of iron on the market. [7]
Magnesium: Following the significant scientific and commercial results achieved with Sucrosomial iron, the technology was applied to magnesium. Comparative studies between Sucrosomial magnesium, magnesium oxide, bisglycinate, and citrate demonstrate the efficacy of this technology in improving the absorption and tolerability of the mineral. [7]
Calcium: Sucrosomial technology has also been applied to calcium. [7]
Zinc: Sucrosomial Zinc has been reported to be 80% more bioavailable than zinc gluconate. [7]
Selenium: Selenium is another nutrient that can be delivered using Sucrosomial technology. [7]
Iodine: Iodine can also be delivered using Sucrosomial technology. [7]
Chromium: Chromium is another nutrient that can be delivered using Sucrosomial technology. [7]
Berberine: A new oral formulation of berberine based on Sucrosomial technology has been developed and tested for its effect on insulin resistance. [6]

Alesco, the company that patented Sucrosomial technology, has recently begun to apply it to some phytoextracts and vitamins, aiming to improve the tolerability, bioavailability, and absorption of these nutrients. [7]

Here are some that are commonly delivered using this technology:

Vitamin B12
Vitamin C
Vitamin D
Magnesium
Melatonin
R-Lipolic Acid
Glutathione
Curcumin

Liposomal technology does not have any side effects as per se. The term “liposomal” refers to the use of liposomes, which are tiny, spherical fat layers used to encapsulate these substances for better absorption in the body.

The absorption rate of liposomal vitamins can vary depending on the specific vitamin and individual factors.

However, some studies suggest that liposomal vitamins may start to be absorbed within an hour. [8]

For example, a small study found that liposomal glutathione showed a trend towards increased levels in several tissues after two weeks. [9]

Liposomes can be both naturally occurring and artificially made. They can form naturally when tissues are disturbed, such as when tissue is damaged and small pieces of the cell membrane become detached. [10]

Artificially, liposomes can be prepared by disrupting biological membranes, such as by sonication. [11]

In the lab, scientists can use sonic waves to break apart lipid bilayer membranes into any size liposome they want. [10]

Bottom Line

In conclusion, both sucrosomial and liposomal technologies have been developed to enhance the bioavailability of minerals and protect them from degradation in the gastrointestinal tract. Both technologies offer potential benefits in terms of improving stability, absorption, and overall bioavailability of minerals.

However, determining which technology offers better bioavailability can be challenging as it depends on various factors, including the specific mineral, formulation, and intended use. The effectiveness of each technology may vary for different minerals and applications.

It is important to consider the specific mineral and formulation when evaluating the bioavailability-enhancing properties of these technologies.

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Sucrosomial Vs Liposomal Supplement Technology: Which Offers Better Bioavailability?