Liposomal supplements come with their own vocabulary — terms that get used constantly across product labels, ingredient guides and marketing copy, often without ever being properly explained. This page defines the concepts that actually matter for understanding what you’re buying, in plain language, once, so every other page on this site can link here instead of re-explaining them inconsistently.
Phospholipid
A phospholipid is a fat-like molecule with a water-attracting “head” and two water-repelling “tails.” This dual nature is exactly why phospholipids are the building block of every cell membrane in your body, and why they’re also the material liposomes are made from — a liposome is essentially a microscopic sphere built from phospholipids arranged the same way a cell membrane is. Common phospholipid sources in supplements are sunflower lecithin and soy lecithin. See the science behind liposomal technology for how this translates into the delivery mechanism.
Bioavailability
Bioavailability specifically means the proportion of a substance that enters your bloodstream and is available for your body to use, after accounting for everything lost during digestion. It’s a more precise term than “absorption” — a nutrient can be absorbed into the gut lining but still not reach general circulation intact, and bioavailability accounts for that whole journey, not just the first step. When you see a claim that liposomal delivery “improves bioavailability,” this is specifically what’s being measured.
Encapsulation Efficiency
Encapsulation efficiency is the percentage of the active nutrient that actually ends up sealed inside liposomes during manufacturing, versus left floating unprotected in the liquid. It’s one of the most important, and least visible, quality differentiators between liposomal brands — two products can both be labelled “liposomal” and contain the same nutrient dose, while one has a genuinely high encapsulation efficiency and the other doesn’t. There’s no way for a consumer to verify this by eye or taste; it requires laboratory testing (see Third-Party Testing, below).
Particle Size
Liposome particle size is typically measured in nanometers, and manufacturing method has a direct effect on it — smaller, more uniform particles are generally associated with more consistent absorption, while inconsistent particle size (a mix of very large and very small liposomes in the same batch) is often a sign of a less controlled manufacturing process. Like encapsulation efficiency, this isn’t something you can assess by looking at the product; it requires specialized measurement.
Third-Party Testing & Certificate of Analysis (COA)
A Certificate of Analysis is a lab report confirming what’s actually in a product batch — verifying the labelled dose is accurate, and screening for contaminants. “Third-party” means the testing lab is independent of the brand itself, rather than the brand testing and reporting on its own product. Because encapsulation efficiency and particle size can’t be judged by eye, independent lab verification is the most concrete way any liposomal supplement brand can demonstrate real quality rather than just claiming it. If you’re evaluating any liposomal product — from us or anyone else — asking whether independent test results are available is one of the most useful questions you can ask.
Oxidative Stress
Oxidative stress happens when unstable molecules called free radicals build up faster than your body’s antioxidant defences can neutralise them, causing damage to cells over time. It’s a normal part of everyday metabolism, but it can be increased by factors like poor diet, pollution, and physical or psychological stress. Antioxidant nutrients — Vitamin C, Glutathione, Resveratrol and Pine Bark Extract on this site — work by helping neutralise free radicals, which is why oxidative stress comes up across several ingredient guides rather than just one.
Mitochondria & Mitochondrial Function
Mitochondria are the structures inside your cells responsible for converting nutrients into ATP, the molecule your body actually uses as an energy currency — they’re often called the “powerhouse of the cell” for exactly this reason. Mitochondrial function naturally tends to decline with age, which is why ingredients like CoQ10 and PQQ (both covered on this site) are frequently discussed in relation to cellular energy and healthy aging: they’re involved in supporting the processes mitochondria rely on.
NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide)
NAD+ is a molecule every cell in your body needs for energy production and DNA repair, and its levels are well documented to decline with age. This decline is the central reason NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) gets attention in healthy-aging research — NMN is a direct precursor your body can convert into NAD+. See our Liposomal NMN guide for the fuller picture, including the honest state of the regulatory and research landscape.
Sirtuins
Sirtuins are a family of proteins involved in regulating cellular health and stress resistance, and they require NAD+ to function. They’re part of why NMN and resveratrol are often discussed together in longevity research — resveratrol has been studied for its potential to activate sirtuin activity, while NMN supports the NAD+ supply sirtuins depend on. This is an active area of ongoing research rather than settled science.
SAHPRA (South African Health Products Regulatory Authority)
SAHPRA is South Africa’s regulatory body for health products, including complementary medicines and health supplements. Regulation of this category has evolved significantly over the past decade and remains an active area of legal and regulatory development in South Africa. We mention SAHPRA here for context on the regulatory environment supplements operate within in this market, not as a claim about any specific product’s registration status — check individual product labelling for that.
Nothing on this page is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. For more, see our science behind liposomal technology page, our Liposomal Supplements FAQ, or browse our full product range.