Enhanced acute absorption of vitamin D3 with a liposomal formulation (Cymbiotika) compared to a standard formulation in healthy adults: a randomized double-blind crossover study.
David Briskey, Sandra Rahman, Shilpa Raut, Chervin Jafarieh, Amanda Rao
{"title":"Enhanced acute absorption of vitamin D3 with a liposomal formulation (Cymbiotika) compared to a standard formulation in healthy adults: a randomized double-blind crossover study.","authors":"David Briskey, Sandra Rahman, Shilpa Raut, Chervin Jafarieh, Amanda Rao","doi":"10.3389/fnut.2026.1858064","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Vitamin D deficiency is increasingly prevalent and linked to impaired health and disease. While vitamin D3 supplementation is effective, variability in absorption can influence bioavailability and clinical responses, with formulation characteristics potentially contributing to this variability.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>The aim of this randomized, double-blind, crossover absorption study was to compare the absorption of a liposomal vitamin D3 formulation (Cymbiotika) with that of a conventional non-liposomal vitamin D3 formulation. Healthy adult participants received a single oral dose of both formulations in random order separated by a 2-week washout period. Blood samples were collected over 48 h post-dose and plasma cholecalciferol concentrations quantified. Absorption parameters including area under the concentration-time curve (AUC), maximum plasma concentration (Cmax), and time to peak concentration (Tmax) were calculated following baseline correction.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Twelve participants completed the study (mean age 34.3 ± 9.7 years; BMI 24.8 ± 2.7 kg/m2). The liposomal formulation showed greater systemic absorption compared with the comparator formulation, with a 1.9-fold higher AUC (199 vs. 106 ng·h/mL). Peak concentration was also higher for the liposomal formulation (8.4 vs. 6.0 ng/mL). Circulating cholecalciferol concentrations remained elevated above baseline at 48 h in the liposomal formulation but returned to baseline in the comparator formulation.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings suggest that the Cymbiotika formulation may enhance the acute absorption of orally administered vitamin D3. Whether this enhanced acute absorption translates into improved long-term vitamin D status requires investigation in longer-term supplementation studies.</p><p><strong>Clinical trial registration: </strong>https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN39055102, identifier (ISRCTN39055102).</p>","PeriodicalId":12473,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Nutrition","volume":"13 ","pages":"1858064"},"PeriodicalIF":5.5000,"publicationDate":"2026-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13710289/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Frontiers in Nutrition","FirstCategoryId":"97","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2026.1858064","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2026/1/1 0:00:00","PubModel":"eCollection","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"NUTRITION & DIETETICS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Vitamin D deficiency is increasingly prevalent and linked to impaired health and disease. While vitamin D3 supplementation is effective, variability in absorption can influence bioavailability and clinical responses, with formulation characteristics potentially contributing to this variability.
Method: The aim of this randomized, double-blind, crossover absorption study was to compare the absorption of a liposomal vitamin D3 formulation (Cymbiotika) with that of a conventional non-liposomal vitamin D3 formulation. Healthy adult participants received a single oral dose of both formulations in random order separated by a 2-week washout period. Blood samples were collected over 48 h post-dose and plasma cholecalciferol concentrations quantified. Absorption parameters including area under the concentration-time curve (AUC), maximum plasma concentration (Cmax), and time to peak concentration (Tmax) were calculated following baseline correction.
Results: Twelve participants completed the study (mean age 34.3 ± 9.7 years; BMI 24.8 ± 2.7 kg/m2). The liposomal formulation showed greater systemic absorption compared with the comparator formulation, with a 1.9-fold higher AUC (199 vs. 106 ng·h/mL). Peak concentration was also higher for the liposomal formulation (8.4 vs. 6.0 ng/mL). Circulating cholecalciferol concentrations remained elevated above baseline at 48 h in the liposomal formulation but returned to baseline in the comparator formulation.
Conclusion: These findings suggest that the Cymbiotika formulation may enhance the acute absorption of orally administered vitamin D3. Whether this enhanced acute absorption translates into improved long-term vitamin D status requires investigation in longer-term supplementation studies.
期刊介绍：
No subject pertains more to human life than nutrition. The aim of Frontiers in Nutrition is to integrate major scientific disciplines in this vast field in order to address the most relevant and pertinent questions and developments. Our ambition is to create an integrated podium based on original research, clinical trials, and contemporary reviews to build a reputable knowledge forum in the domains of human health, dietary behaviors, agronomy & 21st century food science. Through the recognized open-access Frontiers platform we welcome manuscripts to our dedicated sections relating to different areas in the field of nutrition with a focus on human health.
Specialty sections in Frontiers in Nutrition include, for example, Clinical Nutrition, Nutrition & Sustainable Diets, Nutrition and Food Science Technology, Nutrition Methodology, Sport & Exercise Nutrition, Food Chemistry, and Nutritional Immunology. Based on the publication of rigorous scientific research, we thrive to achieve a visible impact on the global nutrition agenda addressing the grand challenges of our time, including obesity, malnutrition, hunger, food waste, sustainability and consumer health.
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号
