The bioavailability of many biologically active compounds in the digestive tract can be enhanced by encapsulating them into liposomes used as direct delivery system. Liposomes are a very attractive system for delivering drugs and bioactive substances into the human body, as they provide protection of these compounds from thermal and oxidative degradation as well as from the effects of light, pH, and enzymes.
They are widely used in the pharmaceutical industry and their properties have been thoroughly studied and described. However, the use of liposomes in food involves research of a much broader type. The health and safety of foods is crucial for consumers and, in the case of sterols, it is prudent to establish a safe form of delivery that will prevent thermo-oxidative degradation and will heighten absorption in the gastrointestinal tract.