Towards new natural lipid vectors for encapsulating bioactive lipophilic molecules: sphingosomes

Nutrients that are essential to human health are provided exclusively through food, such as plant sterols (which reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease) and lutein (a xanthophyll carotenoid that is important for the eyes). However, they are consumed in quantities that are too small to have any beneficial effects, and their solubility in water and lipids is very low, which limits their incorporation into food formulations and reduces their bioavailability.