Methods and formulations for enhancing the absorption and decreasing the absorption variability of orally administered drugs, vitamins and nutrients

The method of preparing a dried powdered liposomal form of drug delivery system for water insoluble hydrophobic oil or crystalline drug actives, comprising:

• mixing simultaneously an emulsifier(s) or mixtures thereof with a plant derived sterol or esters derived from said plant sterol in which the fatty acid ester moiety is derived from a vegetable oil, and a drug active, with a non-polar solvent;
• removing the solvent to leave a solid residue of the mixed components;
• adding water to the solid residue of the mixed components at a temperature less than the decomposition temperature of any one of the mixed components;
• homogenizing the aqueous mixture;
• drying the homogenized mixture;
• adding a calcium salt to the dried, homogenized mixture;
• and
• providing the dried solid residue of the mixed components in a solid pharmaceutical carrier format.