Buying the Right Ubiquinol Supplement: A Checklist

Buying Ubiquinol: A Checklist
Written by Risa Schulman
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5 minutes

Maybe you've been reading up on the benefits of Ubiquinol, and you're ready to give it a try. Or maybe your health care provider recommended it to you as a way to promote heart health and energy production. If you've talked with your doctor and are ready to start taking a Ubiquinol supplement, you may be wondering where to start: how to choose a supplement, where to find them and what to look for. Here's a quick guide to several questions people ask when they're ready to buy Ubiquinol and start including it in their daily routines. 

Where Can I Find Ubiquinol?

Ubiquinol is available at most places where dietary supplements are sold, so you can look for it in any store where you buy other supplements: pharmacies, vitamin shops, grocery stores. It's often located on store shelves next to Coenzyme Q10 supplements, which are closely related to Ubiquionol supplements. (Ubiquinol is the active, antioxidant form of CoQ10.) Sometimes Ubiquinol supplements are even labeled "CoQ10 Ubiquinol" to take advantage of the more familiar CoQ10 name. Ubiquinol is also available from many online retailers if you prefer to order supplements by mail, so check with your preferred online retailer for availability.

Which Ubiquinol Supplement Brand Should I Choose?

The brand or type of supplement you decide to go with is a personal choice, or a choice to be made with the input of a trusted physician. The best way to distinguish between different supplements in order to make your choice is to read the labels. Just like food products, supplement labels tell you what is included in a product so you can make an informed decision about buying it.

To identify a supplement containing Ubiquinol, look for “Ubiquinol” or “Ubiquinol (Kaneka QH)” listed inside the Supplement Facts box. In addition, some Ubiquinol supplements will include a Kaneka quality seal, which signals that the product was made with Kaneka Ubiquinol. This is how you can identify supplements that contain Ubiquinol, especially in cases where Ubiquinol and CoQ10 are stacked next to each other on store shelves or for products that are labeled both CoQ10 and Ubiquinol. In addition to the dietary ingredient, also check the list of inactive ingredients. Ubiquinol, as with other supplements, needs to be formulated with other ingredients in order to be made into a stable supplement that's safe to consume. Different supplement brands use different inactive ingredients — such as soybean oil or sunflower oil — so check the ingredient lists to determine what a particular supplement contains. Learn our 12 tips about making sure you're buying the right form of supplements.

Can I Find Reviews of Ubiquinol Supplements?

Online reviews of different Ubiquinol supplements are available on many websites, but be sure to check the online source of reviews and go with websites that you're familiar with and trust. In addition, ask your health care provider if he or she has any recommendations regarding the best supplement to use. There's a buyer's guide and a store locator available on Ubiquinol.org if you want to start researching the various brands and where you can buy them.

What Can I Expect When I Start Taking Ubiquinol?

While Ubiquinol does help to sustain natural energy levels, it is not a "quick fix" for people who feel they need an energy boost. Unlike caffeine or sugar, it doesn't provide a fast burst of faux energy followed by fatigue a few hours later. Ubiquinol works by promoting and maintaining natural energy production inside cells. When cells have sufficient levels of Ubiquinol, they are able to create energy in the most efficient way, which gives you plenty of energy in your daily life. If cells do not have sufficient Ubiquinol, their ability to create energy is limited, meaning lower overall energy levels in your body. If your body's Ubiquinol levels are low, it may take about a month for your body to replenish its Ubiquinol levels.

For individuals who are switching to Ubiquinol from a CoQ10 supplement, the effects of the switch can depend on how well their bodies converted CoQ10 into Ubiquinol, which is the active form that the body's cells actually use. Older individuals may especially experience a benefit from switching to Ubiquinol because the body's ability to convert CoQ10 to Ubiquinol slows down significantly after the age of 40. This benefit may be experienced as an improved sense of well-being.

Why Are Ubiquinol Supplements All Liquid Capsules or Gel Caps?

Ubiquinol is a unique nutrient that exists in several forms. Ubiquinol is the most active form, but this means it is also the most unstable form. When exposed to air, it naturally oxidizes, becoming Ubiquinone, the more stable but less active form that is included in conventional CoQ10 supplements. That's why CoQ10 has been available as a supplement for much longer than Ubiquinol. CoQ10 supplements contain the inactive, stable form of the nutrient, which the body must convert into Ubiquinol before use. In order for the Ubiquinol in supplements to remain in the active form, it has to be emulsified in oil to protect it from the air and prevent it from oxidizing and becoming inactive. This is why all Ubiquinol supplements come in either liquid or gel capsules and are not availabe in multivitamins. 

I Have Dietary Restrictions — Can I Take Ubiquinol?

Whether or not you can take a Ubiquinol supplement will depend on your own particular dietary restrictions or concerns. The active ingredient in Ubiquinol supplements is naturally cultivated from yeast. It contains no GMO ingredients, no animal products, and no soy, nut, or wheat (gluten) allergens. However, because Ubiquinol is always combined with inactive ingredients in order to be formed into supplements, it is vital to check the label to determine if there are any potential dietary or allergy issues with a given supplement. If you require a kosher Ubiquinol supplement, be aware that not all Ubiquinol supplements are kosher, but there are several brands of Ubiquinol supplements that are certified kosher.

Written by:

Risa Schulman

Ph.D

Risa Schulman, Ph.D. took her lifelong love of science, people and the fulfillment of potential to create a multifaceted career in R&D, business, health and wellness, and empowering individuals. 

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