How Ubiquinol Affects Our Biological Systems

ubiquinol and body systems
Written by Ron Martin
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4 minutes

Many health professionals, researchers and scientists have been studying Ubiquinol with extreme interest. As a reduced form of CoQ10 naturally produced by the body, this lipid-soluble antioxidant has properties that enhance cellular energy production, with the added capability of regenerating other antioxidants like Vitamin E and C. Experimental research and published clinical studies indicate that Ubiquinol has positive implications in the advanced research of cardiovascular and muscular health as well as your neurological system.

Ubiquinol for Heart Health

After the age of 30, the natural levels of Ubiquinol in the body decrease. The highest concentration of Ubiquinol is found in the human heart. Its naturally protective capacity is of tremendous relevance to cardiovascular clinical research. According to the CDC, the most common type of heart disease is coronary heart disease (CAD), which often leads to stroke, and kills more than 385,000 people annually. Coronary heart disease is now the leading cause of death for both men and women. One in every four deaths in the United States is attributed to some form of heart disease. Those with increased risk of heart disease or concerns about heart health are encouraged to increase the amount of Ubiquinol in their bodies.

Advancements in clinical research are beginning to reveal that Ubiquinol plays an important role in cardiovascular health. Dr. Peter Langsjoen, a leading cardiologist and scientist based in Texas, has made it his life’s work to study both forms of CoQ10: Ubiquinone (the oxidized form) and Ubiquinol (the reduced, unoxidized form). In a published study co-authored by Langsjoen, subjects with advanced congestive heart failure and under maximal medical therapy were shown to have lower-than-average blood levels of CoQ10. When subjects were given 450 mg of Ubiquinone per day, six subjects’ CoQ10 levels rose significantly. In addition, the subjects’ ability to pump blood through the heart’s ventricles (ejection fraction) increased from 24 percent to 45 percent. The heart function benefits from the study demonstrated clinical viability, since the subjects had an improvement from Class IV congestive heart failure to Class II.

Ubiquinol may be Beneficial for those with Statin-Associated Myopathy

Many patients taking statin medications to control cholesterol levels often experience myopathy (muscle weakness and pain) as a side effect. Myopathy encompasses a wide range of clinical conditions. When it occurs as a side effect of taking statin drugs, patients can experience muscle cramps, stiffness, weakness and spasms. 

Clinical research shows potential for the supplementation of Ubiquinol for those people taking statin drugs with reported myopathy side effects. In a 2012 study, researchers examined the effects of Ubiquinol in 28 patients with statin myopathy. Under this investigation 28 patients received a dosage of any one of the following statin drugs: atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, simvastatin, fluvastatin, lovastatin, and pravastatin. After six months of supplementing with 60 mg of Ubiquinol per day, there was a significant reduction in reported muscle pain and weakness among the subjects, including a decline in muscle pain by 54percent and reduced muscle weakness by 44 percent. New research suggests that 200 - 300 mg of Ubiquinol per day may be even more beneficial in severe cases. 

Benefits of Ubiquinol to the Neurological System

Parkinson’s disease is a painful and debilitating motor system disorder with no known cure. Scientists have hypothesised that Ubiquinol holds the key to alleviating many of its symptoms. As advanced research continues, scientists hope that a regimin of supplemental Ubiquinol may improve motor skills and brain function in Parkinson's patients.

A 2002 clinical study suggests that Coenzyme Q10 had a role in slowing the functional decline in early-stage Parkinson’s disease. Published in the issue of Archives of Neurology, this study’s subjects had the three primary features of PD including stiffness, slow movements and tremors, and had been diagnosed with the diseases within the last five years. The subjects were divided into four groups. One group was given a placebo, while the other three groups were given three different dosages of Ubiquinol (300 mg/day, 600 mg/day, and 1,200 mg/day) with Vitamin E. Analysis during the study revealed that the group given the highest dose (1200mg) had 44% less decline in mental and motor function than those given the lowest dose (300mg). These results suggest that higher doses of Ubiquinol may be more effective than lower doses. This significant success has led to a larger study that is now underway. In this larger clinical trial, researchers will examine the effects, and possibly the slowing of Parkinson’s symptoms, in subjects given a 1200 mg a day or higher dose of Ubiquinol.

Overall, these studies provide a range of positive health implications and possibilities for further research with Ubiquinol. This essential nutrient plays a significant and integral part in our cardiovascular, muscular and neurological health.

Written by:

Ron Martin

Vice President of the Nutrients Division

Ron Martin is the Vice President of the Nutrients Division at Kaneka North America. Ron’s dedication to lifelong learning and belief that “one cannot know too much” inspired a decades-long career centered around educating the public about health.

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