An estimated 144 million Americans routinely take at least one dietary supplement – a vitamin, mineral, amino acid, enzyme, mineral or herb – to support their health; a number that’s been increasing over the last 20 years.
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is among the most popular specialty dietary supplements in North America. There are many published studies demonstrating that CoQ10 and its active antioxidant form, Ubiquinol, support heart health and assist in the creation of cellular energy used by our cells and organs.
Different dietary supplements can complement one another the same way different flavors pair well together.
Different dietary supplements can complement one another in different ways. Since the Ubiquinol form of CoQ10 is an excellent supplement for those wishing to support heart health, here are three other nutritional supplement combinations that Ubiquinol CoQ10 users might find interesting.
Resveratrol and Ubiquinol
Resveratrol is a polyphenol (an abundant class of plant compounds) found in red wine, red grape skins, purple grape juice, and peanuts, among other plant sources.
Resveratrol was first isolated in Japan in 1939 although its potential benefits were not widely acknowledged until more than 50 years later, when French scientists noted a relatively low rate of heart disease in French people despite their diet being rich in cholesterol and saturated fat.
With more study, scientists identified a possible association between the frequent but moderate consumption of red wine and good heart health. Human studies have shown that resveratrol helps promote the circulation of blood in the arteries and supports the health of blood vessel walls.
Supplement brands often market resveratrol as an antioxidant that supports cardiovascular health and healthy aging. Because resveratrol impacts the body through different mechanisms than Ubiquinol CoQ10, some brands combine the two nutrients into one dietary supplement.
L-Carnitine and Ubiquinol
L-Carnitine is a naturally-occurring, non-essential amino acid that is synthesized in the body.
This nutrient is critical for turning fat into energy. It does this by transporting long chain fatty acids into the mitochondria, where most cellular energy is created, through a process known as oxidative phosphorylation.
Inside the mitochondria’s inner membrane, fatty acids are oxidized and energy is harvested. In this process, Ubiquinol CoQ10 plays an essential role in the production of cellular energy by serving as an electron donor in the electron transport chain.
Our hearts have virtually no reserves of glucose for energy, meaning that fatty acids are the heart’s main source of energy. This makes L-Carnitine important for proper heart function. Taking it with Ubiquinol makes sense to support our bodies’ unending requirement for energy.
Supplement brands often market L-Carnitine as supporting energy production, and often combine it with CoQ10 in formulations.
Alpha Lipoic Acid and Ubiquinol
Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) is a naturally occurring organosulfur compound made in small quantities in the body from a fat known as octanoic acid. It is part of several multi-enzyme complexes that help produce energy.
The activities of Ubiquinol and ALA overlap in the critical processes of energy production and antioxidant defense. Their shared biochemistry makes them natural partners when it comes to creating energy and protecting cellular structures.
Ubiquinol CoQ10 and ALA are especially unique in that they are both “antioxidant recyclers,” meaning they can reactivate (recharge) some “spent” antioxidants back into their active form.
It’s common for supplement brands to promote ALA for its antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties.
Don’t Forget Diet, Exercise, and Your Doctor
Remember that dietary supplements by themselves aren’t the key to good health. A balanced diet, regular exercise and an annual physical are essential to maintaining good health.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting a new supplement. They can help make sure it won’t interfere with any medicines you take. Also, be sure to seek the advice of your health care provider if you have any questions or concerns about your health.
