What is Ubiquinol CoQ10 and Why Does it Matter?

Written by Ron Martin • Reviewed by Risa Schulman

If you’re like most people, taking steps to improve your heart health and promote healthy aging is important to you. That’s why Americans will spend an estimated $2.5 billion this year on dietary supplements that support cardiovascular health, like Ubiquinol (pronounced “you-bik-win-all”). But what is Ubiquinol CoQ10, and why does it matter?

What is Ubiquinol?

A lamp is powered by electricity. A car is powered by gas. Your heart and other organs are powered by cellular energy. Ubiquinol is the active form of CoQ10 and plays a key role in producing the cellular energy your organs need to keep functioning - for example, cellular energy is what makes your heart pump.

Kaneka Ubiquinol Cellular Energy

Types of CoQ10

CoQ10, or Coenzyme Q10, is one of America’s most recognized supplements. Although millions of us buy the supplement to support heart health, most people don’t know there are two forms of this nutrient: Ubiquinone and Ubiquinol. Each exist naturally in the body, but function differently.

Conventional CoQ10 (Ubiquinone - the oxidized form)	Ubiquinol (sometimes called advanced or active CoQ10)
The oxidized form of CoQ10. Our bodies must convert Ubiquinone into Ubiquinol CoQ10 before it can be used to create cellular energy. The ability to convert Ubiquinone into Ubiquinol decreases as we age.^{1 2} Unconverted, conventional CoQ10 can’t contribute to cellular energy production, and provides limited value for people over the age of 40.	The preferred supplement form of CoQ10 because it’s better absorbed by the body than conventional CoQ10. Only known fat-soluble antioxidant made naturally in the body. Predominant form of CoQ10 in a healthy young adult.^{3 4 5} Up to 70% more bioavailable than conventional CoQ10.

Conventional CoQ10

(Ubiquinone - the oxidized form)

Ubiquinol

(sometimes called advanced or active CoQ10)

The oxidized form of CoQ10.
Our bodies must convert Ubiquinone into Ubiquinol CoQ10 before it can be used to create cellular energy.
The ability to convert Ubiquinone into Ubiquinol decreases as we age.^{1 2} Unconverted, conventional CoQ10 can’t contribute to cellular energy production, and provides limited value for people over the age of 40.

The preferred supplement form of CoQ10 because it’s better absorbed by the body than conventional CoQ10.
Only known fat-soluble antioxidant made naturally in the body.
Predominant form of CoQ10 in a healthy young adult.^{3 4 5}
Up to 70% more bioavailable than conventional CoQ10.

How is Ubiquinol Produced?

To give our bodies a consistent supply of cellular energy, our cells convert nutrients to an energy-rich molecule called Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP).

Ubiquinol CoQ10 plays a critical role in producing cellular energy by creating ATP. That’s why large amounts of Ubiquinol can be found in your heart, brain, liver, kidneys, and other organs that require cellular energy to function properly. In fact, Ubiquinol is found in 95% of our cells!^{6 7 8 9 10}

Kaneka Ubiquinol Electron Transportation

Starting around the age of 40, it becomes more difficult for your body to turn conventional CoQ10 into Ubiquinol CoQ10. The process becomes less efficient, which is why so many “older” adults are now taking Ubiquinol, the more advanced form of CoQ10.

Benefits of Ubiquinol CoQ10

Ubiquinol CoQ10 is a vitamin-like substance that’s naturally made in our bodies and plays a critical role in the creation of cellular energy. We make less of the heart-healthy nutrient starting around age 40

Both forms of CoQ10 have interested researchers for many years, but Ubiquinol CoQ10 has been commercially available in America for only 12 years. In that short time, more than 60 peer-reviewed clinical and research studies have been performed and over 1,800 scientific papers have been published regarding Ubiquinol CoQ10, and its health benefits.

This large and still growing amount of research has found that Ubiquinol CoQ10:

Supports optimal heart health^{11 12 13}
Supports natural cellular energy production¹⁴
Helps prevent damage in the body caused by oxidative stress¹⁵
Replenishes CoQ10 blood levels depleted by statin cholesterol medicines^{16 17}

In addition to these benefits, researchers from around the world are busy studying the role Ubiquinol CoQ10 may play in mitochondrial function, brain health, vision health and bone metabolism, among other areas. Learn more about the benefits of Ubiquinol in the video below:

Why take Ubiquinol CoQ10

When comparing Ubiquinol to conventional CoQ10, the published studies to date indicate that Ubiquinol CoQ10 is better absorbed by the body.^{18 19 20} The amount your body absorbs will vary based on your age and overall health, but studies have consistently shown Ubiquinol to be the easiest form of CoQ10 for your body to use.

Turning conventional CoQ10 into Ubiquinol becomes harder and less efficient as we age, which is why many experts encourage “older” adults who take a CoQ10 supplement to choose Ubiquinol.

Did you know? Ubiquinol is also a strong antioxidant that helps neutralize free radicals that may otherwise damage healthy cells in the body.²¹
Watch this video to find out more!

References

1 Wada H, Goto H, Hagiwara S, Yamamoto Y. Redox status of coenzyme Q10 is associated with chronological age. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2007 Jul;55(7):1141-2.

2 Niklowitz P, Onur S, Fischer A, Laudes M, Palussen M, Menke T, Döring F. Coenzyme Q10 serum concentration and redox status in European adults: influence of age, sex, and lipoprotein concentration. J Clin Biochem Nutr. 2016 Jan. Online publication.

3 Langsjoen PH and Langsjoen AM. Supplemental Ubiquinol in congestive heart failure: 3 year experience. 6th International Q10 Conference Brussels, 27–30 May 2010; 29–30.

4 Beamer WM and Deamer DW. Energy from Chemical Bonds: The aerobic mode. In: The World of the Cell, 2nd Ed., The Benjamin Cummings Publishing Company, Inc, Redwood City , CA., pps. 275-313.

5 Tomasetti, M, Alleva R, Borghi B, Collins AR. In vivo supplementation with coenzyme Q10 enhances the recovery of human lymphocytes from oxidative DNA damage. FASEB J. 2001 Jun;15(8):1425-7.

6 Tang PH, Miles MV, DeGrauw A, Hershey A, Pesce A. HPLC analysis of reduced and oxidized coenzyme Q(10) in human plasma. Clin Chem. 2001 Feb;47(2):256-65.

7 Yamashita S, Yamamoto Y. Simultaneous detection of ubiquinol and ubiquinone in human plasma as a marker of oxidative stress. Anal Biochem. 1997 Jul 15;250(1):66-73.

8 Aberg F, Appelkvist EL, Dallner G, Ernster L. Distribution and redox state of ubiquinones in rat and human tissues. Arch Biochem Biophys. 1992 Jun;295(2):230-4.

9 Hosoe K, Kitano M, Kishida H, Kubo H, Fujii K, Kitahara M. Study on safety and bioavailability of ubiquinol (Kaneka QH) after single and 4-week multiple oral administration to healthy volunteers. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2007 Feb;47(1):19- 28.

10 Tomasetti M, Alleva R, Borghi B, Collins AR. In vivo supplementation with coenzyme Q10 enhances the recovery of human lymphocytes from oxidative DNA damage. FASEB J. 2001 Jun;15(8):1425-7.

11 Langsjoen PH, Langsjoen AM. Supplemental ubiquinol in patients with advanced congestive heart failure. Biofactors. 2008;32(1-4):119-28.

12 Langsjoen PH and Langsjoen AM. Supplemental Ubiquinol in congestive heart failure: 3 year experience. 6th International Q10 Conference Brussels, 27–30 May 2010; 29–30.

13 Mohr D, Bowry VW, Stocker R. Dietary supplementation with coenzyme Q10 results in increased levels of ubiquinol-10 within circulating lipoproteins and increased resistance of human low-density lipoprotein to the initiation of lipid peroxidation. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1992 Jun 26;1126(3):247-54.

14 Beamer WM and Deamer DW. Energy from Chemical Bonds: The aerobic mode. In: The World of the Cell, 2nd Ed., The Benjamin Cummings Publishing Company, Inc, Redwood City , CA., pps. 275-313.

15 Ernster L, Forsmark-Andrée P. Ubiquinol: an endogenous antioxidant in aerobic organisms. Clin Investig. 1993;71(8 Suppl):S60-5.

16 Zlatohlavek L, Vrablik M, Grauova B, Motykova E, Ceska R. The effect of coenzyme Q10 in statin myopathy. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2012;33 Suppl 2:98-101.

17 Fedacko J, Pella D, Fedackova P, Hänninen O, Tuomainen P, Jarcuska P, Lopuchovsky T, Jedlickova L, Merkovska L, Littarru GP. Coenzyme Q(10) and selenium in statin-associated myopathy treatment. Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 2013 Feb;91(2):165-70.

18 Miles MV, Horn P, Milesc L, Tanga P, Steele P, DeGrauwa T. Bioequivalence of coenzyme Q10 from over-the-counter supplements. Nutr Res. 2002:22(8):919-929.

19 Bhagavan HN, Chopra RK. Plasma coenzyme Q10 response to oral ingestion of coenzyme Q10 formulations. Mitochondrion. 2007 Jun;7 Suppl:S78-88.

20 Evans M, Baisley J, Barss S, Guthrie N. A randomized, double-blind trial on the bioavailability of two CoQ10 formulations. Journal of Functional Foods. 2009. 1: 65-73.

21 Frei B, Kim MC, Ames BN. Ubiquinol-10 is an effective lipid-soluble antioxidant at physiological concentrations. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1990 Jun;87(12):4879-83.