The NatureCity Guide to Ubiquinol

Ubiquinol is the active form of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and is important in producing the cellular energy that your organs require to function properly - for example, cellular energy is what causes your heart to beat.1

Electricity is used to power a lamp, a car is powered by gasoline, and cellular energy powers your heart and other organs!

I know what you might be thinking… well what is CoQ10?! Coenzyme Q10 is an antioxidant that your body produces naturally. Your cells use CoQ10 for growth and maintenance and it’s involved in energy production.

In today’s blog post, we’re going to talk all about ubiquinol, the benefits, different forms of CoQ10, and if you could benefit from taking our supplement, TrueCoQ10™.

Table of Contents

What is Ubiquinol & What Does It Do?

Ubiquinol is a vitamin-like substance that our bodies make on their own and is a key part of how cellular energy is made. Ubiquinol is a type of coenzyme Q10 that can be obtained in dietary supplements and occasionally in topical products. As mentioned previously, it is the bioactive form of CoQ10 utilized by the body, bypassing any additional conversion steps.

Did you know, around age 40, we start to make less of this heart-healthy nutrient?1

What is CoQ10 & What Does It Do?

CoQ10 is a fat-soluble compound that is present in all of your cells. It is known as a "coenzyme" since it is required for the action of important enzymes: CoQ10 is required by your cells to produce energy.2 It is utilized specifically in the mitochondria, or "powerhouse" of the cell. Here, electrons undergo chemical processes to produce energy (ATP).

CoQ10 carries electrons along several channels, making it an essential role. The energy provided by these pathways is subsequently utilized throughout the day for typical cellular functions. CoQ10 is also a strong antioxidant, the only fat-soluble antioxidant produced spontaneously by the human body.3

Benefits of The Ubiquinol Form of CoQ10

CoQ10 has fascinated scientists for decades, but the Ubiquinol version of CoQ10 has only been commercially available in the United States for the past 12 years.1 More than 60 peer-reviewed clinical and research studies and more than 1,800 scholarly publications have been published on Ubiquinol and its health benefits in the past decade.1

This extensive and expanding body of research has determined that the Ubiquinol form of CoQ10:

  • Promotes cardiovascular health. Ubiquinol helps keep the heart healthy in part because it is so important for giving cells the energy they need to work. Researchers have also found that taking Ubiquinol improves some blood markers that are linked to heart health.4 5 6 Ubiquinol is the body's preferred form of CoQ10, and is better for the heart and blood vessels than conventional CoQ10.
  • Promotes cellular energy production in the body. Humans require large amounts of cellular energy in order to function optimally. Conventional ubiquinone CoQ10 must be converted to Ubiquinol in order to produce this energy.1
  • Protects the body from harm caused by oxidative stress.Ubiquinol Coenzyme Q10 is the most powerful fat-soluble antioxidant in the body, preventing free radical damage to our cells.7 8 9 This damage is linked to an increased risk of aging faster than normal. CoQ10 in its regular ubiquinone form does not function as an antioxidant.1

Ubiquinol vs. CoQ10 vs. Ubiquinone

CoQ10 is a popular dietary supplement in the United States. Most of us don't know there are two kinds of this nutrient, Ubiquinone and Ubiquinol, despite the fact that millions of us buy the supplement to promote heart health. Each is found naturally in the body but has different functions.

In a healthy young adult, ubiquinol—also known as the enhanced or active form of CoQ10—predominates. The traditional form of CoQ10, known as ubiquinone, must be converted into ubiquinol before it can be used by cells to generate energy.

About 90% of the CoQ10 used by the body is the ubiquinol form. However, the ubiquinone to ubiquinol conversion process involves 17 different steps – and gets progressively more difficult for your body to do efficiently once you’re past the age of 20.

Until the last decade, ubiquinol wasn’t available for use in supplements because it is easily oxidized (causing it to revert to ubiquinone). That changed with the introduction of a stabilized ubiquinol called Kaneka QH™ – which is used in TrueCoQ10™.

TrueCoQ10™ is also made with the CoQH-CF™ technology which helps in both the absorption and stabilization of the Kaneka QH™ ubiquinol.

Together, Kaneka QH™ and CoQH-CF™ make TrueCoQ10™ the ultimate ubiquinol supplement!

Why Take The Ubiquinol Form Of CoQ10

The studies that have been done so far show that Ubiquinol is better absorbed by the body than regular CoQ10. Depending on your age and health, your body will absorb different amounts of CoQ10, but studies have shown that Ubiquinol is the easiest form of CoQ10 for your body to use.

As we get older, it gets harder and less effective to turn conventional CoQ10 into Ubiquinol. This is why "older" adults who take a CoQ10 supplement would be wise to choose Ubiquinol.

In summary, CoQ10 in the form of ubiquinol is preferred to ubiquinone for these three reasons:

  1. Ubiquinol is easier for your body to absorb than ubiquinone because it naturally binds to water more easily.
  2. Ubiquinol is the “reduced” or antioxidant ready form of CoQ10. This means that it can instantly stabilize a free radical – and stop its destructive path. On the other hand, ubiquinone is already “oxidized” and needs to be converted back to an antioxidant before it can help.
  3. Higher amounts of ubiquinol have been linked to better health and slower aging of the body. It’s not just the total amount of CoQ10 in your body that’s important – it’s a higher amount of ubiquinol relative to ubiquinone that is critical.

TrueCoQ10™, our ubiquinol supplement, uses CoQH-CF™ technology, which promotes the absorption, potency and stability of the Kaneka QH™ ubiquinol. Benefits include:

  • Helps spark energy creation in cells
  • Helps fuel the pumping of blood to and from the heart
  • Helps protect cells from oxidative stress and support healthy aging and cognitive function

Learn more about TrueCoQ10™ and make it a part of your nutritional regimen today!

References:

  1. https://ubiquinol.org/ubiquinol-coq10-supplement-facts
  2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4737275/
  3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3178961/
  4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24996614/
  5. https://iubmb.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/biof.1198
  6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26910885/
  7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7752847/
  8. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21280176/
  9. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8241707/
- Maryann Walsh, MFN, RD, LDN
Maryann is a Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist and a Certified Personal Trainer. Maryann pursued the study of dietetics and nutrition because from a young age she became conscious about making healthy decisions and how they can affect our overall health and happiness. Maryann wanted to become a dietitian in order to share her passion and enthusiasm for all things health and wellness with others and to help guide individuals on a path to a healthier lifestyle. Maryann possesses bachelors degrees in Biological Sciences and Dietetics as well as a masters degree in Food and Nutrition. Read more from Maryann!
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