Ubiquinol - the active form of Coenzyme Q10

What is Ubiquinol?

Ubiquinol is the reduced, active antioxidant form of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). Produced naturally within healthy bodies, Ubiquinol is Q10 that has been converted (reduced) for use in the cellular energy production process.

In addition to its critical role in energy production, it is the strongest lipid-soluble antioxidant available, protecting the body's cells from oxidative stress which can cause damage to proteins, lipids and DNA.

Why does supplementing with Ubiquinol become more important as I age?

As a healthy 20-year-old, you readily produce all of the Q10 you can use and efficiently convert it into Ubiquinol. In fact, the predominant form of Q10 in the plasma and tissues of a healthy individual is the reduced Ubiquinol form.

However, age and other factors can hinder the body's ability to produce and metabolize Q10. Some reasons for this include increased metabolic demand, insufficient dietary intake, oxidative stress, or any combination of these things.

Some reports say this decline becomes apparent around 40 years old, although it can begin as early as 20 in some cases. As the body's ability to produce and reduce Q10 begins, supplementation with Q10 and/or Ubiquinol becomes increasingly important to maintaining good health.

What is the difference between Ubiquinone and Ubiquinol?

Ubiquinone and Ubiquinol are both forms of Q10, and both are necessary to produce cellular energy. Ubiquinone is the oxidized form of Q10 that consumers are most familiar with; it has been taken as a supplement and studied for more than 30 years.

Over the past three decades, Q10 has been recognized for its benefits to general health and wellness as well cardiovascular and neurological health.

In order to generate cellular energy, the body must convert Ubiquinone into Ubiquinol. Without this conversion, the body's energy production process cannot be completed and energy levels cannot be sustained. Thus, both are critical to sustaining your body's natural energy.

Declines in Ubiquinol result in less cellular energy and diminished protection against oxidative stress, which produces free radicals and can damage the body's cells, including proteins, lipids and DNA. Ubiquinol provides a strong first-stage defense against this cellular oxidative damage and needs to be replenished to maintain optimum health.

An increasing number of scientific reports indicate that dramatic decreases in Ubiquinone levels and increased oxidative stress are associated with the aging process and with many age-related conditions.

How do I know which form of Q10 is right for me?

Healthy adults in their 20s and 30s can easily metabolize Q10 and convert it into Ubiquinol; thus, supplementing with Q10 likely will be the most efficient way to raise Q10 levels.

For individuals who are 40+, Ubiquinol is likely more beneficial since the body's ability to produce Q10 and convert it into Ubiquinol is diminished. Optimal Ubiquinol levels are important to those looking to support cardiovascular, neurological and liver health.

Because Ubiquinol is pre-converted, it is ready for immediate use by the body, making it ideal for those unable to efficiently reduce Q10 in the body.

How much Ubiquniol should I take?

The recommended dose of Ubiquniol varies based on each individual's needs. However, those who are older or suspect they have decreased Q10 due to disease may want to start supplementing with 200-300 mg of Ubiquniol per day.

Studies show that the Q10 plasma levels plateau at about two weeks at this dose. Then, 100 mg per day is a good maintenance dose.

If Q10 has been available in supplement form for 30 years, why is Ubiquinol only recently available?

Since Ubiquinol is easily oxidized in the air, it has been difficult to develop a stable supply in a reduced supplement form. However, using advanced technology, scientists have been able to perfect a stabilization process by which Ubiquinol remains in its reduced form outside of the body.

Can I get Ubiquinol from the foods I eat?

You can get Ubiquinol as well as Ubiquinone in small amounts from your diet. However, you would have to eat the foods in such large amounts as to make them an impractical resource for your Q10 supplementation needs.

And because the body's ability to convert Ubiquinone to Ubiquinol declines with age, food becomes a less practical source of Ubiquinol for older individuals and those suffering from age-related conditions.

What are the health benefits associated with Ubiquinol?

For those individuals who cannot efficiently convert Q10 to Ubiquinol, Ubiquniol will restore healthy levels of Q10 in plasma and organs for more efficient energy production. This should result in more energy and stamina as well as better overall health.

Additionally, because Ubiquinol is an extremely powerful antioxidant, it offers a strong protective defense against oxidative stress and age-related conditions.

How long will I have to take Ubiquinol before feeling the benefits?

Ubiquinol is not a quick fix for those looking for increased energy. Unlike caffeine or sugar which boost energy levels quickly and can cause a 'crash' later, Ubiquinol offers sustained natural energy.

Although each individual is different, it generally takes two to three weeks to restore optimal Q10 levels in blood plasma and tissues, most people will begin feeling the effects as their individual plasma levels start to increase, generally around the fifth day.

I've heard that Ubiquinol 'sustains your natural energy'. What does that mean?

Ubiquinol is required for the body to generate energy. Restoring this vital nutrient to optimal levels in people over 40 will restore the same type of youthful energy the body produced when it could efficiently convert Q10 to Ubiquinol and maintain adequate concentrations of Ubiquinol in plasma and tissues. Thus, supplementing with Ubiquniol is the ideal way to restore and sustain your natural energy.