Ubiquinol vs CoQ10

What Is CoQ10?

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), technically known as ubiquinone, is a vitamin-like substance found in nearly every cell of the human body. CoQ10 resides in the mitochondria-the cell's "energy factories." It plays a crucial role in the production of ATP.

What Is Ubiquinol?

Ubiquinol is the reduced form of CoQ10. In the human body, CoQ10 exists in two interconvertible forms: ubiquinone (oxidized form, commonly known as CoQ10) and ubiquinol (reduced form, active form).

Ubiquinol vs CoQ10: Key Differences

1. Function

Ubiquinone functions mainly in energy production, while ubiquinol serves as a potent antioxidant.

2. Bioavailability

Ubiquinol is generally considered to have higher bioavailability, especially in certain populations.

3. Stability

CoQ10 (ubiquinone) is more chemically stable than ubiquinol, making it easier to handle in manufacturing and storage.

4. Cost

Ubiquinol is typically more expensive than CoQ10 due to its more complex production process and stability challenges.

Ubiquinol vs CoQ10 fertility

Ubiquinol vs CoQ10: Common Misconceptions

Myth 1: There is no link between CoQ10 and fertility

Fact: CoQ10 and fertility go hand-in-hand.

Ovulation is an energy-intense process. A woman's eggs (oocytes) are cells, and the mitochondria are responsible for energy production within the cell. The human egg contains more mitochondria than any other cell.

CoQ10 plays a crucial role in energy production inside the mitochondria. As men and women people age, production of CoQ10 decreases. CoQ10 levels are highest during the first 20 years of life, after which they begin to decline.

For this reason, an older women's eggs become less efficient at producing energy with age.

Studies indicate that CoQ10 may help support fertility and a healthy pregnancy. CoQ10 promotes egg quality in older women.

Myth 2: CoQ10 only helps female fertility

Fact: There's a connection between CoQ10 and male fertility, too.

Several factors that contribute to male fertility. Perhaps one of the most damaging can be the presence of free radicals.

It takes approximately three months for fully mature sperm to form. During that time, free radicals can cause damage to the sperm by attacking and destroying the membrane that surrounds sperm cells. They can also severely damage DNA, causing errors in the genetic information carried by the sperm.

CoQ10 is a powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants like CoQ10 work by protecting cells from damaging oxidative reactions caused by free radicals. Studies have shown that CoQ10 may support healthy sperm motility (the ability for sperm to swim), sperm density, motility, and morphology.

Ubiquinol Benefits

Myth 3. CoQ10 is only good for heart health

Fact: CoQ10 works for all cells in your body.

The benefits of CoQ10 for supporting heart health are well-documented. However, if you know how CoQ10 works in general, you can see that it may be beneficial for almost every cell in your body.

Cells are the building blocks of life, and CoQ10 plays a significant role in cell function. When we eat food, those nutrients must be converted into a form of energy that cells can use. This conversion process is called cellular respiration. A majority of cellular respiration happens within the mitochondria, an organelle often called the "powerhouse" of the cell.

Cellular respiration involves several different complex processes to extract energy from nutrients. One of these processes is called the electron transport chain (ETC). The ETC relies heavily on CoQ10 to help carry electrons through its different stages. If CoQ10 levels are low, cells produce energy less efficiently.

In addition to helping in the ETC, CoQ10 is a powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants are substances that protect cells from damaging reactions. Highly reactive molecules, or free radicals, can cause lots of damage to the cell.

As an antioxidant, CoQ10 can help neutralize free radicals and support the health of all cells in your body.

Myth 4: The best form of CoQ10 for fertility is ubiquinol

Fact: It's not the form of CoQ10 that matters, it's the way it's prepared.

Because there is a lot of conflicting information available, many people want to know which is the preferred form of CoQ10 for fertility – ubiquinone or ubiquinol?

Ubiquinone is the oxidized form of Coenzyme Q10, while ubiquinol is the reduced form. Both forms exist within our bodies, and we can convert between the two depending on our body's needs.

CoQ10 supplements are available in many forms, including softgels, capsules, tablets, and oral sprays. However, most CoQ10 supplements (standard ubiquinone or ubiquinol) are not very well absorbed in the body, even when taken with food.

Enhanced Absorption Technology

Fortunately, there are some CoQ10 supplements available that use an enhanced absorption delivery system. This type of formulation improves the bioavailability of CoQ10 by up to 600%.

In a 2009 study conducted by Liu, et al., participants received a single dose of 125 mg of ubiquinone formulated with VESIsorb® (an enhanced absorption delivery system). These participants demonstrated CoQ10 blood levels that were 3-6 times higher than those taking the same dose of other oil-based ubiquinone products.

Those taking ubiquinone with VESIsorb achieved peak CoQ10 blood levels of 7.0 mcg/mL. Participants taking other oil-based/solubilized products only reached peak blood levels of roughly 2 – 3.5 mcg/mL.

Myth 5: The CoQ10 fertility dosage is 600 mg for women

Fact: Dosing varies depending on the type of CoQ10 you take and what you're taking it for.

There is little human research looking at CoQ10 for egg quality. Therefore, the medical community has yet to reach a consensus about the recommended dosage for women. However, one study used a dose of 600 mg, taken once a day for two months. Therefore, most fertility specialists will recommend this dose for their female patients.

However, this study used standard oil-based ubiquinone. Remember the pesky problem of CoQ10 being hard to absorb? That comes into play when calculating the amount you should take to support healthy egg quality in women.

If you are taking a product formulated with enhanced absorption technology you can take a lower dose since it results in a 3-6 times higher "absorbed dose."

Dr. Richard Sherbahn of the Advanced Fertility Center of Chicago writes that the recommended dose of CoQ10 varies between 50 mg and 600 mg a day, divided into multiple doses. He further explains that CoQ10 is most often recommended at doses of 100 to 300 mg a day and that up to 1,200 mg a day is considered safe.

Ubiquinol vs CoQ10 Benefits

Myth 6: CoQ10 is a vitamin

Fact: CoQ10 is "vitamin-like."

CoQ10 is a member of the ubiquinone family of compounds. It is a fat-soluble, vitamin-like compound that is naturally produced by the human body.

It is referred to as a "vitamin-like" compound because the body can make it on its own. Vitamins, by definition, cannot be made by the body. They must be obtained through the diet or nutritional supplements.

The name ubiquinone refers to the fact that ubiquinones, including CoQ10, have a "ubiquitous" presence in living organisms. In other words, virtually all cells in the human body contain CoQ10. Because it is so abundant in the body, CoQ10 is an essential compound for cell function.

Coenzyme Q10 concentrations are highest in organs with high rates of metabolism, such as the heart, kidneys, and liver.

Myth 7: You can get all the CoQ10 you need through your diet

Fact: You could, but you'd have to eat a lot of organ meat.

While our bodies naturally make CoQ10, you can also get it by eating certain foods. Food sources of coenzyme Q10 include fatty fish, organ meats such as liver, and whole grains.

Because CoQ10 concentrations are highest in the heart, kidneys, and liver, the best dietary sources of CoQ10 are organ meats. For example, pork heart contains approximately 127 micrograms of CoQ10 per gram of meat. Coming in second, beef heart contains about 113 micrograms of CoQ10 per gram of meat.

To compare that to other dietary sources of CoQ10, canned tuna contains only 16 micrograms of CoQ10 per gram of tuna. Wheat germ has a mere six micrograms of CoQ10 per gram of wheat germ. Be aware, cooking coenzyme Q10 containing foods reduces the amount of CoQ10 by 14-32%.

Myth 8: I should continue taking CoQ10 throughout my pregnancy

Fact: For most women, CoQ10 will not have additional benefits during pregnancy.

As explained earlier in this article, CoQ10 may support healthy egg quality and fertility. Although there is no reason to think that CoQ10 is unsafe during pregnancy, most women do not need to continue it once pregnant.

Ubiquinol vs CoQ10: Benefits

Antioxidant properties of ubiquinol

Ubiquinol is one of the most powerful known antioxidants, defending cells from the potentially harmful overaccumulation of free radicals and oxidative stress. Free radicals are created when the body converts food into energy. They can damage cells, protein, DNA. The antioxidant properties in the active form of CoQ10 can help to minimise these negative side effects of energy production.

Ubiquinol Benefits

Ubiquinol can help you replenish natural cellular energy that is used up through daily activity and which declines naturally as you age. Although Ubiquinol helps to sustain natural energy levels, it is not a "quick fix" for people who feel they need an energy boost when showing signs of fatigue. You won't experience a buzz like you may get from caffeine or a chocolate fix.Rather, Ubiquinol works slowly over time to support and maintain natural energy production inside the cells of your organs, such as your heart and lungs, helping them to function at optimal levels.As your cellular energy levels improve with Ubiquinol, you'll be able to avoid mid-afternoon fatigue and get through your day in a more productive way.

Ubiquinol vs CoQ10 dose,Ubiquinol dosage

Ubiquinol vs CoQ10: Absorption

This greater bioavailability was also shown for chronic intake. In a crossover, comparative study in 12 healthy subjects, uptake of Ubiquinol and coenzyme Q10 (200 mg/d) were compared after four weeks of supplementation. Ubiquinol was absorbed over two times as well as ubiquinone in direct comparison (P<0.005). When comparing final plasma concentrations, Ubiquinol was absorbed 1.7 times more than CoQ10 (4.3 µg/ml vs. 2.5 µg/mL), or 70% better. A possible mechanism for this is increased micellarization in the gut, because the reduced nature of Ubiquinol facilitates micelle formation, a necessary step in absorption in the small intestine.

The amount of absorption will vary based on a person's age and state of health, but in every published comparative study that has been done, Ubiquinol has consistently been much better absorbed than coenzyme Q10 and replenishes the plasma concentration.

Along with bioavailability, transportability in the blood to the sites of use is a key factor in efficacy. Ubiquinol is transported in the blood by attaching to lipid low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL cholesterol) particles. If coenzyme Q10 is ingested, the body quickly transforms it into Ubiquinol via an enzymatic reaction, making it the form that is most preferred by the body for transport in the blood. Some people cannot perform that transition very efficiently, and therefore receive very little benefit if they take coenzyme Q10 as opposed to Ubiquinol (look for a future blog on this topic!). However, in a healthy adult, more than 95% of the total coenzyme Q10 in the blood is in the Ubiquinol form. A major portion of CoQ10 in tissues is also in the reduced form as Ubiquinol.

Ubiquinol vs CoQ10 for dogs

As with all supplements, we should be careful to stay vigilant for potential side effects. In the case of CoQ10, pets with heart disease may find the energy-increasing properties of normal CoQ10 to be somewhat risky, as cells within the circulatory system will become energized at a much faster rate than normal. Under the right conditions, this could potentially lead to the heart muscle becoming unable to properly regulate its beat and have dire consequences for your dog. Fortunately, there is an alternative form of the supplement available which is safe for use by animals with circulatory issues. This is marketed under the name 'Ubiquinol'. The core difference between this substance and basic CoQ10 is that Ubiquinol causes cells to shed electrons faster, instead of accepting them. This still speeds up the production of energy, but does not impart a charge to the cell that may prove disruptive to the nerves in the heart.

Ubiquinol vs CoQ10 for dogs