Still Feeling Tired? You May Need Ubiquinol

What is CoQ10?

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a naturally occurring nutrient in the body used to create cellular energy. Commonly known as ubiquinone, its name stems from the word ubiquity, meaning present everywhere — this is because CoQ10 can be found in every cell in the body. It performs the vital function of working with the mitochondria (the powerhouse of cells) to produce cellular energy from the food we consume. CoQ10 is a co-enzyme, meaning it supports other enzymes in their metabolic functions of generating energy within cells.

CoQ10 Benefits

CoQ10 is a powerful antioxidant that offers protection against free radicals that can damage your cells. It can help to support:

• Energy levels
• Blood pressure
• Cholesterol levels
• Cardiovascular health
• Migraines
• Blood sugar levels
• Gum and dental health

While CoQ10 is present all around the body, it is found at higher concentrations in organs with greater energy needs such as the brain and most significantly, the heart. This is why its most significant effect is often noticed with these organs.

What is the difference between Ubiquinol versus Ubiquinone?

There are two forms of CoQ10: ubiquinone and ubiquinol. Both forms are available as a CoQ10 supplement and it can be confusing to know which form you should be taking. Therefore, it is important to understand the different roles each perform within the body.

Together ubiquinone and ubiquinol form a redox pair—which stands for reduction and oxidization. This means that each one can convert into the other through the donating and gaining of electrons.

• What is ubiquinol? Ubiquinol is the “reduced” form of CoQ10: reduced means that it has gained two extra electrons and it is able to donate these electrons to neutralize free radicals (damage causing free-floating electrons). This is how it acts as an antioxidant.
• What is ubiquinone? When ubiquinol donates its extra electrons, it “oxidizes” and transforms into ubiquinone. Ubiquinone is able to receive electrons and it helps the body to create cellular energy.

The body is able to convert ubiquinone into ubiquinol and vice versa to maintain a state of equilibrium between the two forms. However, it is important to note that ubiquinol is the antioxidantform of CoQ10 that offers protection against harmful free radicals.

What does ubiquinol do?

Ubiquinol helps your body to create energy. In fact, if you suffer from low energy levels, it could be a sign of a CoQ10 deficiency. [1] Ubiquinol is a key player in the chain reaction needed to create cellular energy.

Ubiquinol has two important functions: electron carrier and antioxidant.

Electron carrier: Cellular energy (known as ATP) is the transfer of chemical energy within cells for metabolism. The production of cellular energy occurs within the powerhouse of the cell, the microchondria. Ubiquinol is an electron carrier and it is used by the mitochondria to transfer energy between and within cells.

Antioxidant: When mitochondria produce energy they also produce free radicals, which can cause damage to the mitochondria itself and other cells. Ubiquinol has powerful antioxidant properties that neutralize the free radicals and enable the mitochondria to continue to function optimally to produce energy.

Ubiquinol’s antioxidant action is considered by researchers to be vital to cellular energy production. [2] [3] [4] 

Ubiquinol benefits

Ubiquinol offers all of the same benefits of a regular CoQ10 (ubiquinone) supplement, in particular benefits for heart health. However, there is one major and important difference. Ubiquinol is the antioxidant form of CoQ10 that your body can readily utilize. Majority of CoQ10 exists in the body in Ubiquinol form, and taking an Ubiquinol supplement means that your body does not need to work to convert this from ubiquinone. This form of CoQ10 also protects our cells from oxidative stress and damage.

Who should be taking Ubiquinol?

Anyone over the age of 40

As we age, the body’s ability to convert CoQ10 into ubiquinol declines, particularly after the age of 40. Therefore, anyone over the age of 40 will benefit from taking ubiquinol as a way to provide overall antioxidant protection, improve energy levels and maintain cardiovascular health.

Anyone taking statins or who has a heart condition

Ubiquinol is particularly important if you are on statin medication or suffer from a heart condition. To begin with, statin drugs deplete your body’s supply of CoQ10. A deficiency of CoQ10 found in patients on statins can contribute to side effects such as fatigue and sore muscles.

The heart is the organ that has the highest energy needs and it is vital that it has a strong and consistent supply of CoQ10 so that it can produce cellular energy. A CoQ10 supplement like ubiquinol is recommended for anyone with heart problems.  It has been extensively researched for over 30 years as an effective way to manage healthy blood pressure and overall cardiovascular health.

Xtend-Life understands this and it has harnessed the powerful antioxidant properties of ubiquinol in its Omega 3 / QH Premium CoQ10 fish oil supplement.  It includes the highly bio-available form of CoQ10 — Kaneka QH® Ubiquinol — to support cardiovascular health and increase energy levels. If there is one supplement that can powerfully support your overall health, it is Omega 3 / QH Premium CoQ10 with ubiquinol.

References

[1] http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1179/1351000212Y.0000000036

[2] http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000989810500238X

[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3661336/

[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4025630/