Ubiquinol: The Active CoQ10
By Dr. Holly Lucille ND,RN
Coenzyme Q10 (also known as CoQ10 or ubiquinone) has gained enormous attention in recent years, and with good reason —it’s the Energizer Bunny of the cellular world. This essential quinine molecule is found in the mitochondria of every single cell in the body where it plays a key role in energy production. CoQ10 not only assists in the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), it also scavenges free radicals.
- To carry out these critical tasks, mitochondrial CoQ10 continuously cycles from ubiquinone, its ATP production state, to ubiquinol, its reduced active state.
- More than 4,000 published studies suggest that high CoQ10 levels are essential for optimal health—and this is especially true for the heart and the brain. Since both of these organs require huge amounts of energy, supplementation can often help support their high biologic activity.
- Research shows that CoQ10 supplementation can improve energy production and extend cell life by enhancing cellular mitochondrial levels of CoQ10. This in turn supports not only the heart and brain, but periodontal, skin, reproductive, and immune health as well.
- However, before you advise patients to add CoQ10 to their daily routine, be aware that there’s a catch to taking this multi-talented nutrient in supplemental form.
CoQ10’s Critical Conversion
Creating ATP inside the mitochondria is quite complicated and involves a series of biochemical reactions. Since the body cannot store ATP, this multi-step process—known as the electron transport chain—ensures that this critical energy source is continually replaced.1,10 Here’s how it works: Ubiquinone contributes to ATP production by passing electrons from one enzyme complex to another, much like a bucket brigade.3 During this process, ubiquinone (CoQ10) is converted to its reduced active state, ubiquinol (QH).
Surprisingly, our mitochondria are the most important cellular source of free radicals.11 While most of the oxygen radicals generated by the mitochondria stay with its membrane folds, about two percent “escape” and create toxins that can threaten the health and survival of the entire cell.11-13 Ubiquinol is able to neutralize these free radicals, both within the mitochondria and the cell membrane itself.14
Free radicals are harmful to all cells, but especially to cells with high biologic activity such as those in the heart and brain. Fortunately the highest concentration of CoQ10, and subsequently ubiquinol, is naturally found in the cells that make up the cardiovascular and nervous systems—sites where free radicals can inflict significant damage.2,3, 14, 15
The Need To Supplement
Unfortunately, the body’s ability to complete the conversion from ubiquinone to ubiquinol wanes as we age. Since this may contribute to premature aging, supplementation may be warranted. During a recent experiment in the journal Molecular Nutrition and Food Research, which used an animal model of aging, researchers found that mice given ubiquinol experienced significantly healthier aging than those taking a standard CoQ10 supplement.16
Certain conditions, including type 2 diabetes, congestive heart failure, and hepatitis, have also been linked to lower serum levels of ubiquinol, as has the use of some cholesterol-lowering medications. What’s more, it’s estimated that 30 to 50 percent of people have a genetic single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) known as NAD(P)H:quinone oxicloreductase (NQO1). Those with this SNP have a reduced ability to convert ubiquinone to ubiquinol efficiently.17 Taken together, these factors clearly suggest that taking supplemental ubiquinol can benefit a large population of individuals.
A Better CoQ10
Even though ubiquinol is more bioactive than ubiquinone, the problem with creating an effective supplement has historically been the fact that ubiquinol is extremely unstable and readily reverts back to CoQ10 when exposed to light and oxygen.14 The process of creating a stable form of ubiquinol outside of the body was finally perfected in 2002 and with it, the ability to create an effective shelf-stable encapsulated ubiquinol supplement.18 Clinical trials show that supplemental ubiquinol is not only extremely safe, it significantly boosts total serum levels of both ubiquinol and ubiquinone by up to 162 percent compared to standard CoQ10 supplementation.19,20
The safety, absorption, and bioavailability of ubiquinol have been studied extensively over the past decade. Acute toxicity and safety studies, including genotoxicity, AMES, chromosome, and micronucleus testing, have confirmed its safety. During one placebo-controlled four week study involving 15 healthy volunteers, daily doses of 150 mg and 300 mg were found safe and well tolerated. A parallel study of 80 volunteers noted significant absorption of ubiquinol that resulted in dose-dependent non-linear increases in serum concentrations over the course of four weeks.21
So how much is enough? For patients over 40 or those with chronic conditions linked to low CoQ10 levels, supplementing with 50 to 100 mg of ubiquinol daily is an exceptionally safe and effective way to raise serum levels. The generally recommend dose for those taking a statin drug or for patients with cardiovascular or neurological concerns is 100 to 200 mg daily, taken in divided doses.2,3
References:
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3. Fleming T., ed. Coenzyme Q10. In: PDR® for Nutritional Supplements. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company; 2001: 103-106.
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5. Shetty RA, et al. Coenzyme Q(10) supplementation reverses age-related impairments in spatial learning and lowers protein oxidation. Age (Dordr). 2012 Nov 10 [Epub ahead of print].
6. Hanioka T, et al. Effect of topical application of coenzyme Q10 on adult periodontitis. Mol Aspects Med. 1994;15 Suppl:s241-8.
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12. Sohal RS, Forster MJ. Coenzyme Q, oxidative stress and aging. Mitochondrion 2007;7:S103-11.
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14. Littarru GP, Tiano L. Bioenergetic and antioxidant properties of coenzyme Q10: recent developments. Mol Biotechnol 2007;37:31-7.
15. Langsjoen P H. Introduction to CoQ10. Available at: http://faculty.washington.edu/ely/ coenzq10.html. Accessed February 13, 2013.
16. Schmelzer C, et al. Supplementation with the reduced form of Coenzyme Q10 decelerates phenotypic characteristics of senescence and induces a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha gene expression signature in SAMP1 mice. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2010;54(6):805-15.
17. Zhang J. Association of NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) C609T polymorphism in a German Caucasian and a northern Chinese population. Carcinogenesis 2003;24:905-9.
18. Ueda T, et al. Method of stabilizing reduced coenzyme Q10. Patent application number US 2005/0008630 A1. January 13, 2005.
19. Unpublished data. Kaneka Corporation. October 22, 2003.
20. Langsjoen PH. Supplemental ubiquinol in patients with advanced congestive heart failure. Presented at the 5th International CoQ10Conference. November11, 2007, Kobe Gakuin University at Port Island, Kobe, Japan.
21. Hosoe K, et al. Study on safety and bioavailability of ubiquinol (Kaneka QH) after single and 4-week multiple oral administration to healthy volunteers. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2007;47:19-28.
