Ubiquinone and ubiquinol, being redox pairs, are easily converted from one to the other in the body, as required: ubiquinone is converted to ubiquinol for absorption and circulation via lymph and blood, where the potent antioxidant action of ubiquinol is important; while ubiquinol is oxidised to ubiquinone in cell mitochondria, where energy production is key. However, ubiquinol is reduced and ready for immediate use by the body.
Over 95% of circulating plasma CoQ10 in the body is in the active ubiquinol form. In this activated form, ubiquinol gives a statistically significant benefit of improved absorption when compared to ubiquinone, and can therefore be given at lower doses than ubiquinone to produce the same clinical effect.
Ubiquinone supports heart muscle function and may help reduce LDL cholesterol oxidation. Ubiquinol is a stronger protector against LDL cholesterol oxidation than ubiquinone by influencing gene expression and being a more powerful antioxidant.
Ubiquinol is a potent antioxidant in mitochondria, lipid membranes and plasma lipoproteins, and is a regenerator of other lipid soluble antioxidants (e.g. vitamin E) as well as ubiquinone and vitamin C.
Ubiquinol may help to maintain LDL cholesterol levels in healthy people. It markedly slows the rate of LDL peroxidation, providing strong protection against free radicals. Ubiquinol can prevent lipid peroxidation chain reaction by itself or by reducing other antioxidants such as vitamin E and vitamin C. Ubiquinol is more efficient in inhibiting LDL oxidation than either lycopene, betacarotene or vitamin E.
Also, it has been found that vitamin E does not effectively prevent lipid oxidation of LDL in the absence of ubiquinol. Ageing and illness can decrease the conversion and absorption of ubiquinol. Supplementation of ubiquinol may be beneficial for the middle-aged to elderly to help combat oxidation associated with increasing age.
Adults: Take 1 capsule once daily or as directed by your healthcare practitioner.
Each soft capsule contains:
Ubiquinol-10 (reduced coenzyme Q10) 150mg
If symptoms persist consult your healthcare practitioner.
• Vitamin supplements should not replace a balanced diet.
• Do not take while on warfarin therapy without medical advice.
Although generally well tolerated, the use of ubiquinol in pregnancy and lactation has not been scientifically validated.
• Caution is advised with concurrent use of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and warfarin. CoQ10 may affect international normalised ratio (INR). However, a recent randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial indicated that CoQ10 did not significantly
influence the clinical effect of warfarin when given at a dose of 100mg daily.
• Statin drugs are known to adversely affect CoQ10 levels by inhibiting the enzyme HMGCoA reductase required for the synthesis of cholesterol in the liver as well as for CoQ10 production.
