CoEnzyme Q10: Ubiquinol or Ubiquinone?

There is much buzz about coEnzyme Q10 of late. There is excellent evidence building of the immense and varied benefits of coEnzyme Q10, benefits which include heart health, immune system improvement, reduction in high blood pressure, slowing aging processes, improving circulation and the health of various tissues and membranes such as gums and stomach lining. These are hefty claims, of course, and the list here is not inclusive. CoEnzyme Q10, in fact, is on the short list of suggested nutrients for optimum human health according to many experts, including Dr. Mehmet Oz, Dr. Joseph Mercola, and Dr. Andrew Weill. CoEnzyme Q10 is a potent and very important anti-oxidant, which means it helps eliminate free radicals in our cells (ubiquinone oxidoreductase), which cause various diseases and greatly hasten the processes of aging. It helps our organs and tissues repair and protect themselves. It helps maintain optimal energy levels and overall health.

Low levels of ubiquinol, the form our bodies use, are known to be present in people with compromised health, such as those with cancer and diseases of the liver, brain and heart. The question about how to supplement with coEnzyme Q10 then becomes one of dosage and of form. You’ll see the forms ‘ubiquinone’ and ‘ubiquitol’ on shelves; our bodies convert ubiquinone to ubiquinol. According to Dr. Mercola, those under 40 are able to process the common form (ubiquinone), and those over 40 begin to lose this ability, and should thus take a form which is already oxygen converted: ubiquinol. We do have ubiquinone in our bodies, but again it begins to be depleted in our 20′s.

Ubiquinone or ubiquinol coEnzyme Q10 supplements are an essential part of a healthy supplement regimen according to more and more physicians and health experts. See your doctor or health practitioner for blood serum tests and for advice on forms and dosage appropriate for you.

Important note: If you are taking statins, you may already have a coEnzyme Q10 deficiency. Statin drugs have been shown to cause a ubiquinone deficiency and this can exacerbate already worrying symptoms.

Help us get the word out! Please take a moment and share this article (click on the share/save icons above).