Ubiquinol is the active form of CoQ10 that is the most effectively absorbed. Coenzyme Q10 or CoQ10, as it is more commonly known, is an essential substance that we consume though our food intake and small amount of the enzyme are produced naturally within the body. Its importance, like most essential nutrients, cannot be over stated as it is found in nearly every cell in the human body. It is stored in the part of the cell called the mitochondria. The mitochondria act as the powerhouses of the cells, which means they produce energy and this drives all functions within your body. Furthermore, CoQ10 is a powerful antioxidant, protecting our cells from damage, it has an important role in our body’s metabolism and to reiterate, without CoQ10, our bodies are unable to produce energy.
CoQ10 is a required nutrient found in every cell of your body and is vital for providing energy to your cells, helping your organs perform at their best and protecting your cells and blood from oxidation.
There are two forms of CoQ10:
- Ubiquinone: the oxidized form (conventional Coenzyme Q10).
- Ubiquinol: the active form that is the most effectively absorbed. Only Ubiquinol has an anti-oxidative ability.
Ubiquinol is the most readily absorbed form of CoQ10 and is one of the most powerful fat-soluble antioxidants in the body. Ubiquinol is also the major form of CoQ10 in the body (over 95%).
Fast facts:
- 18 clinical studies have highlighted the superior efficacy of Ubiquinol over conventional Coenzyme.
- Ubiquinol is 3-8 TIMES MORE ABSORBABLE than Ubiquinone.
- It helps it protect the body’s cells from damage caused by oxidative stress and free radicals.
- It has superior absorption compared to conventional CoQ10, so you can take a lower dose for the same effect.
Ubiquinol and Fertility
Studies show that as you age, you experience a decrease in your CoQ10 levels. This correlates with the natural decline in fertility that occurs after the age of 30. The female egg is the largest cell in the human body and the richest in mitochondria – the energy powerhouse for all of our cellular activities. The egg is tasked with many energy-demanding activities, including ensuring the correct amount of genetic materials passed down to our offspring. Since CoQ10 plays a major role in energy production, as CoQ10 decreases in the body, a woman’s eggs become less efficient at creating energy. While many factors come into play with infertility, this lower energy production contributes to a lower egg quality, as well as an increased risk of embryo loss. Several studies since the turn of this century have highlighted mitochondrial ageing or dysfunction and its correlation with fertility issues, showing that adequate CoQ10 supplementation can help to correct this dysfunction.
In men, CoQ10 continues to play an important role in the protection of cells, as well as improving energy output through its work in our body’s mitochondria. It has also been shown in published research that CoQ10 can improve total sperm count, sperm concentration and the percentage of normal sperm presented in samples. Additionally, due to its protective role, CoQ10 can protect sperm cells from damage and in doing so, it can help to improve sperm motility.
