Posted on October 12, 2020

The body uses two forms of CoQ10. Ubiquinone is the better-known form, which is the oxidized form, and used primarily for energy production inside the cell.  Ubiquinol plays a primary role in decreasing oxidative damage caused by lipid peroxidation within the mitochondria of the cell. According to research, plasma ubiquinol is decreased in patients with hyperlipidemia.

There is evidence that suggests that the ability to convert ubiquinone to ubiquinol may diminish with age. This decrease is apparent at 40 years of age, with a slow but continuous decline thereafter. The result is reduced protection against oxidative stress and reduced energy levels. This is not only in the cells but in muscles and brain tissue.

Published clinical and experimental research shows that ubiquinol impacts cardiovascular health, neuronal metabolism, renal health, oral health, and genes related to lipid/lipoprotein metabolism and inflammation.

Antioxidant effects and Aging

Ubiquinol is the antioxidant form of CoQ10 and is essential for the synthesis of energy in each cell. It is the only known lipid-soluble antioxidant that is endogenously synthesized, protecting membranes against lipid peroxidation as well as regenerating other antioxidants such as Vitamin C and Vitamin E. In a collaborative study with Waseda and Tsukuba University’s demonstrated the beneficial effects of ubiquinol on women with a mean age of 63 yrs. Old. After an eight-week period of supplementation with 150 mg of ubiquinol a day, the subjects showed a significant improvement in physical activity and mental health scores.

Neuronal (Brain) Health

There have been many studies now to show that using ubiquinol reduced the functional decline in Parkinson’s disease. Still, other studies have shown improvement in memory and mental health. Most important it has shown protective qualities against several neurotoxins that cause brain-related diseases.

Oral Health

Oral health comprises all aspects of the mouth, including the teeth and gums and their connective tissue, lips, tongue, and salivary glands. Emerging scientific information continues to establish a relationship between oral health status and a variety of systemic conditions, ranging from diabetes, respiratory diseases, osteoporosis, arthritis, and cardiovascular diseases. Oral health and systemic health are each capable of exerting an effect on the other, and the link between the two is inflammation. Orally, inflammation can be commonly found in the condition known as periodontitis, which can result in the destruction of tooth-supporting collagen, alveolar bone, and teeth. Periodontitis is known to elevate systemic markers of inflammation, such as C-reactive protein. Subjects with periodontitis had significantly reduced   CoQ10 levels than subjects without periodontitis. Ubiquinol demonstrated significant benefits in plaque adhesion and an increase in the saliva and its antioxidant status, which are essential for the maintenance of oral health.

Cardiovascular Health

Researchers at East Texas Medical Center found that patients with advanced congestive heart failure taking high doses of ubiquinone CoQ10 were not able to achieve adequate improvements in blood serum CoQ10 levels. When switched to ubiquinol, blood CoQ10 levels improved dramatically with a consequential improvement in clinical symptoms, left ventricular function, and improved ejection fraction. Because it has shown to improve cholesterol/lipid levels, and high levels increase vascular stenosis, there is the possibility of positive atherosclerotic changes.

Best CoQ10 products #1 MitoQ hands down. This is the only form of CoQ10 that consistently penetrated the cell and got into the mitochondria. Otherwise, look for a mitochondria support supplement that includes 1 or more of the following; PQQ pyrroloquinoline, ubiquinol or ubiquinone

Food / Ubiquinol (μg/g) / Ubiquinone (μg/g)

Beef (shoulder) / 5.36 / 25

Beef (liver) / 40.1 / 0.4

Pork (shoulder) / 25.4 / 19.6

Pork (thigh) / 2.63 / 11.2

Chicken (breast) / 13.8 / 3.24

Mackerel / 0.52 / 10.1

Tuna(canned) / 14.6 / 0.29

Yellowtail / 20.9 / 12.5

Broccoli / 3.83 / 3.17

Parsley / 5.91 / 1.57

Orange / 0.88 / 0.14