In 2020, global consumer interest in health and wellness soared to record levels, accelerating the upward trend of the already rapidly growing dietary supplement industry. The recommendation of health professionals and the consumption of ubiquinol, the active form of coenzyme q10 (coq10, ubiquinone, ubidecarenone), has been accelerated based on the health of the male heart, energy and sperm motility.
Coenzyme Q10 is a vitamin-like substance that is essential for life. Ubiquinol, the reduced form of CoQ10, entered the commercial market in 2006. Kaneka Corporation researched and developed the technology necessary to make the ingredient available as a nutritional supplement. Subsequent clinical investigations indicated that not only 80%, but more than 99% of the total plasma CoQ10 in healthy people was in the form of ubiquinol.(1) With age and disease, the body’s ability to produce ubiquinol declines. compromised, and it is true that ubiquinol deficiencies are common in the aging demographic.
Further research has shown that the oxidized form of CoQ10 that has been on the market for three decades is not as powerful a compound as the body’s preferred ubiquinol. Subsequently, many consumers have begun to switch to the new reduced and bioactive form.
Consumers are actively seeking specialty, quality, premium supplements that deliver the benefits they believe are consistent with their lifestyle to support optimal health.
Who are these people and what are they looking for?
To learn more, download his full eBook.
There is an extraordinary opportunity for nutrition and lifestyle companies to offer effective health and wellness solutions for these educated consumers, with branded ingredients like kaneka ubiquinol, which are backed by credible scientific research.
Ubiquinol’s superior bioavailability and impressive health benefits fit the needs of educated health enthusiasts seeking high-quality, effective products.
what is ubiquinol?
ubiquinol is a bioidentical nutrient
Ubiquinol is a vitamin-like substance. A vitamin is a nutrient required by the body in limited amounts, but which the body cannot synthesize in sufficient amounts to meet its needs.
Ubiquinol is similar to vitamin D. Vitamin D is synthesized in the body, but there is still a common understanding that it needs a supplement, especially for people who have little exposure to sunlight.
fig. 1: structural formula of ubiquinol
Ubiquinol is also produced in the body. the quinol nucleus is derived directly from the 4-hydroxybenzoate (which has a hydroxyl group just like ubiquinol) and is fused with isoprene units (2).
fig. 2: m. bentinger et al., 2010: the mevalonate pathway and terminal steps in the synthesis of coq, cholesterol, dolichol, and isoprenylated proteins. red indicates primary functions and blue indicates rate-limiting enzymes. in the case of coq, it has not yet been established whether the first or second enzyme in the terminal sequence is rate-limiting.
As an active reduced form of coq10, ubiquinol has superior bioavailability compared to ubiquinone. It is also a strong antioxidant that protects cell membranes and keeps them stable. Ubiquinol offers a wide range of health benefits, supporting heart health, cellular energy production, male fertility, healthy cholesterol, and general health and wellness in aging individuals.
there are two forms of coq10: ubiquinone: the oxidized form and ubiquinol: the active form of coq10. however, the body must convert ubiquinone to ubiquinol before it can be used to support cellular energy.3 Due to its superior bioavailability, ubiquinol is the preferred form of coq10 for therapy.1,4
ubiquinol for energy production and performance
The role of ubiquinol in mitochondrial function is well established.1,2,3 In mitochondria, ubiquinol plays an important role in the transfer of electrons to generate cellular energy known as ATP. It is this electron transfer capacity that also makes ubiquinol a powerful antioxidant, membrane stabilizer, which inhibits the oxidation of proteins, lipids and DNA.1,6
Natural levels of ubiquinol in the body begin to decline around the age of 30,7 along with the ability to convert ubiquinone to ubiquinol. this can affect energy levels, making you more dependent on dietary and supplemental sources of ubiquinol.8
support healthy heart function and cholesterol levels
The highest concentration of ubiquinol is found in the heart. The heart requires large amounts of cellular energy (ATP) to maintain contractile function. Ubiquinol’s powerful antioxidant action and mitochondrial energy production make it a vital nutrient for heart health.9,10
Ubiquinol’s antioxidant properties may also promote heart health by reducing oxidation of LDL cholesterol. in a clinical trial, 53 healthy men received 150 mg of ubiquinol daily for 2 weeks, the results showed a significant reduction in plasma ldl cholesterol levels and a 4.8-fold increase in plasma ubiquinol levels.11
fertility and male sperm health
infertility is becoming more and more widespread. Male factor infertility accounts for up to half of all infertility cases and affects one in twenty men, and evidence suggests that sperm damage mediated by reactive oxygen species (ros) is an important contributing pathology.12
Ubiquinol may support male fertility as it may help protect sperm from oxidative damage, improve sperm count, and play a role in sperm energy production.13
Oxidative damage can reduce sperm motility, interfere with sperm-oocyte binding and fusion, and can also contribute to DNA damage and reduced sperm count.14
With increased antioxidant activity and superior bioavailability, ubiquinol may be an excellent addition to male fertility protocols. its efficacy in restoring sperm density, morphology, and motility is incredibly promising.15
fate of ubiquinol consumers
- Aging populations (40-65+ years) are seeking preventative options for healthy aging. Ubiquinol supplementation may be recommended as the body’s endogenous production begins to decline around the age of 30.5.
- health optimizer: conscious adults to maintain health now and in the future. Natural levels of ubiquinol in the body can decrease due to age. Long-term oxidative stress and fatigue can also contribute to the natural depletion of ubiquinol levels in the body.
- family planner: adults who plan to start a family. a randomized trial administering ubiquinol or placebo to 228 men found that ubiquinol protects sperm from oxidative damage, with consequent improvement in sperm concentration, motility, and antioxidant status in infertile men16
- athletes and fitness enthusiasts who place a higher value on having a competitive advantage. physical overexertion and high energy expenditure can also cause the body’s natural levels of ubiquinol to decrease over time.17
- kaneka ubiquinol is the active form of coq10.
- kaneka ubiquinol is a premium ingredient, which is natural, safe, and clinically proven to help maintain physical health, protect against the effects of stress, and promote healthy energy levels.
- is a sustainable and stable product made by fermentation of patented 100% natural yeast. this allows for a continuous and stable supply chain that is not dependent on seasonal harvests.
- From a technical perspective, it is very stable and suitable for use in a wide range of dietary supplements.
- kaneka ubiquinol is supported by an extensive body of research, most of which are studies published in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
- kaneka ubiquinol is distributed and used in the main markets of the world.
For an overview of the market opportunities and health benefits of ubiquinol, download his full eBook.
about kaneka ubiquinol
kaneka ubiquinol mimics the ubiquinol naturally produced by the body. kaneka has pioneered the manufacture of natural coenzyme q10. Kaneka Ubiquinol is made by proprietary technology using yeast fermentation. Dating back to the Neolithic era (around 10,000 BC), fermentation is used by many cultures around the world to improve foods, both nutritionally and taste-wise, prevent spoilage, and improve digestion. kaneka’s unique fermentation technology produces coenzyme q10 with full traceability, in an environmentally friendly way and with the highest purity. In addition, Kaneka’s ubiquinol has been thoroughly tested for safety, even in healthy people. Based on safety studies, kaneka ubiquinol has received regulatory approval as a nutrient in many countries.
fig. 3: ubiquinone-ubiquinol red ox couple
A large part of the coq10 in tissues is in the reduced form as ubiquinol, with the exception of the brain and lungs. this appears to be a reflection of increased oxidative stress in these two tissues. Most of the circulating coq10 exists in its reduced form as ubiquinol in human subjects (+99%).(i)
fig. 4: More than 99% of circulating coq10 exists as ubiquinol in human subjects
Why use ubiquinol in new product development?
for companies looking to create premium health supplements, kaneka ubiquinol can help.
Looking for new market opportunities for your brand? download his full ubiquinol ebook or email [email protected]learn more about the impressive health benefits of ubiquinol.
Register to secure your place in our next webinar with Australia’s leading pharmacist and master herbalist, gerald quigley, for updates on the science of ubiquinol and comprehensive preventative information.
[1] matsuo 2015[2] tran et al (mitochondrion 7s (2007) s62-s71[3] zhang, y.; liu, j.; chen, x.-q.; oliver chen, c.y., ubiquinol is superior to ubiquinone in improving coenzyme q10 status in older men.food &function 2018, 9(11), 5653-5659.[4] kloer, h.-u., belardinelli, r ., ruchong, o.; rosenfeldt, f., the combination of ubiquinol with a statin may benefit hypercholesterolemic patients with chronic heart failure. heart, lung and circulation 2020, 29 (2), 188-195.[5] juan Garrido-Maraver, M. D. C., Manuel Oropesa-Ãvila, Alejandro Fernández Vega, Mario de la Mata, Ana Delgado Pavón, Manuel de Miguel, Carmen Pérez Calero, Marina Villanueva Paz, David Cotan, Jose A. Si ¡chez-alcázar coenzyme q10, molecular syndromology 2014, 5, 187-197.[6] di lorenzo, a., iannuzzo, g., parlato, a., cuomo, g., testa, c., coppola , m., d’ ambrosio, g.; oliviero, a. d.; sarullo, s.; vitale, g.; nugara, c.; sarullo, m. f.; giallauria, f., clinical evidence a of coenzyme q10 supplementation in heart failure: from energetics to functional improvement. journal of clinical medicine 2020, 9(5). [7] Linnane, A. W., Zhang, C., Yarovaya, N., Kopsidas, G., Kovalenko, S., Papakostopoulos, P., … & Richardson, M. Human aging and global function of coenzyme q10. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, (2002). 959(1), 396-411.[8] langsjoen ph, langsjoen am. comparison study of plasma coenzyme q10 levels in healthy subjects supplemented with ubiquinol versus ubiquinone. clin pharmacol drugs dev. 2014 Jan;31(1):13-7. doi: 10.1002/cpdd.73.[9] dinicolantonio jj, bhutani j, mccarty mf, et al. coenzyme q10 for the treatment of heart failure: a review of the literature. open heart 2015;2(1):e000326. [full text][10] saini, r. coenzyme q10: the essential nutrient. j pharm bioallied sci, (2011). 3(3), 466-467.[11] Onur, S., Niklowitz, P., Jacobs, G. et al. Ubiquinol reduces gamma glutamyltransferase as a marker of oxidative stress in humans. bmc res notes 7, 427 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-0500-7-427[12] Tremellen K. Oxidative stress and male infertility: a clinical perspective. buzz playback update. 2008 May-June;14(3):243-58. [full text][13] thakur as, littarru gp, funahashi i, painkara us, dange ns, chauhan p. Effect of ubiquinol therapy on sperm parameters and serum testosterone levels in oligoasthenozoospermic infertile men. j diagnostic clin res. 2015 Sep;9(9):bc01-3. doi:10.7860/jcdr/2015/13617.6424. epub 2015 september 1. pmid: 26500895; pmcid: pmc4606224.[14] pahune pp, choudhari ar, muley pa. the total antioxidant power of semen and its correlation with the fertility potential of human male subjects. j diagnostic clin res. 2013 Jun;7(6):991-5[15] Lafuente R, González-Comadrán M, Solà I, López G, Brassesco M, Carreras R, Czech Ma. coenzyme q10 and male infertility: a meta-analysis. j attend reproduc genet. August 3, 2013. [full text][16] safarinejad mr, safarinejad s, shafiei n, safarinejad s. Effects of reduced form coenzyme q10 (ubiquinol) on semen parameters in men with idiopathic infertility: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. jurol. 2012 Aug;188(2):526-31. [abstract][17] cooke, m., iosia, m., buford, t., shelmadine, b., hudson, g., kerksick, c., … & Kreider, R. (2008). Effects of acute and 14-day coenzyme q10 supplementation on exercise performance in trained and untrained individuals. journal of the international society of sports nutrition, 5(1), 1-14.
