COQ10 (Coenzyme Q10)

What Is Coenzyme Q10 (COQ10)?

Coenzyme Q10, or CoQ10 for short, is a fat-soluble antioxidant that is made by the body and required by every cell, but especially concentrated in the heart, liver, kidneys, pancreas, and in our mitochondria, the powerhouse of our cells which are responsible for producing adenosine triphosphate (ATP), our main source of energy. Unfortunately, as we age, our body’s production of CoQ10 slows down. Thankfully, CoQ10 can also be supplied via food and supplementation. In fact, some of the best food sources for COQ10 include; eggs, organ meats, meat, fatty fish, soybeans, and cruciferous vegetables.

CoQ10 comes in two distinct forms, ubiquinone and ubiquinol, both of which are true forms of CoQ10. The primary difference; however, is that ubiquinone must first be converted to its active ubiquinol form to be absorbed and used by the body. This is important because, in healthy individuals, 90% of circulating CoQ10 exists as ubiquinol. Ubiquinol is said to offer up to eight times better absorption than ubiquinone because of its water-soluble structure which dissolves easily in blood.

An adequate intake of CoQ10, from diet and/or supplementation is crucial to ensuring optimal heart health, healthy blood sugar metabolism, protecting brain health and cognitive function, maintaining an optimal pH level, reducing free radical damage, and enhancing natural energy production.

Benefits of COQ10

• Helps Maintain Cognitive Health
• Protects Heart Health
• Slows Down the Aging Process
• Stimulates Energy Production

Who Needs COQ10?

Because CoQ10 deficiency can cause heart disease, most notably heart failure, CoQ10 supplements will often be recommended to anyone with a family history of cardiovascular disease, as well as to those with diagnosed high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or blood lipids, atherosclerosis, and anyone on statin drugs. Health care practitioners will also frequently suggest CoQ10 to athletes and hard trainers to help increase performance aerobic power, anaerobic threshold, exercise performance, and/or recovery after exercise.

COQ10 Supplements

Potencies

CoQ10 supplements can be found in a wide range of potencies from 30 mg up to 400 mg. The recommended dose needs to be adapted according to the intended use. Refer to the product for more dosing details.

Supplement Forms

CoQ10 comes in regular ubiquinone, as well as in the preferred bioavailable ubiquinol form.

Formats

CoQ10 supplements can be purchased in capsules, soft gels, powder form, as well as in liposomal liquid form.

Final Thoughts

A variety of factors can predispose to CoQ10 deficiency. These include aging, chronic diseases, low vitamin B status, mitochondrial diseases, and the use of statin drugs used to lower cholesterol and triglycerides and protect against a heart attack and stroke.

Ubiquinol is typically considered the most absorbable form of CoQ10, and the better choice for seniors who may not be as efficient at activating ubiquinone into active ubiquinol.