Ubiquinol: The Body’s Spark Plug

Why can ubiquinol be likened to the body’s spark plug? 
Ubiquinol is the active form of coenzyme q10 (coq10), a fat-soluble antioxidant found naturally in every cell of the body[1]. Ubiquinol plays an important role in supporting cellular energy production, helping support all of our major organs with the energy they need to function at their best¹. 

How do cells produce energy? 
A small part of the human cell, called the mitochondria, is home for the synthesis of Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)[2]. Mitochondria convert chemical energy from the food we eat into an energy form that the cell can use[3]. This process is called oxidative phosphorylation³. 

What is ATP? 
In our cells, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a compound with high potential energy, works as an important supporter of chemical energy². The energy to synthesize ATP molecules may be obtained from complex fuel molecules[4]. The human body uses three types of molecules to yield the necessary energy to drive ATP synthesis: fats, proteins, and carbohydrates⁴. 

How may Ubiquinol help? 
One of the many health benefits of Ubiquinol is that it helps support the energy production levels in our cells¹. Coq10 supports the synthetization of ATP in the mitochondria². Ubiquinol, as the active form of coq10, may be more readily bioavailable[5]. This means that Ubiquinol may be more easily absorbed by the body than coq10, and may be more available to help support the body’s natural energy production levels⁵. 

As a powerful antioxidant, ubiquinol also may help to relieve the effects of free radicals and long-term oxidative stress on the body[6]. Ubiquinol also supports cardiovascular health by helping support the heart with the energy it requires, and also by supporting healthy cholesterol levels in healthy adults¹. 

Seek advice from a healthcare practitioner to determine if supplementation is right for you. Always read the label. 

[1] Saini, R. (2011). Coenzyme Q10: The essential nutrient. J Pharm Bioallied Sci, 3(3), 466-467. < http://www.peirsoncenter.com/uploads/6/0/5/5/6055321/coenzyme_q10__the_essential_nutrient.pdf >

[2] Mendelsohn, B. A., Bennett, N. K., Darch, M. A., Yu, K., Nguyen, M. K., Pucciarelli, D., … & Nakamura, K. (2018). A high-throughput screen of real-time ATP levels in individual cells reveals mechanisms of energy failure. PLoS biology, 16(8), e2004624. < https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.2004624 >

[3] Boyer, P.D., Chance, B., Ernster, L., Mitchell, P., Racker, E. and Slater, E.C., 1977. Oxidative phosphorylation and photophosphorylation. Annual review of biochemistry, 46(1), pp.955-966.

[4] Senior, A.E., Nadanaciva, S. and Weber, J., 2002. The molecular mechanism of ATP synthesis by F1F0-ATP synthase. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)-Bioenergetics, 1553(3), pp.188-211.

[5] Zhang, Y., Liu, J., Chen, X.Q. and Chen, C.Y.O., 2018. Ubiquinol is superior to ubiquinone to enhance Coenzyme Q10 status in older men. Food & function, 9(11), pp.5653-5659.

[6] Kuhn, M. A. (2003). Oxygen Free Radicals and Antioxidants: An overview of how antioxidants protect the body from disease. AJN The American Journal of Nursing, 103(4), 58-62. < https://journals.lww.com/ajnonline/Fulltext/ >