Ubiquinol for cellular energy production and antioxidant defense

Healthy aging Healthy aging involves maintaining physical, mental and emotional wellbeing as we grow older, enabling individuals to enjoy a high quality of life. The choices we make every day, including a balanced diet, regular exercise and good quality sleep, all support healthy bodily functions and promote both physical and mental health. Making the right lifestyle choices that promote longevity and vitality can help individuals remain active throughout their later years and optimize health outcomes.Oxidative stress, caused by an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in the body, is a major factor that can speed up the aging process at the cellular level. Maintaining a balance between free radical production and the body’s antioxidant defense system is key for maintaining cellular function and longevity.How can a powerful antioxidant help maintain cellular function and positively impact the healthy aging journey?Ubiquinol Ubiquinol is synthesised in the body. It can be found in the mitochondria of every cell, and plays a crucial role in mitochondrial function, helping to generate adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the cell’s main energy source.Ubiquinol is the active antioxidant form of CoQ10 (ubiquinone), a compound essential for energy production in cells. CoQ10 exists in two forms: ubiquinone (the oxidized form) and ubiquinol (the reduced, antioxidant form).A key aspect of CoQ10 is its ability to shift, thousands of times a second, between CoQ10 and ubiquinol, a continuous process that occurs in the mitochondria. Electrons play a crucial role in this process. It is the rapid and constant exchange of electrons that converts CoQ10 into ubiquinol, generating ATP.In addition to giving its electrons to generate ATP, ubiquinol acts as a potent antioxidant, donating its electrons to neutralize reactive oxygen species (ROS), also known as free radicals. This protects cells from damage caused by oxidative stress. Ubiquinol is localized in the lipid-based mitochondrial membrane, where most free radicals are formed and have the potential to cause the most damage. Ubiquinol is the only lipid-soluble antioxidant made by the body.The unique relationship between ubiquinol and CoQ10 means they are indispensable partners, allowing the body to generate energy while combating oxidative stress and supporting cellular function and overall health.As we age, the body’s ability to convert CoQ10 to ubiquinol diminishes and this can lead to increased levels of oxidative stress and reduced levels of cellular energy production. Therefore, supplementation with ubiquinol has a valuable role to play, helping to reduce oxidative stress and supporting cellular energy production.A powerful antioxidant Ubiquinol has two important roles. First, it is crucial in the essential synthesis of cellular energy, adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Its second function is to protect cells from damage during the production of cellular energy. As a powerful antioxidant, ubiquinol has the ability to neutralize reactive oxygen species (ROS), also known as free radicals, produced by the electron transport chain during the production of ATP.Free radicals are unstable molecules, seeking to steal electrons from other molecules, including lipids, proteins and DNA. This “stealing” of electrons causes damage to cells and over time can lead to oxidative stress. By donating its two extra electrons, ubiquinol stabilizes free radicals, preventing them from damaging cellular components.Ubiquinol can also regenerate other spent antioxidants, such as vitamin C and vitamin E, by restoring them to their active forms after they have neutralized free radicals. It is the continual process of shifting between ubiquinol and CoQ10 that allows the regeneration of ubiquinol so it can continue fighting free radicals and reducing oxidative stress.Unlike other antioxidants produced in the body, such as vitamin C and glutathione, ubiquinol is lipid-soluble. As a lipid-soluble molecule, ubiquinol readily enters other lipid-based spaces, such as the membranes of cells.The mitochondria has two membranes, one inside the other, that are made from lipids. Ubiquinol resides in the inner membrane within the electron transport chain. Because ubiquinol resides at the mitochondrial membrane level, it protects the lipid cell membranes from free radical attacks that cause oxidation.Ubiquinol is the only antioxidant that is soluble in the membrane, and it is here where an abundance of free radicals are produced as a byproduct of energy (ATP) production. When free radicals accumulate in the body, this generates oxidative stress. By virtue of its presence in the mitochondria, ubiquinol plays a crucial role in protecting cells from free radical damage and supporting cellular health.Ubiquinol in the blood In addition to residing in the mitochondrial membrane, ubiquinol is also found in the blood. The amount of ubiquinol in the blood of a healthy person is between 95-98% of the total CoQ10 (CoQ10 plus ubiquinol). The ubiquinol comes from both natural synthesis and dietary intake. Ubiquinol can be obtained in the diet from certain foods such as fatty fish and whole grains, as well as from supplementation.Because blood is water soluble and ubiquinol is lipid-soluble, they do not naturally mix. So how is ubiquinol transported in the blood? It is carried by lipoproteins, primarily bound to low-density and very low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. This allows ubiquinol to distribute throughout the body, reaching tissues and organs.LDL cholesterol is sometimes referred to as ‘bad cholesterol’ and is susceptible to oxidation by free radicals. When this happens, LDL turns into oxidized LDL (oxLDL) and its chemical structure and properties change. It becomes sticky and forms small aggregates called fatty streaks that can stick to the cells lining the inner vessel walls. The more oxLDL in the blood, the more fatty streaks build up and start to encroach into the endothelial cells lining the inside of vessel walls.This can set off a cascade of events that can compromise vessel health. Protecting LDL cholesterol from oxidation is therefore an important factor in supporting vessel health and overall cardiovascular health. When ubiquinol attaches to LDL in the blood, not only is it getting a ‘ride’ throughout the body, but its antioxidant properties are also protecting the LDL from oxidative damage. This symbiotic relationship is crucial for maintaining cardiovascular health.Mitochondrial processes for cellular health Mitochondria play a significant role in maintaining health. Often referred to as the ‘powerhouse’ of the cell, mitochondria are an organelle – a distinct structure within cells – and are essential for producing the energy required for various cellular functions.Present in nearly every cell in the body, mitochondria are also involved in total cellular homeostasis, helping to regulate and maintain proper cell function. Responding to changes and fluctuations that accompany daily function, they partake in a constant dance of fission and fusion to control their numbers and size.Fission involves a single mitochondrion splitting into two. This process is used to create new mitochondria when there is demand. Fusion is when two mitochondria merge to become one. This process serves as a critical quality control mechanism. When mitochondria are damaged, the damaged parts can be excluded during fission and the still useful parts can be recycled. Imbalances in fission and fusion processes are associated with age-related conditions.Beyond fission and fusion, the mitochondria play a key role in activating apoptosis – programmed cell death. This occurs when the entire cell is damaged beyond repair and needs to be removed and is important for overall organismal health.Ubiquinol and the mitochondria Ubiquinol resides within the mitochondria. It is involved in the electron transport chain, where food is converted into energy. By facilitating the transfer of electrons within the mitochondria, ubiquinol helps to ensure efficient energy production.The electron transport chain utilizes a series of electron transfer reactions which generate cellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The reactions that occur during this process drive ATP production throughout the mitochondria’s inner membrane. ATP itself carries the energy within its phosphate bond and therefore works as a shuttle, transporting energy around the body to its cells.This process is essential for maintaining optimal health, since without ATP, cells would not be able to use the energy converted from food to fuel the cellular processes required for the body to stay alive. Considering this, ubiquinol’s role in mitochondrial function is essential for maintaining both cellular and overall health, as well as supporting healthy aging.Clinical studies for healthy aging Research shows that ubiquinol levels naturally decline with age and that certain conditions of aging are directly associated with depleted ubiquinol levels and reduced mitochondrial function. Ubiquinol supplementation can help restore and maintain ubiquinol levels, supporting cellular energy production and reducing oxidative stress. In recent years, research has led to a deeper understanding of the full breadth of ubiquinol’s benefits.A 2016 observational cohort study explored the effect of ubiquinol supplementation on healthy aging.1 The study assessed upper body strength by examining hand grip (a recognized indicator of muscle strength which is also correlated with heart health) in relation to %CoQ10 levels. %CoQ10 is the ratio of CoQ10 to CoQ10+ubiquinol in the blood; a higher %CoQ10 means there is proportionately less ubiquinol in the blood and indicates oxidative stress conditions. The study included 967 older subjects (average age of 52).Results showed that subjects exhibiting less muscle strength had a higher %CoQ10, indicating lowered blood ubiquinol levels(p<0.001) and higher oxidative stress.Ubiquinol’s benefits extend to another area of health that becomes increasingly critical with aging: cardiovascular health. In 2020, a randomized, placebo-controlled study focused on generally healthy individuals with mild to moderate dyslipidemia who were not receiving medication.2 Using flow mediated dilation (FMD, a non-invasive way to measure the ability of the vessel to dilate to allow for increased blood flow upon demand), the study included 48 men and post-menopausal women between 35-65.Supplementing with 100 or 200 mg of ubiquinol for eight weeks demonstrated statistically and clinically meaningful increases in FMD (p<0.001) as well as in nitric oxide levels in the vessels. Nitric oxide is a chemical that turns on the ‘switch’ that results in opening the vessel in order to transport more blood as soon as the body needs it.1. Fischer, A.; Onur, S.; Niklowitz, P.; et al. (2016). Coenzyme Q10 Status as a Determinant of Muscular Strength in Two Independent Cohorts. Plos One. 2016;11(12): e0167124.2. Sabbatinelli, J.; Orlando, P.; Galeazzi, R.; et al. (2020). Ubiquinol Ameliorates Endothelial Dysfunction in Subjects with Mild-to-Moderate Dyslipidemia: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Nutrients, 12(4), 1098.Kaneka Ubiquinol® In 1977, Japan-based Kaneka Corporation first produced CoQ10 through an innovative microbiological fermentation process using proprietary yeast. Kaneka’s yeast fermentation process allows for the highest purity CoQ10 synthesis of the all-trans configuration molecule – the form that is bioidentical to CoQ10 naturally synthesized in the body. The company was the first to commercialize the ingredient in the US market and went on to launch Kaneka Q10®, one of the earliest branded ingredients, in 2002.Recognizing that consumers would want an active antioxidant that was readily available in the body, without the need to be converted, Kaneka continued to innovate with the product. Following a successful new dietary ingredient (NDI) notification and submission of safety data to FDA, Kaneka Ubiquinol®, a next-generation CoQ10 product derived from their patented Kaneka Q10, was launched in the US in 2007. As the only manufacturer of Kaneka Ubiquinol in the US, Kaneka Nutrients, a subsidiary of Kaneka based in Texas, supplies this innovative form of CoQ10 to the US market.Kaneka Ubiquinol has been and continues to be extensively studied in well controlled human clinical trials, including those funded by the National Institutes of Health. Also, Kaneka Nutrients was the first company to publish peer-reviewed research on the safety and bioavailability of Kaneka Ubiquinol in healthy subjects.1Kaneka’s Texas manufacturing plant, operating 24/7 and compliant with current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs), underscores the company’s commitment to quality in dietary supplements. The company recently launched Kaneka Q30™, a 30% ubiquinol powder with enhanced stability suitable for capsules, stick packs, nutrition bars and other dosage forms. Only Kaneka has the experience and expertise required to inform manufacturers on how to produce a shelf-stable finished dose form of ubiquinol.Kaneka Nutrients is a member of the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) which advocates for product integrity and truth-in-labelling, including preventing commercialization of unlawful forms of CoQ10 such as idebenone – a synthetic short tail analog of CoQ10 that is neither a dietary supplement nor found naturally in biological systems.There are only two forms of CoQ10 naturally occurring in the body: ubiquinone and ubiquinol. Synthetic analogs, such as idebenone, are not found in nature. In part, this is why Kaneka Nutrients developed the Kaneka Quality Seal, to ensure that retailers can effectively inform consumers that their supplements contain only pure, authentic, and clinically researched Kaneka Ubiquinol.Kaneka is also a founding member of the International CoQ10 Association, a nonprofit organization dedicated to biochemical and clinical research of CoQ10. Through the direct efforts of clinical investigations, Kaneka spearheads the scientific advancement of ubiquinol, continually driving breakthrough applications of the antioxidant.

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