Ubiquinol Vs. CoQ10

If you have been browsing the shelves of your local health food stores or surfing the internet for dietary supplements that may support cardiovascular health, you may have come across a supplement called "coenzymeQ10" or its similar variants, "ubiquinone" or "ubiquinol." Before you consider taking this supplement, you should become familiar with it and speak with your physician.

Ubiquinol Vs. CoQ10

Ubiquinol is simply the reduced form of CoQ10 that serves as an antioxidant. Both are organic vitamin-like substances. Ubiquinol, unlike CoQ10, does not require vitamin E to function as an antioxidant. In a sense, ubiquinol can be thought as an active version of CoQ10. That is not to suggest that CoQ10 will be inactive and totally ineffective if you swallow it without a vitamin E rich food or dietary supplement. Vitamin E is a fat soluble nutrient that should be readily available in your body if you consume your recommended daily allowance.

Function

For the purposes of explaining the general function of CoQ10 and ubiquinol, you can assume the two compounds to be interchangeable. These compounds are extremely powerful antioxidants and are present in every cell and serve as a key contributor in generating energy within the cell. As an antioxidant, these compounds scavenge free radicals, which are undesirable compounds that damage and destroy healthy cells and can lead to premature aging, heart disease and cancer. CoQ10 can neutralize free radicals and prevent damage to your cells.

Treatment of Heart Disease

CoQ10 and its reduced form ubiquinol are best known for their beneficial effects in treating or preventing heart disease. The compounds are effective because they improve the energy production in cardiac cells, inhibit potential blood clot formation and act as a potent antioxidant. The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that heart attack patients that take CoQ10 supplements are less likely to die from heart disease than patients who do not take CoQ10. Patients who experience heart failure often have low levels of CoQ10, so supplementing may provide benefits. This is not to suggest that CoQ10 will prevent heart attacks, but rather to note that it may be beneficial for cardiovascular problems. If you have cardiovascular problems consult your physician before using this supplement.

Other Potential Benefits

CoQ10 or ubiquinol may lower high cholesterol, since people with high cholesterol tend to have low levels of CoQ10. Also, cholesterol lowering prescription medications statins can lower your CoQ10 levels, so supplementing with CoQ10 or ubiquinol may restore your levels to normal without hindering the effects of the statin. CoQ10 may also be useful for diabetics who have high blood pressure or other cardiovascular risk factors for heart disease. According to the University of Miami School of Medicine, CoQ10 can be a useful compound in treating or preventing certain types of cancer.

Ubiquinol Vs. CoQ10