An Even More Bioavailable CoQ10

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is naturally present in almost every cell in your body.1,2

It plays critical roles in cellular energy production, anti-inflammatory activity, heart and blood vessel support, glucose metabolism, and more.1,2

But our ability to synthesize coenzyme Q10 typically begins to diminish after our mid-twenties.3,4 And when taken orally, there are limitations as to how well it is absorbed by the body.2,5

Now, a collaborative effort involving Life Extension® scientists has led to a new approach to addressing this.

Using a 100% plant-based delivery system, scientists have developed a form of CoQ10 designed to enhance its stability and significantly boost its bioavailability.6

Multiple bioavailability studies have been conducted, and a recent clinical trial demonstrated that, compared to standard coenzyme Q10, this next-generation form of CoQ10 resulted in up to 24-fold improvement in bioavailability!6

This formulation resulted in higher circulating levels of CoQ10 that persisted longer.

The Need for Coenzyme Q10

Coenzyme Q10 is a fat-soluble, vitamin-like molecule synthesized by the body and found in all human tissues. It plays an essential role for the creation of ATP, the energy used by cells.2,5,7

Its highest concentrations are in tissues with the greatest energy requirements, like the heart, kidneys, liver, and muscle.5 One hallmark of aging is a decline in energy metabolism.8

Preclinical research suggests that CoQ10 may help address mitochondrial dysfunction.5,9,10 Mitochondria produce the energy our cells need. Mitochondrial damage is associated with age-related degenerative conditions, and reduced lifespan.11

Some of this damage is linked to oxidative stress. CoQ10 acts as an antioxidant in cells and helps support other antioxidants and mitochondrial enzymes.8

Challenge: Poor Bioavailability

Absorption refers to how much of a nutrient enters the digestive system and bloodstream. Bioavailability refers to how much of a nutrient passes through the digestive system and reaches tissues that need it most.12

Standard CoQ10 suffers from both poor absorption and bioavailability. Taken orally, relatively little of it circulates in the bloodstream or reaches tissues, and it may degrade.13

The body's ability to produce its own CoQ10 decreases with age.8

Statin drugs, which are taken by about 35% of Americans, further inhibit CoQ10 synthesis and deplete body levels.5,15

Solution: Galactomannan Technology

In a recent development, scientists developed a new form of CoQ10 with superior bioavailability.6

Using a patented, plant-based water extraction process, they combined CoQ10 in a hydrogel with components of the spice fenugreek.

Fenugreek seeds contain galactomannan, a fiber with a unique chemical structure that improves CoQ10's stability and protects it from breakdown, enhancing bioavailability.

In a human study, scientists tested this galactomannan-CoQ10 formula against two forms of regular CoQ10: the standard ubiquinone form and a reduced form called ubiquinol.6 Ubiquinol has been shown to produce higher plasma concentrations than ubiquinone.16,17

With a 12-day washout period between each single-dose supplementation, 12 healthy adults (aged 30-57 years) took:6

• 100 mg of ubiquinone CoQ10 formulated with 400 mg of galactomannan,
• 100 mg of standard CoQ10 as ubiquinone, and/or
• 100 mg of CoQ10 as ubiquinol.

Measuring plasma CoQ10 over twenty-four hours showed that:6

• Taking the new galactomannan-CoQ10 formulation resulted in a 24-fold improvement in bioavailability, compared to standard CoQ10 in the ubiquinone form.
• Even compared to CoQ10 in the more bioavailable ubiquinol form, taking the galactomannan-CoQ10 formulation resulted in a three-fold higher bioavailability.

Validated in Older Adults

Scientists also tested the new formula in older adults, who have lower CoQ10 levels and may absorb it less efficiently.18

With a 12-day washout period between each single-dose supplement, twelve healthy volunteers, aged 58-73, took:6

• 250 mg of the galactomannan-CoQ10 formulation (which uses 20% CoQ10 as ubiquinone, providing 50 mg of CoQ10), and
• 50 mg of standard CoQ10 as ubiquinone.

Compared to standard CoQ10, the galactomannan-CoQ10 formulation led to a 16-fold higher bioavailability in these older adults.6

Clinical Benefits

This new formulation increased the circulating levels of CoQ10 in the studies conducted.

The potential benefits can be remarkable. Coenzyme Q10 supports cardiovascular and metabolic health and may influence factors associated with several chronic conditions.10,19-22

In other clinical trials, CoQ10:

• Reduced the rate of major cardiovascular events like heart attack, stroke, or death by 50% in heart failure patients,23
• Decreased levels of triglycerides, LDL, and total cholesterol and increased HDL,24
• Improved endothelial function and blood flow,25
• Improved total antioxidant capacity and reduced a marker for oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation, a process that leads to cell damage,19,26
• Boosted activity of the innate antioxidant superoxide dismutase,19
• Increased cellular energy production,27
• Lowered levels of multiple chronic inflammation biomarkers,28
• Decreased insulin resistance, fasting insulin, fasting glucose, and HbA1c (a measure of average blood glucose over time),29
• Increased the pregnancy rate in women with infertility undergoing assisted reproductive technologies,30
• Reduced the frequency, duration, and severity of migraines,31,32
• Reduced general fatigue and enhanced physical performance,33 and
• Decreased myopathy (muscular pain or weakness) associated with the use of statins.15

Improving CoQ10's bioavailability may help optimize these and other benefits.

Summary

Coenzyme Q10 is required throughout the body to boost cellular energy, help combat inflammation, support cardiovascular and metabolic health, and more.

CoQ10 production decreases with aging and statin drug use, and it suffers from poor bioavailability when taken orally.

A new formulation gets around that problem. Combining CoQ10 with the fiber galactomannan significantly increases bioavailability.

In a human trial, this novel formulation of CoQ10 provided vast improvements in bioavailability, compared to standard CoQ10. Greater bioavailability was separately validated in older adults, who generally have more difficulty absorbing CoQ10.

The greater bioavailability may help support CoQ10's multiple roles related to healthy aging.

Material used with permission of Life Extension. All rights reserved.