The Best Way to Get Your Daily Dose of Ubiquinone (CoQ10)
As large swaths of the Western world's population age, there is increased demand for wellness products and supplements that can improve immediate well-being and support the management of long-term diseases.
Here, we discuss one of these increasingly interesting supplements: Ubiquinone (CoQ10). This is a naturally occurring supplement that is beginning to gain attention in health and wellness circles. This supplement has multiple applications, from managing long-term illnesses to preparing athletes for performance, which is why it’s predicted to become a common ingredient in wellness products.
The Rise of CoQ10
Ubiquinone (CoQ10) has recently garnered attention as a vital supplement for overall health. According to the Mayo Clinic, while CoQ10 is present in the body, particularly in the heart, liver, and kidneys, levels can decrease with age and certain medical conditions. In fact, approximately 10-25% of 40 million people on statins in the US experience muscle-related side effects, such as myopathy, which is thought to be associated with reduced CoQ10 levels. This all has led to a growing demand for CoQ10 supplements among various demographics, including athletes, older adults, and individuals with specific health concerns.
Recent studies have highlighted several key benefits of CoQ10, reinforcing its value as a supplement. According to a comprehensive review by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), CoQ10 has shown promise in improving cardiovascular health by reducing oxidative stress and enhancing mitochondrial function.
Additionally, CoQ10 may help alleviate symptoms of chronic fatigue, support cognitive health, and even provide anti-aging benefits due to its potent antioxidant and energy supporting properties.
One of the most popular applications of CoQ10 is in managing cholesterol levels for patients with diabetes. The CDC estimates roughly 12% of Americans have diabetes, so the need for supportive supplements to help manage this long-term condition will inevitably grow.
But CoQ10 isn’t just a supplement stocked at pharmacies. It has also shown up as a beneficial ingredient used by major brands in the wellness space. Monster Energy has started incorporating CoQ10 into its Reign energy drinks, recognizing the value of adding health-boosting ingredients to appeal to health-conscious consumers.
With practical applications for wellness outcomes and the growing attention CoQ10 is receiving from the athletic community, Ubiquinone CoQ10 is poised to gain greater attention.
The Challenge of Adequate Daily Dosing of Ubiquinone (CoQ10)
Despite CoQ10’s benefits, many consumers face challenges with its traditional pill formulations. Given the solutions currently on the market, people who are interested in taking CoQ10 must take multiple pills daily to achieve the desired effect. This is inconvenient and uncomfortable for consumers and deter people from taking the beneficial supplement.
Data shows that a significant portion of the population is averse to taking daily pills. According to an article by Smithsonian Magazine, approximately one-third of people would rather die earlier than commit to taking a pill every day. This highlights the need for more convenient and palatable supplementation options.
Advances in CoQ10 Formulation
CoQ10 is a water-insoluble, poorly bioavailable compound. Because of the challenges of getting this molecule to work in water-based formulations, most of the CoQ10 supplements available today are either dry powders, oil dispersions, or liquid emulsions. However, at some point, CoQ10 needs to be solubilized to do its job. So far, strategies to increase its bioavailability have tried to reduce particle size, add solubilizers, and use various fat-based systems like liposomes and so-called permeation enhancers.
Spoke Sciences has developed an innovative technique for solubilizing CoQ10 that combines these approaches.
The result is 100mg of CoQ10 per milliliter, and it is all created with naturally occurring components. Our advanced formulation (as seen in the micrograph below in Figure 1) delivers CoQ10 in an easy-to-digest manner and one that is virtually tasteless, is easily incorporated into beverages, and doesn't require a strict regimen of problematic pill-based approaches. The new strategy offers several benefits: It's easier to ingest, improves absorption rates, and removes synthetic stabilizers from the formulation.
How does this improve the formulations already on the market? Let's look at Figure 2, a micrograph under the same magnification for the leading liquid CoQ10 supplement in the US. While it also shows a nice dispersion of CoQ10, this product is manufactured using standard synthetic emulsifiers and natural oils. It also only contains one-tenth of the concentration of CoQ10, just 10 mg per milliliter.
For a final comparison, Figure 3 shows the contents of a CoQ10 gelatin cap from the same brand, which contains larger, non-nanosized crystals. There is a marked difference in particle size and dispersion uniformity, which will translate into reduced bioavailability.
Meeting the Demand for Effective CoQ10 Supplementation
The rise in popularity of CoQ10 among consumers reflects the demand for effective and convenient health-enhancing products. Given its uses as a supplement for people with cardiovascular disease and diabetes and as pre-workout fuel for athletes, we can safely expect that demand for CoQ10 will only continue to grow.
As research continues to uncover the benefits of CoQ10, the market will need innovative solutions designed to improve individual health outcomes — and ones that aren’t strictly pill-based.
With advancements from Spoke Science, like the IsoCaps Coenzyme Q-10 and The Q shot, making a daily dose of CoQ10 easier to swallow and more effective, you can expect to see more of CoQ10 in the consumer market. Whether CoQ10 is used for medical purposes or broad-based wellness benefits, partner with Spoke Sciences to evolve more effective, functional formulations.