CoQ10 Guide: Differences Between Ubidecarenone vs. Ubiquinol vs. Ubiquinone

You may be familiar with CoQ10 (or Coenzyme Q10) as a supplement: it's a vitamin-like compound that supports cellular energy and heart health and is primarily found in high-energy organs like the heart and the liver. But did you know that you may find different forms as a supplement? The forms we'll discuss today are Ubidecarenone, Ubiquinol, and Ubiquinone. What's the difference between Ubidecarenone vs Ubiquinol? How about Ubiquinol vs Ubiquinone? Or even Ubiquinol vs CoQ10? Is there a difference? Read on!†

Why Supplementing with CoQ10 is Beneficial

What is CoQ10 good for? Why supplement with CoQ10 in the first place? CoQ10 is an organic compound vital in the biochemical reactions that create ATP (Adenosine Tri-Phosphate).[1] If you remember high school biology class, you might remember that ATP is the body's way of storing cellular energy to use in most of our bodily functions. That's why we find CoQ10 more densely concentrated in cells like the heart, liver, and kidney; they've got a lot of work to do!†

Studies have shown that CoQ10 is "intimately involved in energy production and in the prevention of peroxidative damage to membrane phospholipids and of free radical-induced oxidation."[2] That means that providing your body with a regular source of Coenzyme Q 10 helps support your energy metabolism by helping convert food into cellular energy, and CoQ10 provides antioxidant support to help fight free radicals.†

Our bodies produce some CoQ10 internally, and it is also present in some of the food we eat, though generally in smaller amounts than what is recommended by healthcare professionals. For a larger dose of CoQ10, supplementation can help! CoQ10 supplementation may be important for people taking cholesterol-lowering statin drugs, which can inhibit CoQ10 production in the body. Nature Made® CoQ10 can help replenish this important nutrient.♦ †

We also have a great article about CoQ10 Benefits for Heart Health Support!

Ubidecarenone vs Ubiquinol vs Ubiquinone: Understanding the Differences

Ubidecarenone

What is Ubidecarenone, and how is it different from CoQ10? Ubidecarenone is another name for Coenzyme Q10, technically the "oxidized" form of CoQ10.[3] When something is oxidized, that means it is combined with oxygen. Our body takes in Ubidecarenone and converts it into a reduced form (Ubiquinol) to use in the mitochondrial enzyme complexes that produce ATP. It is also an essential cofactor in mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation.[4] In regular person words, that means it supports cellular energy production and works as antioxidant support to help protect cells from oxidative stress.†

Ubiquinone

Ubiquinone is fundamentally the same thing as Ubidecarenone, an oxidized form of CoQ10. It has the same efficacy as Ubidecarenone. The body reduces Ubiquinone into Ubiquinol to use in the production of ATP and to protect cells from free radicals.†

Ubiquinol

Ubiquinol is the reduced form of CoQ10; around 95% of the CoQ10 in our body is in its Ubiquinol form.[5] The body uses Ubiquinol to transfer electrons along the mitochondrial respiratory chain during the production of Adenosine Tri-Phosphate.[3] Ubiquinol is also an endogenous antioxidant.[3] That means it's an antioxidant that our body can produce internally.

How to Incorporate CoQ10 Supplements Into Your Routine

CoQ10 dissolves in fats and oils, making it a fat-soluble compound. Team Nature Made® recommends taking your CoQ10 supplement with water and a meal containing fat or oil, aiding the body's absorption of this nutrient. Another benefit of taking supplements alongside a regular meal is that it can help you remember to take them consistently daily. Check out this "Best Time to Take CoQ10 Supplements" blog for more information!

Nature Made®'s CoQ10 Supplements offer 100 mg, 200 mg, and extra-strength 400 mg supplements. Recommended dosages of CoQ10 will vary based on individual health goals; always consult your primary care provider or another healthcare professional before starting or changing your supplement routine.†

Natural Ways to Support CoQ10 Levels

Dietary Sources of CoQ10

Some foods like beef, poultry, and fish contain small amounts of CoQ10, but these amounts are no more than 5 mg, much smaller CoQ10 levels than what healthcare professionals recommend. Thankfully, our body produces CoQ10 internally (that's why it's technically not a vitamin), so there's no official stats for CoQ10 deficiency. However, those who are taking cholesterol-lowering statin drugs may have a reduced production of CoQ10. Nature Made® CoQ10 can help replenish this important nutrient. However, it's important to note that CoQ10 is not intended to serve as a replacement for statin drug therapy.

Selecting High-Quality CoQ10 Supplements

When selecting a high-quality CoQ10 supplement, ensure your pick informs you of the exact dosage and form of CoQ10 on the packaging. Nature Made® CoQ10 supplements provide Ubidecarenone. Our CoQ10 supplements are guaranteed to meet our high-quality standards. They are made from carefully selected ingredients under strict manufacturing processes. Nature Made® is the #1 Pharmacist Recommended Vitamin & Supplement Brand,* and our CoQ10 supplements are United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Verified. If you’re looking for other ways to support your cellular energy, check out our blog on Vitamins for Energy!

♦CoQ10 is not intended to serve as a replacement for statin drug therapy.

† These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

References

1. Saini R. Coenzyme Q10: The essential nutrient. J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2011;3(3):466-467. doi:10.4103/0975-7406.84471
2. Sarmiento A, Diaz-Castro J, Pulido-Moran M, Kajarabille N, Guisado R, Ochoa JJ. Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation and Exercise in Healthy Humans: A Systematic Review. Curr Drug Metab. 2016;17(4):345-358. doi:10.2174/1389200216666151103115654
3. Temova Rakuša Ž, Kristl A, Roškar R. Stability of Reduced and Oxidized Coenzyme Q10 in Finished Products. Antioxidants. 2021; 10(3):360. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10030360
4. National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Summary for CID 5281915, Ubidecarenone. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Ubidecarenone. Accessed May 9, 2024.
5.  Sood B, Patel P, Keenaghan M. Coenzyme Q10. [Updated 2024 Jan 30]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK531491/