Table 2 . Benefits of ubiquinol on a range of conditions
Figure 6 . Effect of statin drugs on ubiquinol
Other factors that decrease ubiquinol levels include :
• oxidative stress
• decreased intake
• increased metabolic demand
• disease states , such as type 2 diabetes , impaired immunity , and cardiovascular , neurological and liver diseases
• cholesterol lowering drugs .
This combination of increased oxidative stress , low-level systemic inflammation and reduced antioxidant capacity are major drivers in accelerated ageing and age-related disease development . 25 Coenzyme Q10 and ubiquinol have been used as adjunctive therapy in heart failure ( see Figure 5 ).
Cholesterol-lowering medications
Statin medications lower cholesterol by inhibiting the enzyme HMGCoA reductase that produces cholesterol ( see Figure 6 ). However , this enzyme is also required for the production of ubiquinol . 17 , 38 Statin use has been shown to decrease plasma ubiquinol by 45 %. 31
Multiple studies have demonstrated that statin medications reduce plasma levels of ubiquinol , and that side-effects of fatigue and myalgia , commonly seen in statin therapy , may be a result of ubiquinol depletion . Studies have also demonstrated that oral supplementation of ubiquinol alongside statin medications can still effectively raise serum levels and will work to negate some of the harmful drug effects . 31 , 39-45 ( See Table 2 for a list of benefits of ubiquinol on a range of conditions .)
Statin-related Cardiovascular Energy-related Fertility Immunity Metabolic Nervous system Women ’ s health
Dietary
Condition
Statin-associated cardiomyopathy
Statin-associated fatigue and myalgia
Cardiovascular disease increased risk , aged 40-65 years
Cardiovascular disease
Daily dose
Benefit
300 mg Support for those on long-term statin therapy . 46
30-200 mg
100-300 mg
300-600 mg
Dyslipidaemia 100-200 mg
Hypertension 60-200 mg
Fatigue 100-150 mg
Chronic fatigue syndrome ( CFS )
Exercise performance and recovery
Replaced depleted plasma ubiquinol levels caused by statins and helped alleviate the associated side-effects . Negated pain by 53.8 % and muscle weakness by 44.4 %.
Decreased oxidative stress and inflammation , and susceptibility to CV disease by supporting levels of myocardial ubiquinol that decline with age .
Replenished low levels of ubiquinol found in up to 75 % of patients with CVD . 35 Improved endothelial function , reducing CV risk in people both with and without established CVD by 10-25 %. 50 Improved peripheral endothelial function in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction .
Ameliorated dyslipidaemia-related endothelial dysfunction , after 8 weeks .
Effective antihypertensive action , lowering systolic and diastolic blood pressure .
Over 12 weeks , demonstrated an anti-fatigue effect in healthy individuals experiencing fatigue in daily life .
150 mg Improved CFS symptoms , sleep quality and arithmetic task performance in 12 weeks .
200-300 mg
Fertility – men 150-400 mg
Fertility – women
100-150 mg
Improved clinical parameters ( decreased body mass index , percent body fat , and systolic and diastolic blood pressures ) and enhanced physical performance by increasing aerobic capacity , as well as decreased oxidative stress and increased plasma nitric oxide , known to improve muscle recovery after strenuous exercise .
Improved sperm health parameters – concentration , morphology and motility .
Decreased oxidative stress , improved the secretion of FSH and LH among infertile females and improved occurrence of clinical pregnancies .
Asthma |
100 mg |
Blood levels are reduced in asthma patients and |
|
|
supplementation improved airflow over 4 weeks . |
Influenza ( acute )
Post / Long- COVID-19
Type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome
Weight management
Dose not defined in trials
Ubiquinol levels are significantly lower in 48 % of patients with acute influenza infection . Supplementing increased levels and improved recovery from infection .
200 mg Improved mitochondrial health and accelerated recovery from infection .
100-300 mg
Increased ubiquinol levels that are deficient in T2DM and had beneficial effects on serum insulin levels .
200 mg Increased ubiquinol levels , found to be reduced in obese individuals , and reduced oxidative stress and inflammatory processes that are increased in those who are overweight .
Cognitive health |
100 mg |
Improved memory , attentiveness and work processing ability in |
|
|
the middle-aged and elderly . |
Migraine |
400 mg |
Decreased frequency , severity and duration of migraine attacks over 12 weeks , via improved mitochondrial function and positive effect on factors involved in the pathophysiology of migraines . |
Stress and sleep disorders
100 mg Over 8 weeks , reduced stress and improved sleep-related problems in those with increased stress and therefore higher energy requirements .
Menopause |
100 mg |
Improved the general health , mood , skin and quality of life |
|
|
of postmenopausal women , via antioxidant activity , over 12 |
|
|
weeks . |
Vegan / vegetarian diet
Dose not defined in trial
Increased the plasma concentrations of ubiquinol , found to be significantly lower in those on vegetarian / vegan diets , reducing the risk of age-related diseases .
Refs
17,3 8-40 , 47,48
1,18 , 29,38 , 49
19,35 , 50-52
49,53
49 , 54-56
57
58
59-62
63-65
66,67
68,69
70,71
72-74
75-77
78-80
81,82
83
84-87
88
89
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