One of the core foundations of healthy aging is cellular health.
Cell death is a fundamental aspect of biology. Billions of cells die every day in a controlled process called apoptosis – programmed cell death. However, as we age uncontrolled cell death, also known as unexpected cell death, can cause long-term health problems and age-related disease.
Unexpected cell death impacts mitochondria, shifting mitochondrial function from a powerhouse energy producer to an active player in the cell’s self-destruction, contributing to many underlying conditions of aging.
The mitochondria is the engine of the cell. “Most people think that each cell has one mitochondria. That’s actually far from the truth. There’s usually hundreds to – in some cases – hundreds of thousands of these in a single cell depending on how much energy it needs. And as we age, these can go away. We need to keep them as healthy as we can,” says David Foreman, Founder of The Herbal Pharmacist.
Nutrients play a key role in keeping mitochondria healthy – primarily, ubiquinol. Found in almost every cell of the human body, ubiquinol is the bioactive form of Coenzyme Q10 and has been coined CoQ10’s ‘body ready’ form. Needing no conversion, ubiquinol allows for immediate and fast uptake.
As we age, natural production of ubiquinol decreases, leading to less cellular energy and more oxidative stress. To maintain optimal ubiquinol levels, supplementation is key. Backed by over 100 studies and 50 years of research, Kaneka Ubiquinol® is the premium and bioavailable form of CoQ10.
Manufactured exclusively by Kaneka Nutrients, Kaneka Ubiquinol® has a wide range of health benefits, supporting mitochondrial function, cardiovascular health and women’s health – among others.
Mitochondrial health: Reducing oxidative stress
Mitochondria are central to systemic wellness and healthy aging, coordinating immune response, signaling and cellular repair. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are natural byproducts of mitochondrial energy generation and are neutralized by antioxidants.
When ROS production exceeds the cell’s antioxidant defenses, oxidative stress may occur. Oxidative stress – characterized by an imbalance between free radical molecules and protective antioxidants – damages healthy cells and mitochondria within the body. It can potentially affect mitochondrial integrity, including membrane lipids, proteins, cellular and mitochondrial DNA, as well as the mitochondrial structures and functions involved in energy production.
Ubiquinol supports mitochondrial function through its dual role of supporting energy production and antioxidant defence. As we age, antioxidant defence mechanisms become less efficient, increasing free radical damage and oxidative stress.
Research shows that 200mg supplementation of Kaneka Ubiquinol® increases ubiquinol levels by approximately eight times compared to baseline in healthy adults when taken daily for 30 days.1
Cardiovascular health: Neutralizing ROS
Maintaining mitochondrial health is vital for supporting the cardiovascular system. The heart muscle requires a lot of energy to function, with approximately 5,000 to 8,000 mitochondria per cardiomyocyte. As mitochondrial function declines it can contribute to cellular changes that, over time, influence the health of bodily organs – including the heart.
Mitochondria are the primary source of free radical production. This, in combination with the high metabolic rate of the heart’s cells, can lead to elevated production of ROS and free radicals. Free radicals react with Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, causing oxidized LDL and negatively affecting endothelial cell function and vascular health.
As natural antioxidant defences and ubiquinol levels decline, supplementation is key to effectively neutralizing ROS. Ubiquinol’s lipid solubility allows it to localize within the mitochondria, neutralizing ROS and supporting the function of cardiac cells. Its lipid solubility also enables it to bind to lipid-based LDL particles in the blood, providing antioxidant support, protecting LDL from oxidation and contributing to a healthy endothelial environment.
Reproductive health: Maintaining cell function
Ubiquinol plays a role in supporting the mitochondrial function and cellular energy production of reproductive cells. Research shows a direct correlation between increased oxidative stress levels and reproductive health.
Oxidative stress plays an independent role in the etiology of male infertility, with 30% to 80% of infertile men having elevated seminal reactive oxygen species levels.2 And in their mid-thirties, women experience a decline in fertility. There are approximately 100,000 mitochondria per fully-grown oocyte. A causative relationship between the age-related decline in oocyte quality and oxidative stress is well established.3
As a lipid-soluble antioxidant, ubiquinol supports preconception health by protecting both sperm and egg cells against oxidative stress. In women, ubiquinol’s influence over mitochondrial activity and the surrounding follicular environment helps to support oocyte quality and healthy maturation. This is essential as the high-energy demands of oocytes make them dependent on efficient mitochondrial function.
In an open label study, Kaneka Ubiquinol® was supplemented to 60 men between ages 20 to 40 years. After six months of supplementation, results showed sperm motility improved up to 26% and sperm count increased up to 53% compared to baseline.
Women’s health: Menopause support
As women’s health evolves across life stages, mitochondrial health is vital to meet changing physiological needs. This is extremely important during the menopausal transition. Declining estrogen levels directly impact mitochondrial function, leading to increased oxidative stress, reduced energy production and exacerbated menopausal symptoms such as brain fog, muscle aches and fatigue.
By replenishing declining ubiquinol levels, Kaneka Ubiquinol® can help to restore cellular energy, reduce oxidative stress and alleviate menopause-related symptoms. In a consumer use study, 80% of menopausal women taking 200mg of Kaneka Ubiquinol per day reported decreased irritability, sensitivity, stress and mood swings after 60 days of supplementation.4
Additionally, 80% of participants reported an improvement in mood and feeling “more emotionally stable” within 30 days of supplementation, and 70% reported a better quality of sleep, less muscular pain and improved wellbeing by the end of the study.
Healthy aging with clinically-backed support
Backed by extensive clinical research and decades of research supporting its efficacy and safety, Kaneka Ubiquinol® is a trusted bioidentical ingredient which can bring supplement formulations to the next level.
Available as a pure crystalline powder, its applications include: softgels; gummies; cap-within-cap; liposomal formulations; liquid capsules; and other oxygen-controlled environments. Kaneka Ubiquinol® is also available in an air-stable form as Q30TM, a 30% ubiquinol powder with additional applications of stick packs, sachets and soft chews.
As companies continue to seek ways to tap into the healthy aging market, delivering unique formulations to support longevity, Kaneka Ubiquinol® is the foundational ingredient to ensure every cell has what it needs for optimal wellness.
References
- Hosoe, K, et al. Study on safety and bioavailability of ubiquinol (Kaneka QH) after single and 4-week multiple oral administration to healthy volunteers. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2007;47(1):19–28.
- Agarwal, A.; et al. Male Oxidative Stress Infertility (MOSI): Proposed Terminology and Clinical Practice Guidelines for Management of Idiopathic Male Infertility. World J Mens Health. 2019 Sep;37(3):296-312.
- Mihalas, BP.; et al. Molecular Mechanisms Responsible for Increased Vulnerability of the Ageing Oocyte to Oxidative Damage. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2017:4015874.
- Kaneka Internal Report. Real-life ubiquinol study on 200 postmenopausal women. Expansion Consulteam. 2024.
