Aging, pollution and everyday stress all contribute to the formation of free radicals – unstable molecules capable of damaging cells and DNA.
To counter this, the body relies on its own antioxidant defense system, including ubiquinol, the active form of CoQ10. Ubiquinol plays a central role in neutralising free radicals before they can cause harm. Yet the body’s ability to produce CoQ10 declines steadily with age, leaving cells more vulnerable at precisely the time oxidative stress increases.
NutraIngredients partnered with Kaneka for the recent broadcast Spotlight On: Building antioxidant defenses before they falter. The session brought together Melissa Olivadoti, President of Assisi Consulting LLC; Joel Evans, M.D., OB/GYN and Director of The Center for Functional Medicine; with insights from Kien Vuu, M.D. (“Doctor V”), Triple Board‑Certified Physician and Medical Advisor. The discussion explored why mitochondrial resilience is emerging as a critical pillar of healthy aging – and why antioxidant balance may be an important consideration throughout adulthood.
Creating a balance
Free radicals are a natural by‑product of normal metabolic processes, but their instability makes them highly reactive. Melissa Olivadoti describes them as “the robber barons of our bodies” – molecules that steal electrons from others in an attempt to stabilise themselves. “Over time it can impact the function of tissues, organs, and body systems,” she explains.
Around 90% of the body’s free radicals originate in the mitochondria, the cell’s energy‑producing organelles. During the electron transport chain (ETC) process – where oxygen and nutrients are converted into ATP – mitochondria generate both free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS). When electrons leak from the ETC and react with oxygen, ROS are produced. Without sufficient antioxidant buffering, this leads to oxidative stress and cumulative cellular damage.
“When oxidative stress is created and not mitigated by appropriate levels of antioxidants, we see chronic impacts on mitochondrial and cellular health,” says Olivadoti. “This means less efficient energy production, less healthy mitochondria, prolonged oxidative stress, and changes to cardiovascular and reproductive systems. This can eventually lead to conditions of aging.”
Ubiquinol plays a central role in neutralising free radicals and ROS by donating electrons to stabilise them before damage occurs. However, endogenous CoQ10 production begins declining from around age 20, and by age 50 levels may be 50% lower. While CoQ10 is present in foods such as oily fish, nuts, seeds and organ meats, ubiquinol supplementation is increasingly used to help maintain antioxidant balance.
“To manage free radicals and reactive oxygen species, there needs to be a balance on both sides,” Olivadoti emphasises.
Why mitochondrial health is vital
Although mitochondria generate the majority of free radicals, growing research suggests they also play a central role in healthy aging and longevity. Beyond ATP production, mitochondria influence immune function, inflammatory signalling, and cellular repair.
“When we talk about health and longevity, what we’re really talking about is energy – and central to that is cellular health,” says Dr Kien Vuu. “Foundational to cellular health [are] our mitochondria, these tiny structures that produce energy, and they use ubiquinol to do that.”
When mitochondria become damaged, they can leak DNA into the cell. The immune system interprets this as a bacterial threat, triggering biological responses that may affect normal cellular function. While mitochondria can be renewed through a process known as mitochondrial biogenesis, maintaining their function throughout life remains essential for long term health.
Mitochondria are especially critical for high‑energy organs such as the brain, heart and muscles. Dysfunction can therefore have widespread effects on cellular function from fatigue to poor recovery.
As the levels of ubiquinol reduce in the body with age, some individuals may notice changes in energy levels. “People might start feeling symptoms like fatigue, brain fog; they don’t recover as well,” says Vuu. “This is why this molecule is so important.”
Joel Evans, M.D., underscores the urgency, citing the latest stats in the United States: “Unfortunately our population is not healthy – 70% of the population has at least one chronic disease and 40% have more than one. Ten per cent of us are diabetic and 30 per cent are prediabetic.”
Olivadoti adds: “As in all health measures, it’s best to boost your antioxidant balance early and do it before the scales start to tip. We see benefits across many stages of adulthood – from young adults to women navigating perimenopause and menopause.”
Join On Demand now
The broadcast features a detailed Q&A with Melissa Olivadoti, who explains why scientific interest in mitochondrial health has surged; how consumers can recognise when antioxidant support may be needed; and what emerging research reveals about oxidative stress and long‑term health outcomes.
Watch Building antioxidant defenses before they falter On Demand to learn more about how ubiquinol supports mitochondrial resilience, heart health and healthy aging.
