Mitigating oxidative stress: Supporting antioxidant defenses before they falter

As the engine of the cell, the mitochondria are central to systemic wellness and healthy aging.

In fact, mitochondrial health has rapidly evolved from a specialist scientific concept into a commercially relevant platform for brandholders, new product development (NPD) teams, and marketers.

This evolution is because mitochondrial health aligns with many health outcomes that consumers care about – cellular energy, healthy aging, cardiovascular health, fertility and women’s health.

Mitochondria are organelles found in nearly every cell of the body. There are numerous mitochondria in a given cell, with many more in cells and organs with high energy requirements such as the heart, muscle, oocytes and sperm.

Historically, the mitochondria’s main function was understood to be creating a molecule, known as ATP (adenosine triphosphate) that is used to power cellular processes. However, research has shown that mitochondria also play a role as a regulator of cell, tissue and organismal homeostasis.

The role of ubiquinol

Ubiquinol – the antioxidant form of CoQ10 – works within the mitochondrial membrane to support these functions. A key aspect of CoQ10 is its ability to shift between CoQ10 and ubiquinol. The transformation of CoQ10 to ubiquinol allows for electron transport to enable creation of ATP. Ubiquinol acts as a potent antioxidant, donating its electrons to neutralize reactive oxygen species (ROS), also known as free radicals. This helps to protect cells from damage caused by oxidative stress.

Oxidative stress occurs when there is an imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants in the body. This imbalance increases with age as antioxidant capacity naturally declines. As it increases, oxidative stress can lead to cell and tissue damage, which can accelerate aging and increase the risk of conditions of aging.

Antioxidant balance and ubiquinol supplementation

While ubiquinol levels fall, cells may be less able to sustain sufficient energy generation and antioxidant protection from free radical damage. Clinical research shows supplementation of Kaneka Ubiquinol can elevate circulating levels and improve the ubiquinol:ubiquinone ratio, helping to support redox balance and reduce oxidative stress.^1-2

Manufactured by Kaneka Nutrients, Kaneka Ubiquinol® is a premium and bioavailable antioxidant form of CoQ10. Supported by over 100 clinical studies and over 18 years of positive consumer experience, Kaneka Ubiquinol® supplementation is shown to demonstrate consistent performance and real-world application.

Kaneka Ubiquinol® is three times better absorbed than a conventional CoQ10 supplement and does not require conversion to function as an antioxidant.^3-4

In clinical trials, Kaneka Ubiquinol® has been shown to protect against oxidative stress associated with aging and increase plasma ubiquinol levels to maintain a healthy CoQ10 balance. The research demonstrates that ubiquinol is a vital nutrient that supports health across adult life stages, including:

Cardiovascular health: Kaneka Ubiquinol has been shown to benefit vessel health through promoting vessel health, protecting LDL cholesterol from oxidation, and helping cells meet energy demands.^5-7

Healthy aging: Studies show that supplementing with Kaneka Ubiquinol promotes the antioxidant defense system that is associated with healthy aging in adults.⁵

Preconception health: Age-related changes in oxidative stress and mitochondrial function can be associated with changes in sperm health, oocyte function, and ovarian health. For women, Kaneka Ubiquinol® supports mitochondrial function and cellular energy generation which is essential for oocyte quality and egg health.^8-10 For men, Kaneka Ubiquinol® supports healthy sperm function including morphology, concentration, and motility – as well as providing antioxidant protection to seminal fluid.^11-13

Menopausal health: Research shows that postmenopausal women exhibit higher oxidative stress than premenopausal women.¹⁴ In a consumer-use, 60-day study, 80% of women supplementing 200mg per/day of Kaneka Ubiquinol® for two months were reported to have decreased irritability, sensitivity, stress, and mood swings.¹⁵

Mitigating oxidative stress before it impacts the body

The focus on antioxidant balance and supplementation usually occurs after the balance tips towards oxidative stress. By the time antioxidant defences have decreased, oxidative stress has likely already created impacts in the body. Promoting antioxidant balance can mitigate the impacts of oxidative stress before its gone too far.

To understand more about how ubiquinol can help to support healthy aging, NutraIngredients is partnering with Kaneka Nutrients in an upcoming Spotlight On ‘Building antioxidant defences before they falter: Kaneka Ubiquinol for promoting antioxidant balance throughout life stages’.

Join Melissa Olivadoti, PhD, CMPP, President of Assisi Consulting LLC and Kaneka Nutrients advisor has over 15 years of experience, in the planning, creating, critical review, and communication of scientifically-based content.

Register now to watch ‘Building antioxidant defenses before they falter: Kaneka Ubiquinol for promoting antioxidant balance throughout life stages’ at 10 AM CDT on 5 August.

References

1. Sabbatineli J.; et al. Ubiquinol ameliorates endothelial dysfunction in subjects with mild-to-moderate dyslipidemia: a randomized clinical trial. Nutrients. 2020; 12(4):1098.
2. 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.
3. Ikematsu, H.; et al. Safety assessment of coenzyme Q10 (Kaneka Q10) in healthy subjects: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2006; 44: 212-218.
4. Langsjoen, PH.; et al. Comparison study of plasma coenzyme Q10 levels in healthy subjects supplemented with ubiquinol versus ubiquinone. Clin Pharmacol Drug Dev. 2014;3(1):13-7.
5. Sabbatinelli, J.; et al Ubiquinol Ameliorates Endothelial Dysfunction in Subjects with Mild-to-Moderate Dyslipidemia: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Nutrients. 2020;12(4):1098.DOI: 10.3390/nu12041098.
6. Stocker R.; et al. Ubiquinol-10 protects human low-density lipoprotein more efficiently against lipid peroxidation than does alpha-tocopherol. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 1991;88(5):1646–1650.
7. Schniertshauer D.; et al. Age-Dependent Loss of Mitochondrial Function in Epithelial Tissue Can Be Reversed by Coenzyme Q10. Journal of Aging Research. 2018;2018:6354680
8. Zhu, Z.; et al. Ovarian aging: mechanisms and intervention strategies. Med Rev (2021). 2022;2(6):590-610.
9. Zhang, M.; et al. Coenzyme Q10 ameliorates the quality of postovulatory aged oocytes by suppressing DNA damage and apoptosis. Free Radic Biol Med. 2019;143:84-94.
10. Ben-Meir, A.; et al. Coenzyme Q10 restores oocyte mitochondrial function and fertility during reproductive aging. Aging Cell. 2015;14(5):887-95.
11. Cakiroglu, B.; et al. Ubiquinol effect on sperm parameters in subfertile men who have astheno-teratozoospermia with normal sperm concentration. Nephrourol Mon. 2014;6(3):e16870.
12. Thakur, AS.; et al. Effect of ubiquinol therapy on sperm parameters and serum testosterone levels in oligoasthenozoospermic infertile men. J Clin Diagn Res. 2015;9(9):BC01-3.
13. Alleva, R.; et al. The protective role of ubiquinol-10 against formation of lipid hydroperoxides in human seminal fluid. Mol Aspects Med. 1997;18(Suppl):S221-8.
14. Vincent, J.; et al. Comparison of oxidative stress between premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Nat J Physiol Pharm Pharacol. 2020;10(5):359-362
15. Kaneka Internal Report. Real-life UBIQUINOL study on 200 postmenopausal women. Expansion Consulteam. 2024.