Healthy aging in your 40s

Ubiquinol is a key antioxidant in the body that helps prevent damage from free radicals and oxidative stress. However, levels of ubiquinol are known to decrease as the body ages, which may be associated with increased oxidative stress and a decrease in the body’s ability to create ubiquinol.

To determine the connection between total CoQ10 (ubiquinol + ubiquinone) blood levels and physical health in older age, researchers completed an observation study to correlate these levels in adults over the age of 65 with their physical capacity (de la Bella-Garzon, 2022). A total of 64 participants (ages 65–99 years) from three locations completed blood testing and physical activity tests, along with a questionnaire about their physical activity in the past 7 days, with no other intervention.

Higher levels of total CoQ10 in the blood correlated with higher activity and performance on physical fitness tests, indicating greater muscle strength and endurance, and a lower risk of frailty in this older population.

Reference

de la Bella-Garzón R, Fernández-Portero C, Alarcón D, Amián JG, López-Lluch G. Antioxidants. 2022 Jan 29;11(2):279

In a consumer use study, 200 women aged 45–55 experiencing common menopause-related symptoms (emotional balance, quality of life, and muscle discomfort) were recruited to participate in a two-month trial of Kaneka Ubiquinol^® (200 mg/day).

At the end of the study, 81% of women reported that they felt less irritable, 81% said they felt less sensitive, 82% felt less stressed, and 69% reported feeling less muscle or joint discomfort than they did at the beginning of the trial.

This study demonstrates that supplementing with Kaneka Ubiquinol^® supports the well-being of women during the menopausal years.

Reference

Kaneka Internal Report. Real-life UBIQUINOL study on 200 postmenopausal women. Expansion Consulteam. 2024. Reported in NutraIngredients Europe May 22, 2024

The health of the cardiovascular system is evaluated by assessing various physical factors including the heart’s structure and function, the condition and flexibility of the blood vessels, and blood flow to and from the heart. Healthy blood vessels are an important hallmark of cardiovascular health. Flexible vessels allow the body to adjust blood flow quickly and appropriately depending on the need. Low density lipoprotein (LDL) is known as the “bad” type of cholesterol, and when it is oxidized, it can stick to vessel walls and lead to the vessel walls being less flexible, affecting circulatory system health. However, ubiquinol acts as an antioxidant and attaches to LDL in the blood so that it’s less likely to be oxidized. Ubiquinol also helps protect cells and vessels from free radical damage, supporting the body’s ability to maintain vessel health, flexibility, and function.

In a controlled trial by Sabbatinelli in 2020, 51 people with moderately increased levels of cholesterol in their blood took either Kaneka Ubiquinol® (either 100 mg or 200 mg) or a placebo once a day for 8 weeks. Researchers measured the amount of oxidized LDL and the amount of total CoQ10 in their blood, as well as how flexible their blood vessels were (also known as “flow mediated dilation” or FMD) before and after the 8 weeks of the trial.

Those taking ubiquinol showed 37% better vessel flexibility compared to baseline when taking 100 mg per day for 8 weeks, and 35% better flexibility when taking 200 mg per day. Both improvements were statistically significant and did not occur in the group taking a placebo.

The researchers also conducted an experiment on the susceptibility of LDL to oxidation using blood samples from these groups at the end of the study. The susceptibility of LDL to oxidation was lower in the group that took Kaneka Ubiquinol^® compared to those who took the placebo, showing that ubiquinol was able to protect LDL from oxidation, an important factor in maintaining the health of blood vessels.

This study demonstrates that taking Kaneka Ubiquinol^® promotes vessel health and healthy blood circulation.

Reference

Sabbatinelli J, Orlando P, Galeazzi R, Silvestri S, Cirilli I, Marcheggiani F, Dludla PV, Giuliani A, Bonfigli AR, Mazzanti L, Olivieri F, Antonicelli R, Tiano L. Nutrients. 2020 Apr 15;12(4):1098.