Ubiquinol is the reduced, active antioxidant form of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). Produced naturally within healthy bodies, ubiquinol is CoQ10 that has been converted (“reduced”) for use in the cellular energy production process. In addition to its critical role in energy production, it is the strongest lipid-soluble antioxidant available, protecting the body’s cells from oxidative stress which can cause damage to proteins, lipids and DNA*.

Ubiquinone and ubiquinol are both forms of CoQ10, and both are necessary to produce cellular energy. Ubiquinone is the oxidized form of CoQ10 that consumers are most familiar with; it has been taken as a supplement and studied for more than 30 years. Over the past three decades, CoQ10 has been recognized for its benefits to general health and wellness as well cardiovascular and neurological health*.

In order to generate cellular energy, the body must convert ubiquinone into ubiquinol. Without this conversion, the body’s energy production process cannot be completed and energy levels cannot be sustained. Thus, both are critical to sustaining your body’s natural energy*.

Declines in ubiquinol result in less cellular energy and diminished protection against oxidative stress, which produces free radicals and can damage the body’s cells, including proteins, lipids and DNA*. Ubiquinol provides a strong first-stage defense against this cellular oxidative damage and needs to be replenished to maintain optimum health*.

An increasing number of scientific reports indicate that dramatic decreases in ubiquinone levels and increased oxidative stress are associated with the aging process and with many age-related conditions.

As a healthy 20-year-old, you readily produce all of the CoQ10 you can use and efficiently convert it into ubiquinol. In fact, the predominant form of CoQ10 in the plasma and tissues of a healthy individual is the reduced ubiquinol form*.

However, age and other factors can hinder the body’s ability to produce and metabolize CoQ10*. Some reasons for this include increased metabolic demand, insufficient dietary intake, oxidative stress, or any combination of these things. Some reports say this decline becomes apparent around 40 years old, although it can begin as early as 20 in some cases. As the body’s ability to produce and reduce CoQ10 begins, supplementation with CoQ10 and/or ubiquinol becomes increasingly important to maintaining good health*.

For young, healthy individuals, KanekaQ10™ should usually be sufficient for supplementation needs. Healthy adults in their 20s and 30s can easily metabolize CoQ10 and convert it into ubiquinol; thus, supplementing with CoQ10 likely will be the most efficient way to raise CoQ10 levels*.

For individuals who are 40+, KanekaQHä (ubiquinol) is likely more beneficial since the body’s ability to produce CoQ10 and convert it into ubiquinol is diminished*. Optimal ubiquinol levels are important to those looking to support cardiovascular, neurological and liver health*. Because KanekaQH™ is pre-converted, it is ready for immediate use by the body, making it ideal for those unable to efficiently reduce CoQ10 in the body*

The recommended dose of KanekaQH™ varies based on each individual’s needs. However, those who are older or suspect they have decreased CoQ10 due to disease may want to start supplementing with 200-300 mg of KanekaQH™ per day. Studies show that the CoQ10 plasma levels plateau at about two weeks at this dose. Then, 100 mg per day is a good maintenance dose.

Since ubiquinol is easily oxidized in the air, it has been difficult to develop a stable supply in a reduced supplement form. However, using advanced technology, scientists at Kaneka Corporation have been able to perfect a stabilization process by which ubiquinol remains in its reduced form outside of the body.

You can get ubiquinol as well as ubiquinone in small amounts from your diet; however, you would have to eat the foods in such large amounts as to make them an impractical resource for your CoQ10 supplementation needs. And because the body’s ability to convert ubiquinone to ubiquinol declines with age, food becomes a less practical source of ubiquinol for older individuals and those suffering from age-related conditions.

KanekaQH™ is currently available in numerous consumer supplements in retail outlets, online and via mail order. Consumers should look for “KanekaQH™” in the Supplement Facts area of product labels or the “Q+” logo on the bottle. A complete list of products containing KanekaQH™ is available online at www.KanekaQH.com.

For those individuals who cannot efficiently convert CoQ10 to ubiquinol, KanekaQH™ will restore healthy levels of CoQ10 in plasma and organs for more efficient energy production*. This should result in more energy and stamina as well as better overall health*. Additionally, because ubiquinol is an extremely powerful antioxidant, it offers a strong protective defense against oxidative stress and age-related conditions.

Kaneka does not sell ubiquinol directly to customers; rather, it sells its ingredients to companies that make consumer supplement products. Thus, there are several brands of ubiquinol supplements on the market today. Because Kaneka is the only company that manufactures ubiquinol, any ubiquinol supplement on the market will contain KanekaQH™.

Ubiquinol is not a quick fix for those looking for increased energy. Unlike caffeine or sugar which boost energy levels quickly and can cause a “crash” later, ubiquinol offers sustained natural energy*. Although each individual is different, it generally takes two to three weeks to restore optimal CoQ10 levels in blood plasma and tissues, most people will begin feeling the effects as their individual plasma levels start to increase, generally around the fifth day.

Ubiquinol is required for the body to generate energy*. Restoring this vital nutrient to optimal levels in people over 40 will restore the same type of youthful energy the body produced when it could efficiently convert CoQ10 to ubiquinol and maintain adequate concentrations of ubiquinol in plasma and tissues*. Thus, supplementing with KanekaQH™ is the ideal way to restore and sustain your natural energy*.

Scientists and researchers at Kaneka Corporation have been studying this nutrient for more than a decade and have conducted numerous safety and toxicity studies on the ingredient. Additionally, as a form of CoQ10, ubiquinol will have all of the same benefits of CoQ10. However, because KanekaQH™ has only been commercially available since 2006, scientists have only recently begun to study the specific benefits of this reduced form of CoQ10. A number of promising studies and trials are getting underway.