Ubidecarenone (Coenzyme Q10)

About This Product

Ubidecarenone, universally traded as coenzyme Q10, is a benzoquinone carrying a ten-unit isoprenoid tail. It sits in the inner mitochondrial membrane where it shuttles electrons between complexes I and II and complex III of the respiratory chain, and it also functions as a lipid-soluble antioxidant.

It is supplied in two redox states. Ubiquinone is the oxidised, orange crystalline form, stable and the long-established article of commerce. Ubiquinol is the reduced form, more readily absorbed but considerably more prone to oxidation and requiring protective formulation and packaging.

The formulation problem dominates its use. CoQ10 is essentially insoluble in water and poorly soluble even in fats at ambient temperature, so absorption from a plain powder is low and erratic. Commercial forms therefore include oil suspensions, solubilised and emulsified systems, and various crystal-modified powders, and the bioavailability claim rests on that delivery system rather than on the raw assay.

Specify the redox form, the delivery system and whether a fermentation-derived material is required, since the natural all-trans isomer produced by fermentation is preferred over synthetic material containing cis isomers.