And all antioxidants come with their own set of benefits and specialized focus areas for health. CoQ10, in particular, plays several critical roles in the body. The below is not an exhaustive list—for that please check out our guide to CoQ10—but it can give you a good indication of what you can expect if you decide to take it via supplementation or topical products. Its primary role in the body is to support energy production. It’s specifically used in the mitochondria, or “powerhouse” of the cells, where CoQ10 transports electrons in your mitochondrial pathways, which in turn produces energy (i.e., ATP energy from the carbohydrates, protein, and fats we consume daily). Because this happens in every cell in the human body, CoQ10 supports overall health, too.* Like all antioxidants, it fights free radicals. But it’s not just any antioxidant. In fact, it’s the only fat-soluble antioxidant1 naturally made by the human body. Additionally, it also helps protect against lipid peroxidation2, a process by which free radicals break down lipids in cell membranes. Finally, it helps regenerate other antioxidants in the body, supporting the free-radical-neutralizing power of other antioxidants you are ingesting or using.* It also supports skin health, thanks to its antioxidant and energy-promotion abilities. When used via topicals, research has found that topical CoQ10 can significantly decrease facial wrinkles3. And a clinical trial found that CoQ10 supplements reduce the appearance of wrinkles and lines4 while enhancing skin smoothness.* Ubiquinol is the form of coenzyme Q10 that is considered to be the “active” form of the antioxidant, as it is the bioactive form that’s utilized in the body. Because it is the active form, it does not need any additional conversion steps to be used by the cells. Both are present in your body, and your body actually converts the two back and forth naturally as required by cellular pathways. However, ubiquinol is the most prevalent form5, accounting for 90% of the CoQ10 in the blood. As mbg’s vice president of scientific affairs Ashley Jordan Ferira, Ph.D., RDN, explains, “CoQ10 is found ubiquitously—hence the name, ubiquinol, the active form of CoQ10—in every cell of your body.” Ferira adds, “In your cells’ mitochondria, ubiquinol is a vital part of cellular energy production from nutrition we consume daily. A real multitasker, ubiquinol is also a powerhouse antioxidant."* However, because it is the oxidized form, it’s also much more stable in specific formats—specifically, ubiquinone comes in handy in certain emulsions and topical formulations. For example, in orally consumed dietary supplements, you should look for ubiquinol. Because this is more clinically bioavailable and effective at affecting CoQ10 status and oxidative stress biomarkers6, it is used in certain premium supplements in order to reach peak efficacy.* “The Kaneka® form of ubiquinol specifically is the most researched and has stabilization technologies and patents to boot,” explains Ferira. “You’ll also find ubiquinone in many CoQ10 supplements on the market, but just know: It’s less bioavailable and biologically active (and thus, cheaper),” adds Ferira. Given the nature of topical formulations, cosmetic chemists use the more stable version, ubiquinone. Because skin care topicals contain multiple ingredients, preservative systems for aqueous formulas, and are often readily exposed to air, they need more stabilized actives; otherwise, the ingredient’s efficacy will be reduced when it comes in contact with other ingredients, water, and oxygen. For healthy aging antioxidant supplements to look for, check out our guide to antioxidants for the skin.*
