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Athletes, through their physical activity, increase their needs for vitamins and minerals. It also produces free radicals during its training, causing oxidation of its cells. Ubiquinol is a very interesting supplement for athletes to benefit from its different effects.
What is ubiquinol?
Ubiquinol is an organic compound from the benzoquinone family. This is the reduced antioxidant form of coenzyme Q10, also called ubiquinone. This coenzyme is at the origin of numerous physiological interactions linked to energy production (ATP). Present in all human cells, it contributes in particular to the proper functioning of the heart and the health of athletes. Q10 has a molecular structure similar to vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamin K. It is found in high concentrations in the heart.
Origin
Basically, the discovery of Q10 dates back to 1957 in the United States and was described the following year by the English researcher RA Morton. Its role in energy production was established by Peter Mitchell. Q10 is synthesized in a reduced form called ubiquinol. Ubiquinol is antioxidant and fat-soluble, meaning it benefits from better absorption in the presence of fat. It is also a much more recent form which has superior qualities, hence its higher price.
How to ensure coenzyme Q10 intake?
Beef, peanuts, rapeseed oil are foods rich in coenzyme Q10. Soybean oil is also a particularly important source: it contains 13 mg of Q10 per 100 ml. Depending on your needs and personal goals, it is recommended to consume on average 90 to 200 mg per day. Athletes and the elderly are encouraged to consume more because the Q10 level decreases with age.
If you want to control your coenzyme Q10 intake, we recommend that you opt for ubiquinol in the form of a food supplement. The Ubiquinol that we offer is patented, is produced through a natural plant fermentation process and contains 150 mg of pure ubiquinol per capsule.
Why take ubiquinol?
Ubiquinol can be very effective for athletes in terms of their sporting performance but also for sedentary people thanks to its action on cardiovascular health.
You have understood, ubiquinol is a sports and health ally.
It is useful to consume it to compensate for a deficiency in ubiquinol, especially from around the age of 45, when natural production gradually decreases.
The health benefits of ubiquinol
A quality antioxidant
Free radicals are molecules formed by our body which intervene as a result of external factors (air pollution, low oxygen, intense and prolonged exercise, etc.). When the body has a high level of free radicals, the cells are said to suffer from oxidative stress. This oxidative stress damages the body and notably causes aging and certain health disorders (1).
Ubiquinol is above all a true antioxidant: it protects the body and the organism against damage and prevents the appearance and spread of oxidative stress.
This is why it fully contributes to the athlete's integrity by preventing the occurrence of injuries, reducing the speed of cartilage degradation and limiting pain.
Protects cardiovascular function
As seen previously, ubiquinol plays an important role in the production of energy, in the form of ATP. One of the organs benefiting the most from this boost in energy is the heart, one of the organs with the highest Q10 levels. This is why ubiquinol helps maintain good cardiovascular health by helping the functioning of the heart in patients with heart problems (2,3,4). Ubiquinol intake also helps reduce the formation of fibrosis (progressive accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins like collagens and fibronectin in the heart.)
Tested on people prone to hypertension, the benefits of ubiquinol on the heart go well beyond: its intake would help reduce cholesterol levels in the blood.
The benefits of ubiquinol on sport
Improves sports performance
According to several studies, it is proven that physical activity leads to a decrease in the level of Q10 in the body. However, it is also said that the richer the muscles are in Q10, the more efficient they are. This is why supplementation would help avoid Q10 deficiencies but also increase muscle performance.
The many benefits of ubiquinol are linked to the progression and development of the athlete. Indeed, its contribution plays an essential role in muscle function allowing optimal effort to be produced. Thanks to its antioxidant effects which reduce oxidative stress, ubiquinol accelerates recovery and preserves muscle health.
When to take ubiquinol?
It is recommended to take your ubiquinol supplement during a meal, both in the morning, at midday or in the evening. Ideally a meal containing lipids (oil, fat) so that your body better absorbs ubiquinol. Conversely, ubiquinol will be less easily absorbed by your body when fasting.
Ubiquinol levels fluctuate with age and reach their highest levels in the heart, brain, and lungs by age 20. After this age, the level decreases. People over 45 are advised to supplement with ubiquinol.
At age 80, ubiquinol production is reduced by half in the heart muscle.
Scientific references:
- Rock, RJ, PB Update on the biological characteristics of the antioxidant micronutrients: vitamin C, vitamin E, and the carotenoids. J Am Diet Assoc. 1996 Jul;96(7):693-702; quiz 703-4.
- Witte. L Clark et al. Chronic heart failure and micronutrients. J Am Coll Cardiol .2001 Jun 1;37(7):1765-74.
- Sole MJ; Jeejeebhoy, KN et al. Conditioned nutritional requirements: therapeutic relevance to heart failure. 2002 Mar;27(2):174-8.
- Sole MJ; Jeejeebhoy, KN et al . Conditioned nutritional requirements and the pathogenesis and treatment of myocardial failure . Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care 2000, 3, 417-424.
