CoQ10: It shouldn't cost the earth

CoQ10 is one of the most studied supplements for fertility. It's use is supported by numerous studies looking at markers of egg and sperm health and it tends to be very well tolerated. 

CoQ10 in the form of ubiquinol can be eye-wateringly expensive. But is it worth the extra cost over ubiquinone? Let's look at some of the myths that surround CoQ10 and ubiquinol more specifically...

Myth #1: Ubiquinol is the "natural" form of CoQ10

• Both ubiquinol and ubiquinone are natural: your body uses and makes both
• CoQ10 cycles between the oxidised form (ubiquinone) and the reduced form (ubiquinol) constantly
• Calling ubiquinol “more natural” is a marketing oversimplification
• Your body actually produces ubiquinone first, and then converts it to ubiquinol as needed

Myth #2: Over 30 years of age, you can't convert ubiquinone to ubiquinol

• Clinical trials in older adults routinely use ubiquinone and show excellent results
• Landmark cardiovascular and ageing studies used ubiquinone and participants clearly converted it efficiently
• The body has well-established enzymes that interconvert the two forms throughout life
• There’s no evidence that turning 30 suddenly stops this process

Myth #3: Ubiquinol is more easily absorbed

• A significant portion of ingested ubiquinol becomes ubiquinone in the gut before absorption
• Animal and lab studies show that ubiquinol oxidises in the digestive tract
• Blood levels end up mostly as ubiquinol, regardless of which form you swallowed
• Formulation and the way you take CoQ10 matters more than ubiquinol vs ubiquinone - fat is required for absorption so take it with food or in a formula that provides fat. Some formulations use seed oils which I prefer to avoid, but there are formulations with extra virgin olive oil available
• Old ubiquinone products crystallised and were poorly absorbed but modern production techniques have solved that

Myth #4: The fertility research supports ubiquinol

• The majority of fertility and egg-quality studies used ubiquinone (standard CoQ10)
• Ubiquinone has demonstrated benefits for ovarian response, egg quality, and ART outcomes
• Because ubiquinone is the form used in the biggest and most influential studies, it remains the evidence-based choice

Myth #5: The additional cost of ubiquinol is justified

• Price reflects branding, manufacturing claims, and marketing rather than proven clinical superiority
• There is no evidence that ubiquinol leads to better fertility outcomes
• When absorption differences do appear, they are usually small and depend heavily on product formulation
• For most people, ubiquinone gives the same results at a significantly lower cost

What about special formulations of ubiquinone?

You may have also seen patented versions of ubiquinone promoted as being better absorbed or more effective than standard ubiquinone. While those claims sound impressive, they aren't strongly supported by research.

Most of the studies showing benefits of CoQ10 for egg and sperm quality were done using standard ubiquinone, and at higher doses than you will typically find in products using patented or special formulations. The studies on these newer forms tend to have been done on small numbers of people, weren't focused on fertility, and therefore don't tell us whether they actually work better in a reproductive setting. 

There's also a very practical consideration: patented formulations are much more expensive. To use them at the doses that have been shown to be helpful in fertility research would make the cost prohibitive for most people - without clear evidence that they offer better results. 

We base our range on what the full body of evidence shows, not marketing trends. Right now that evidence supports ubiquinone, without fancy patented technology, as the most reliable, well-studied and cost-effective option for fertility support.

TL;DR

• Ubiquinone is the evidence-backed, cost-effective choice for egg health
• Both ubiquinone and ubiquinol interconvert in the body and improve CoQ10 status
• If you choose ubiquinol, you’re mostly paying for marketing, not superior biological effects
• What matters most: choosing a reputable, well-produced supplement and a consistent daily dose
• Splitting the daily dose into two or more servings gives higher plasma CoQ10 levels than taking one serving

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✨PMID: 32767206 Meta-analysis in women undergoing ART; ubiquinone supplementation improves clinical pregnancy rates, showing effective utilisation in adults.

✨PMID: 30558322 Plasma absorption varies, not strictly dependent on CoQ10 form. Absorption depends on formulation rather than ubiquinone vs ubiquinol.

✨PMID: 32646587 Ubiquinone improves oocyte maturation and reduces aneuploidy in vitro.

✨PMID: 30823449 Twice-daily dosing of ubiquinone results in higher sustained plasma levels compared with the same dose once daily, supporting divided dosing for steadier CoQ10 levels.

✨PMID: 32380795 Review article on bioavailability of CoQ10

✨PMID: 34803537 Report of canine studies showing ubiquinol is not stable in the gastrointestinal tract. Concludes that it is likely that in humans most ingested ubiquinol will be oxidised to ubiquinone in the acid of the stomach.