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Over the last decade or so, the dietary supplements industry has exploded. There are several dozens of brands that have come out with various formulations of dietary supplements, with a wide variety of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, and herbs. CoQ10 supplements are one such example. The best CoQ10 supplements boast of various health benefits and help the human body function to the best of its ability.
Softgel supplements spilling out of a bottle
Many of these supplement ingredients may sound like medical jargon to your ears; you can’t pronounce the names, let alone understand their benefits and implications. A health specialist or a nutritionist will, however, have heard of CoQ10.
CoQ10 is actually a shortened form of for Co-enzyme Q10. The Q refers to the quinone chemical group, and the 10 refers to the isoprenyl subunits in the compound.
That really doesn’t clear up anything unless you got an A in your Biochemistry course in college.
But what’s in a name, right? There are more important questions to ask. Like, what does CoQ10 do and why are CoQ10 supplements gaining so much popularity in the supplements world?
Coenzyme Q10 is a compound that is naturally present in the human body, responsible for making energy in the cells and repairing them and regulating digestive health. It is concentrated in the liver, kidneys, and pancreas and is considered extremely beneficial for the normal functioning of the human body.
Well then, what appears to be the problem? If our bodies can make CoQ10 themselves, why are we fretting over it? Sadly, the amount of CoQ10 production in the body slows down with age, leaving us with low levels of CoQ10, that can sometimes not be replenished by the foods we eat. Our bodies then need external help to restore the amount of this nutrient, like help from dietary supplements with CoQ10 as the star ingredient.
Certain foods we eat are rich in CoQ10 content. These foods are part of our regular diet, and we receive the nutrients in some form or the other. The following foods contain CoQ10:
A CoQ10 deficiency might occur as you age. As your body crosses the threshold of 30, your body’s natural production of collagen, CoQ10, and many other chemicals starts slowing down. It is thus a good idea to supplement the levels of nutrients in your body with dietary supplements so as to keep up the nutrient count in your body and keep you looking young and protected from a number of diseases.
A CoQ10 deficiency, called Primary Coenzyme Q10 Deficiency, though rare, can have ordinary to grave consequences. A mild deficiency can often result in trouble balancing the body, while more grave symptoms include neurological problems like muscle contractions, muscle stiffness, seizures, vision loss, and hearing loss. The symptoms might start off gradually, but they can worsen with age unless treated with CoQ10 supplementation.
A CoQ10 deficiency also attacks the heart muscles, causing them to weaken. It can also cause kidney dysfunction, anemia, a weakened immune system, and even kidney failure.
Symptoms of a CoQ10 deficiency could be weakness, seizures, and fatigue. If a CoQ10 deficiency is suspected, supplementary CoQ10 should be taken to alleviate the symptoms.
Many medical pieces of research have unearthed several health and beauty benefits of CoQ10. Even in the absence of a deficiency, taking CoQ10 supplements is thought to be good for your health. Some of the benefits associated with CoQ10 supplements are:
Healthy levels of CoQ10 in the body, or people supplementing CoQ10 levels in their body are at a lower risk of dying from heart-related diseases, studies have found. People who are on regular CoQ10 supplements also witness an improvement in their symptoms.
The stress from heart diseases and even some medications that help with heart diseases have been found to deplete the CoQ10 levels in the body. Heart conditions can also cause the veins and arteries to inflame and constrict.
CoQ10 is a strong antioxidant, allowing the body to clear the veins and arteries up, thus providing energy to fight the disease and giving the heart all it needs to function healthily.
CoQ10 directly affects fertility in women and men.
As the body ages, the quantity and quality of the female eggs declines. This is because the lower CoQ10 levels are unable to protect the eggs from oxidative damage. CoQ10 supplements might help to retain the quality of the eggs even as you age.
Similarly, male sperm is also prone to oxidative damage. A CoQ10 deficiency results in a lower sperm count, as well as the quality and quantity of the sperm. Supplementing helps resolve these problems by enhancing sperm quality, concentration, and activity.
There are many, many more benefits of Qunol, including it being a powerful antioxidant, which helps with muscle pain and regulating blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
The dosage of CoQ10 ranges from 50 mg to 200 mg per day for regular, healthy adults. However, your doctor may assign you higher dosages in light of what diseases or complications you might be suffering from and what the CoQ10 supplements are aiming to cure. For headaches, muscular dystrophy, and heart problems, the average 100 mg dosage is recommended. In the case of a CoQ10 deficiency, the dosage can go up to 2400 mg, depending on how low your levels are!
For more detailed dosage requirements for children and adults suffering from different afflictions, refer here.
The absorption of CoQ10 by the body is slow because it is a fat-soluble compound. Taken on its own, its absorption rate is very sluggish and limited. Thus, it is recommended to be taken around mealtimes.
It has been observed that CoQ10’s absorption rate with food increases 3 times when taken without food. The fat in the food helps the body absorb CoQ10 alongside it.
Some specialists say that taking CoQ10 supplements at night, near dinnertime, can help with the body’s ability to absorb it and use it effectively. However, taking CoQ10 at night may cause some people to have a little trouble with sleeping.
If it is messing up your sleeping schedule, it is best to take it early in the day with breakfast or brunch.
Though no side effects of consuming CoQ10 supplements have been uncovered by scientific research, it is recommended that you consult your healthcare provider before investing in a jar of CoQ10, especially if you’re on any other medication. CoQ10 is suspected of interfering with anticoagulants and blood-thinning drugs such as warfarin and the likes.
It is also thought to make a bad combination with some chemotherapy medicines. There is no conclusive evidence to this yet, as further studies are required, but a little precaution never hurt anybody.
Purely Holistic CoQ10 comes in a bottle containing 240 softgels. The softgels are formulated so that they’re easier to swallow, which aids in absorption. Each softgel in the pack contains about 100mg of CoQ10.
The softgels are packed with no artificial flavoring and are not sourced from GMOs. The carrier oil is organic olive oil, and there is no risk of allergies with Purely Holistic CoQ10.
Made in the USA, Purely Holistic CoQ10 is concocted from the most premium of ingredients, so as not to compromise on the quality of the supplement. Since 100mg is the required dosage per day, this pack of 240 softgels will last you for 8 months. At its price, it sounds reasonable enough.
Viva Naturals is a trusted brand among many consumers, and the Viva Natural CoQ10 with BioPerine does not disappoint. The bottle contains 150 tablets and comes in 100mg, 200mg, and 400mg softgel tablets. These tables are considered some of the most premium-quality ones available.
It contains Extra-Virgin Olive Oil, Beeswax and Glycerin. These tablets are not appropriate for vegetarians, as the capsule contains gelatin, and the gelatin is extracted from Halal bovines. The gelatin is only in the casing and not in the content, so vegetarians can consume it if they discard the casing.
The BioPerine is an interesting addition to the supplement. A black pepper fruit extract that has been shown to improve the bioavailability and uptake of CoQ10 by 30% as compared to CoQ10 alone is included in the supplement, making the supplement more potent and effective than most other supplements.
For grownups who still haven’t gotten over their dislike for pills and capsules, this bottle of Qunol Liquid CoQ10 is a god-send. Softgels can often be hard to swallow and leave a bad aftertaste and a smell weird. The liquid version of Qunol CoQ10 is as easy to consume as it gets. Though you can’t carry it around like you can carry softgels with you, the liquid nonetheless is easier to take and faster to absorb. A tablespoon or two, as recommended by your dietician, before your meals can give you the same amount of energy as softgels.
The Qunol Liquid CoQ10 is slightly flavored with orange and pineapple extracts and natural sweeteners. However, the ingredients list states sucralose and corn syrup as ingredients, so it’s not as natural as it would have us believe. Those who don’t mind the artificial flavoring will love the flavor; it is not too heavy and goes down easy. Touted to have helped many with their blood pressure, this certainly seems like a good alternative to CoQ10 softgels.
Made with a fat-soluble formula, Qunol Ultra CoQ10 guarantees 3x better absorption. It comes packaged in a bottle containing 120 softgels of 100 mg each and is one of the most top-ranked CoQ10 supplement varieties among consumers.
The packaging mentions ‘A cardiologist recommended form of CoQ10,’ which is the natural trans-form, that most resembles the CoQ10 produced in our body. Due to its high-quality ingredients and maximum absorption, cardiologists often do suggest Qunol Ultra to patients who have been suffering from heart diseases and muscle pains, due to any number of reasons. These can range from old age to exercise fatigue.
It claims that it can restore CoQ10 levels in the blood in just one week due to its superior rate of absorption. Therefore, it has become the choice supplement for a lot of users.
Doctor’s Best has hundreds of people raving about its effectiveness in relieving muscle pain and providing energy boosts. With its ‘science-based nutrition’ formula, Doctor’s Best CoQ10 combines the highly beneficial CoQ10 with BioPerine, a black pepper extract that ensures maximum absorption (almost 30% more than those without BioPerine). The bottle packs 120 softgels of 100mg each, and the formula is entirely vegan and gluten-friendly, in addition to being soy and GMO-free, making it a potential favorite among vegans.
While the softgels are slightly larger and difficult to swallow as compared to other brands, the quality is top-notch. It specifically mentions restoring CoQ10 levels in the body that have been depleted by aging and with the usage of statin drugs, which are prescribed to patients who suffer from high cholesterol levels. Other active ingredients in the supplement include Olive oil (non-GMO), beeswax, lecithin, and rosemary oil.
While there is no clear winner, Qunol Ultra GoQ10 appears to be a better bet than most. Its only obvious drawback being that it can’t be consumed by vegans and soy-intolerant people as it has gelatin and soy included in the ingredients list. It has a near-perfect absorption rate of almost 3 times that of other brands, a great reputation in the market already, and makes good on its claims while being an absolute steal at the price it is being offered at.