Comparative Bioavailability of Different Coenzyme Q10 Formulations in Healthy Elderly Individuals.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Individual randomized crossover trial in humans
PubMed 32188111 · doi:10.3390/nu12030784
What was done
A randomized, three-period crossover bioavailability study evaluated single doses of three different Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) formulations containing 100 mg equivalent of CoQ10 in 21 healthy older adults (aged 65–74) with a 1-week washout period between arms. The formulations tested were water-soluble CoQ10 syrup (Q10Vital, investigational product [IP]), ubiquinol capsules (comparative product [CP]), and standard ubiquinone capsules (standard product [SP]). Plasma levels of ubiquinone and ubiquinol were monitored over 48 hours to assess the baseline-corrected area under the curve (ΔAUC48).
What was found
Compared with standard ubiquinone capsules (SP), the ΔAUC48 ratio for total CoQ10 bioavailability was 2.4-fold higher for the water-soluble syrup (IP) (95% CI: 1.3–4.5; p = 0.002). Bioavailability from ubiquinol capsules (CP) was 1.7-fold higher than SP, which did not reach statistical significance (95% CI: 0.9–3.1; p = 0.129). No differences in the redox status of absorbed CoQ10 were observed across formulations, as CoQ10 appeared in the blood predominantly as ubiquinol regardless of whether it was ingested as ubiquinone or ubiquinol.
Why it matters
This study shows that a water-soluble formulation significantly enhances single-dose CoQ10 absorption in older adults compared to standard ubiquinone. It also confirms that ingested ubiquinone is effectively converted to ubiquinol upon systemic absorption.
Limits
The sample size was small (n = 21) and restricted to healthy older adults. The trial evaluated only acute single-dose pharmacokinetics over 48 hours without assessing chronic dosing, steady-state tissue levels, or functional clinical endpoints.
Cited by
- contradicts Ubiquinol is more bioavailable than ubiquinone and is better utilized by the body, especially in older adults.