Why Choose the Original Ubiquinone Q10?

Bio-Quinone Active Q10 GOLD consists of soft gelatin capsules with 100 mg of Q10 in the form of active ubiquinone dissolved in oil. For several decades, this unique preparation has been the world's most widely used Q10 due to its patented delivery form and documented high absorbability.

Bio-Quinone Active Q10 GOLD is used in over 100 scientific studies, including those documenting bioavailability, safety and efficacy of the product

To some degree, Q10 is sensitive to sunlight and oxygen. The oil used in Bio-Quinone Q10 is purged of oxygen by means of a special technique. The capsules shell contains 1.4 mg of riboflavin (vitamin B2) and are also light-sealed. Furthermore, the capsules are effectively protected from light to prevent the active ingredients in the capsules from being damaged or destroyed.

Coenzyme Q10 is essential for the normal functioning of all tissues due to its role in cellular energy production. Both heart and skeletal muscles have the highest energy requirements of all bodily tissues, and are particularly reliant on adequate Q10 as a result.

Riboflavin has been added to contribute to cellular energy metabolism and to help reduce tiredness and fatigue.

Riboflavin is also known as vitamin B2. It is an orange-yellow, water-soluble vitamin. In the body, riboflavin is converted into two so-called flavoproteins, each of which play important roles as coenzymes in the body's energy production. This takes place in the cells' mitochondria where we also find coenzyme Q10. In the diet, riboflavin is found in dairy products, in eggs, mushrooms, and whole grain products.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has evaluated the evidence behind riboflavin and has acknowledged the following claims:

• Contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism
• Helps to reduce tiredness and fatigue
• Contributes to the protection of cells against oxidative stress
• Helps to the maintenance of normal mucous membranes
• Contributes to the maintenance of normal red blood cells
• Contributes to a normal metabolism of iron

Q10 is a fat-soluble substance which is difficult for the body to absorb. However, thanks to a highly specialized manufacturing process where Q10 is dissolved in a vegetable oil solution and exposed to a patented heating process the Q10 crystals are able to dissolve entirely into single molecules at normal body temperature.

The fact that the Q10 crystals dissolve completely in this product due to its unique preheating process is the reason why Bio-Quinon Active Q10 can deliver such superior bioavailability of its active compound.

Q10, which is not subjected to any pre-treatment, has a crystal form which prevents an efficient uptake. (Ref. 2)

A poorly composition typically contains a mixture of Q 10 crystals and oil, which results in poor bioavailability of the substance.

Bio-Quinon Q10 has undergone a special heat treatment that changes the crystal structure to something similar to "snowflakes".

These "snowflakes" are dissolved completely at body temperature, thus forming a uniform (homogeneous) mixture that the body can easily absorb.

• Ref. 2. Singh RB, et al. Effects on absorption and oxidative stress of different oral Coenzyme Q10 dosages and intake strategy in healthy men. Biofactors 2005;25(1-4):219-24.

Significant Difference in Q10 Absorption
 

A Q10 preparation that cannot be absorbed in the body is a waste of money. But why is there such a big difference in absorption and what does it take to ensure good absorption of Q10? Let us try and find the answers.

In a study from 2019*, six different ubiquinone Q10 formulations were examined with quite astounding results. Even though the same Q10 raw material was used in all preparations, the absorption of Q10 showed huge variation and turned out to be highly dependent on how each preparation was produced and the type of oil used as a carrier substance. In the worst case, virtually none of the Q10 raw material in the capsule was absorbed in the body.

An analysis under a microscope shows significant differences in the structure of the CoQ10 crystals. These differences explain why some Q10 preparations are absorbed better than others.

Study Documents 3-10 Times Better Absorption

Leading clinical researchers have compared the absorption of six different Q10 preparations. Five of the test preparations contained Q10 in different oil mixtures in soft-gel capsules; one test preparation consisted of finely ground Q10 powder in a hard-gel capsule. One preparation stood out in the absorption study: "Myoqinon manufactured by Pharma Nord had a 3-10 times better absorption than any of the other five Q10 preparations." 

Myoqinon is the pharmaceutical version of the original Q10 product, Bio-Quinone Active CoQ10 Gold, introduced by Pharma Nord in 1991 and which has been used in many clinical studies.

The graph shows absorption levels for the six Q10 preparations from the human clinical trial, all of which contained the ubiquinone form.

*López-Lluch G, et al. Bioavailability of coenzyme Q10 supplements depends on carrier lipids and solubilization. Nutrition 2019;57:133-40.

It is not only the formulation of the preparation that determines how much Q10 the body absorbs. It also depends on the dose and the dose intervals.

Data from a total of seven different human studies have shown that if you take two daily doses of Q10 at 100 mg each, you get a higher bioavailability than when you take a single dose of 200 mg.

Raw materials of pharmaceutical quality
Bio-Quinone Active Q10 contains 100% natural Q10. The raw material is a pharmaceutical quality and is identical to the Q10 produced by the body. This fermented Q10 does not contain impurities of unknown nature. The raw material is also completely free of the unhealthy cis-isomers, which can be found in cheap synthetic Q10 raw materials of low quality, which is normally produced from waste products from the tobacco industry.
All raw materials used in the Bio-Quinone Active Q10 undergo an extensive quality control before production of each batch.

Quality control
All Pharma Nord's dietary supplements are not only produced according to GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) and Critical Control Points (HACCP), but in fact according to the guidelines for production of medical products. The entire Pharma Nord production meet the strict quality rules that belong to these schemes.

Every step of the production process takes place under full quality control. Everything from mixing of raw materials and packing of the finished goods to transport of the products are continuously point-checked to ensure that there is complete control with the content of each capsule right until the moment when the customers holds the products in their hands.

Coenzyme Q10 is a very safe substance. There has not been registered any serious unwanted effects from supplementation in controlled trials, even at doses of 1200 mg daily for one year (Ref.3). Also more than 30 years of research and consumer experience support the safety of Bio-Quinone Active Q10.

After discontinuation of supplementation the body's Q10 level will return to the same level as before the start of the supplementation study. This shows that Q10 supplementation does not affect the body's own ability to form the substance.

Pharma Nord has a complete security file on Bio-Quinone and more than 100 published scientific studies.
 

• Ref 3. Horstink MW, et al. The effect of coenzyme Q10 therapy in Parkinson disease could be symptomatic. Arch Neurol 2003;60(8):1170-72.

Many people use coenzyme Q10 daily, but are perhaps not aware that there can be large differences in the products.
If you are in doubt whether you use the right product, you can try to test your current Q10 product against Bio-Quinone Q10, The world's most widespread Q10 brand:

References

• 1. Weis M, Mortensen SA, Rassing MR, Møller-Sonnergaard J et al.: Bioavailability of Four Oral Coenzyme Q10 Formulations in Healthy Volunteers; Mol Aspects Med 1994 15s, 273-280.
• 2. Singh RB; Niaz MA; Kumar A; Sindberg CD; Moesgaard S; Littarru GP:Effect on absorption and oxidative stress of different oral Coenzyme Q10 dosages and intake strategy in healthy men.: Biofactors.: 25:1-4:219-24. (2005).
• 3. Horstink MW, van Engelen BG: The effect of coenzyme Q10 therapy in Parkinson disease could be symptomatic.; Arch Neurol 2003 60, no. 8, 1170-72
• 4. Langsjoen P, et al. Treatment of essential hypertension with coenzyme Q10. Mol Aspects Med. 1994;15 Suppl:S265-72.
• Mortensen SA. Perspectives on therapy of cardiovascular diseases with coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinone). Clin Investig. 1993;71(8 Suppl):S116-23.

We get relative small amounts of Q10 from several types of food, some of the best sources of Q10 in food are:

• organ meat
• meat
• herring
• soy oil
• sardines

In addition, humans are able to synthesize Q10 in the body. The process, which takes place in the body's cells, slows down as we grow older and as a result of disease. According to experts, the body’s Q10 levels peak at the age of 20-25 years from which point it begins on a downward slope.

Science has not been able to quantify exactly how much Q10 is provided by means of the diet but it is estimated to be somewhere around 5-10 mg daily. The body has a Q10 reserve that amounts to about 1 – 1.5 grams. The highest concentrations are found in the heart, liver, and kidneys.

Pharma Nord has spent more than 30 years documenting the absorbability, effectiveness, and safety of the product Bio-Quinone Q10. But many Q10 products are currently sold without any documentation which may give the user assurance of an effect. In the wake of this a number of claims has emerged about what kind of Q10 is best. A team of U.S. Researchers has reviewed and weeded out the false claims. What remains are the facts about the effect and use of Q10.
 

Unprocessed Q10 is poorly absorbed

Optimum absorbability has been the keyword in the development of Bio-Quinone Q10, and this is documented in approx. 40 scientific studies.
One of the biggest challenges associated with Q10 as a supplement is that the substance generally is not readily absorbed by the body. Q10 in other words, has a low bioavailability. The Q10 molecule is a relatively large molecule and this is the main reason for its poor absorbtion in the body and as a result of its molecular structure, it is fat soluble.
 

Slowly release into the blood

Q10 is absorbed in the intestinal wall along with fat and is then transported by the lymph vessels to the subclavian vein, where it emptied into the venous blood. This slow mode of transport results in a maximum concentration of Q10 in the blood approximately 6 hours after ingestion. Therefore, it is preferable to take Q10 with breakfast or perhaps lunch. If you take more than 1 capsule daily, the effect is larger by spreading the dose throughout the day - eg. one capsule at breakfast and one capsule at lunch time - rather than taking the daily dosage at once.
 

Crystals are not absorbed

A Bio-Quinone Q10 capsule contains a special oil matrix in which the substance Q10 is in a molecular form. The starting point for all products is the Q10 raw material consisting of crystals, which in practice are not absorbed by the body. Q10 must be dissolved into single Q10 molecules before they can be absorbed. Less than 1% of Q10 is absorbed from products solely consisting of crystalline Q10, typically tablet products and hard capsules using unprocessed Q10 crystals. The crystals may be dissolved by using a special oil mixture, and a subsequent heating method, thereby, releasing Q10 into single molecules, which provides a quick and good absorption with oil.
 

Q10 always fat-soluble

A marketing strategy has gone on to claim that it is better to make Q10 water soluble, but neither a change to the Q10 molecule or placement of the fat-soluble Q10 molecules in liposomes (small spheres with an outer fatty membrane and an inner aqueous membrane) or linking Q10 to micelles (small spheres with a fatty core and a water-loving surface) or attaching nano-particles to Q10 will make the Q10 molecule more water soluble.

If you try, you just end up with an even bigger Q10 molecule complex, but no increased bioavailability and the Q10 molecule will still predominantly be fat soluble. If you choose to go the opposite way and make the molecule smaller, this will surely make the molecule more water soluble and more absorbable, but such a reduced molecule will no longer be Q10, but would be reduced to Q9 or Q8 which is of no value to humans.
 

Most documentation on ubiquinone

Q10 is found in two forms. An oxidized form called ubiquinone as well as a reduced form called ubiquinol. Ubiquinol is also marketed as active Q10 although ubiquinol isn't more active than ubiquinone. The form of Q10 we produce in our cells, is the oxidized ubiquinone. Also Q10 from our food is predominantly the oxidized form. When we absorb the oxidized ubiquinone from the intestine it is automatically converted to reduced ubiquinol. In the blood and lymphatic system 90-95% of Q10 is in the form of ubiquinol. In the cells' energy-producing mitochondria Q10 alternate continuously between these two forms, a feature that is crucial for Q10s effects in the body.

Therefore, it is of minor importance what form of Q10 you consume, your body will still convert the oxidized ubiquinone to reduced ubiquinol. To date, most documentation on efficacy and safety are done with the oxidized form, ubiquinone.
 

• Ubiquinone = oxidized Q10
• Ubiquinol = reduced Q10

Ubiquinone	Ubiquinol