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| What is ubiquinol?
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Ubiquinol
is the reduced, active antioxidant form of Coenzyme
Q10 (CoQ10). Produced naturally within healthy bodies,
ubiquinol is CoQ10 that has been converted (“reduced”)
for use in the cellular energy production process.
In addition to its critical role in energy production,
it is the strongest lipid-soluble antioxidant available,
protecting the body’s cells from oxidative
stress which can cause damage to proteins, lipids
and DNA.
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| What is the difference between ubiquinone and ubiquinol?
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Ubiquinone and ubiquinol
are both forms of CoQ10, and both are necessary to
produce cellular energy. Ubiquinone is the oxidized
form of CoQ10 that consumers are most familiar with;
it has been taken as a supplement and studied for
more than 30 years. Over the past three decades,
CoQ10 has been recognized for its benefits to general
health and wellness as well cardiovascular and neurological
health.
In order to generate cellular energy, the
body must convert ubiquinone into ubiquinol. Without
this conversion, the body’s energy production process cannot
be completed and energy levels cannot be sustained.
Thus, both are critical to sustaining your body’s
natural energy.
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| Why should I be concerned about declining ubiquinol levels?
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Declines
in ubiquinol result in less cellular energy and diminished
protection against oxidative stress, which produces
free radicals and can damage the body’s cells,
including proteins, lipids and DNA. Ubiquinol provides
a strong first-stage defense against this cellular
oxidative damage and needs to be replenished to maintain
optimum health.
An increasing number of scientific
reports indicate that dramatic decreases in ubiquinone
levels and increased oxidative stress are associated
with the aging process and with many age-related
diseases such as cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative
disease, diabetes, cancer, fatigue and metabolic
syndrome, as well as a number of other conditions.
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Why does supplementing with ubiquinol become more important as I age?
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As a healthy 20-year-old,
you readily produce all of the CoQ10 you can use
and efficiently convert it into ubiquinol. In fact,
the predominant form of CoQ10 in the plasma and tissues
of a healthy individual is the reduced ubiquinol
form.
However, age and disease impairs the body’s
ability to produce and metabolize CoQ10. Some reasons
for this include increased metabolic demand, disease,
insufficient dietary intake, oxidative stress, or
any combination of these things. Some reports say
this decline becomes apparent around 40 years old,
although it can begin as early as 20 in some cases.
As the body’s ability to produce and reduce
CoQ10 begins, supplementation with CoQ10 and/or ubiquinol
becomes increasingly important to maintaining good
health.
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| How do I know which form of CoQ10 is right for me?
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For young,
healthy individuals, KanekaQ10™ should usually
be sufficient for supplementation needs. Healthy
adults in their 20s and 30s can easily metabolize
CoQ10 and convert it into ubiquinol; thus, supplementing
with CoQ10 likely will be the most efficient way
to raise CoQ10 levels.
For
individuals who are 40+, or for those who are affected
by chronic disease, KanekaQHä (ubiquinol)
is likely more beneficial since the body’s
ability to produce CoQ10 and convert it into ubiquinol
is diminished. Ubiquinol levels have been shown to
be suppressed in individuals with cardiovascular,
neurological, liver-related and diabetes-related
conditions. Because KanekaQH™ is pre-converted,
it is ready for immediate use by the body, making
it ideal for those unable to efficiently reduce CoQ10
in the body.
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| How much KanekaQH™ (ubiquinol) should I take?
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The
recommended dose of KanekaQH™ varies based on each individual’s
needs and the specific condition being treated. However,
those who are older or suspect they have decreased
CoQ10 due to disease may want to start supplementing
with 200-300 mg of KanekaQH™ per day. Studies
show that the CoQ10 plasma levels plateau at about
two weeks at this dose. Then, 100 mg per
day is a good maintenance dose.
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| If CoQ10 has been available in supplement form for 30 years, why is ubiquinol only recently available?
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Since ubiquinol is
easily oxidized in the air, it has been difficult
to develop a stable supply in a reduced supplement
form. However, using advanced technology, scientists
at Kaneka Corporation have been able to perfect a
stabilization process by which ubiquinol remains
in its reduced form outside of the body.
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Can I get ubiquinol from the foods I eat?
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No. You can
get ubiquinone in small amounts from your diet; however,
you would have to eat the foods in such large amounts
as to make them an impractical resource for your
CoQ10 supplementation needs. And because the body’s
ability to convert ubiquinone to ubiquinol declines
with age, food becomes a less practical source of
ubiquinol for older individuals and those suffering
from age-related conditions.
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When and where will QH be available?
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KanekaQH™ is
currently available in numerous consumer supplements
in retail outlets, online and via mail order. Consumers
should look for “KanekaQH™” in the
Supplement Facts area of product labels or the “Q+” logo
on the bottle. A complete list of products containing
KanekaQH™ is available
online at www.KanekaQH.com.
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What are the health benefits associated with KanekaQH™?
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For those
individuals who cannot efficiently convert CoQ10
to ubiquinol, KanekaQH™ will
restore healthy levels of CoQ10 in plasma and organs
for more efficient energy production. This should
result in more energy and stamina as well as better
overall health. Additionally, because ubiquinol is
an extremely powerful antioxidant, it offers a strong
protective defense against oxidative stress and age-related
diseases.
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If Kaneka is the only company that makes ubiquinol, why have I seen numerous ubiquinol products from different companies on store shelves?
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Kaneka does
not sell ubiquinol directly to customers; rather,
it sells its ingredients to companies that make consumer
supplement products. Thus, there are several brands
of ubiquinol supplements on the market today. Because
Kaneka is the only company that manufactures ubiquinol,
any ubiquinol supplement on the market will contain
KanekaQH™.
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How long will I have to take KanekaQH™ before feeling the benefits?
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Ubiquinol
is not a quick fix for those looking for increased
energy. Unlike caffeine or sugar which boost energy
levels quickly and can cause a “crash” later,
ubiquinol offers sustained natural energy. Although
it generally takes two to three weeks to restore
optimal CoQ10 levels in blood plasma and tissues,
most people will begin feeling the effects as their
individual plasma levels start to increase, generally
around the fifth day.
Clinical studies are currently underway to determine
if those affected by specific diseases may notice
a decrease in the severity of their symptoms.
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I’ve heard that KanekaQH™ “sustains your natural energy.” What does that mean?
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Ubiquinol
is required for the body to generate energy. Restoring
this vital nutrient to optimal levels in people over
40 will restore the same type of youthful energy
the body produced when it could efficiently convert
CoQ10 to ubiquinol and maintain adequate concentrations
of ubiquinol in plasma and tissues. Thus, supplementing
with KanekaQH™ is the ideal way to restore
and sustain your natural energy.
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What kind of clinical studies have been conducted on ubiquinol?
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Scientists
and researchers at Kaneka Corporation have been studying
this nutrient for more than a decade and have conducted
numerous safety and toxicity studies on the ingredient.
Additionally, as a form of CoQ10, ubiquinol will
have all of the same benefits of CoQ10. However,
because KanekaQH™ has
only been commercially available since 2006, scientists
have only recently begun to study the specific benefits
of this reduced form of CoQ10. A number of promising
studies and trials are getting underway, including
one on late-stage cardiovascular disease. Results
from this study are expected in the fall of 2007.
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