Ubiquinone vs ubiquinol is the difference between two states of the same CoQ10 molecule. Ubiquinone is the oxidised form; ubiquinol is the reduced form, carrying two extra electrons. Your body switches between them constantly as it uses CoQ10 to help make energy, and most of the CoQ10 circulating in your blood is ubiquinol. As supplements, ubiquinone is the long-established, more stable form, while ubiquinol is newer and costs more. Here is what each form is, how your body converts between them, what absorption studies actually show, and how to read the form on a label.
Key takeaways
- Ubiquinone and ubiquinol are the same CoQ10 molecule in its oxidised and reduced states.
- Taking ubiquinone raises ubiquinol levels in the blood, because the body converts it.
- Ubiquinol is less stable than ubiquinone and oxidises back to ubiquinone when exposed to air.
- How a CoQ10 product is formulated can matter as much for absorption as which form it uses.
What is ubiquinone?
Ubiquinone is coenzyme Q10 in its oxidised state, meaning it is ready to accept electrons. The name comes from "ubiquitous", because CoQ10 is found in nearly every cell. Inside your mitochondria, ubiquinone picks up electrons from the early steps of the electron transport chain, which is part of how cells make ATP, their main energy molecule. Our explainer on what CoQ10 does in mitochondria walks through that process step by step.
Ubiquinone is a stable compound that forms crystals. That stability is why it was, for many years, the only form that could be made into supplements.
What is ubiquinol?
Ubiquinol is CoQ10 after it has accepted two electrons (with two hydrogen atoms), which makes it the reduced form. When ubiquinol hands those electrons on, it becomes ubiquinone again. In between, there is a short-lived intermediate called a semiquinone.
Ubiquinol also has a second role. The Linus Pauling Institute describes the reduced form as an effective fat-soluble antioxidant that helps protect cell membranes and the lipoproteins that carry fats in the blood from oxidation. Cells have enzymes that keep turning ubiquinone back into ubiquinol so that this antioxidant supply is maintained.
How does the body convert between ubiquinone and ubiquinol?
Ubiquinone and ubiquinol are the same CoQ10 molecule in its oxidised and reduced states. The body does not need to choose one. It moves CoQ10 back and forth between the two states all day, inside mitochondria and in other membranes, as part of normal energy production and antioxidant activity.
The conversion also happens with supplements. In a classic 1992 study, researchers gave volunteers ubiquinone and measured their blood. The ubiquinol content of plasma and of every lipoprotein fraction rose, and about 80 percent of the CoQ10 in blood was present as ubiquinol, both before and after supplementing. Taking ubiquinone raises ubiquinol levels in the blood, because the body converts it. The researchers concluded that the body keeps the balance between the two forms tightly controlled.
Ubiquinone vs ubiquinol: a side-by-side comparison
| Ubiquinone | Ubiquinol | |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical state | Oxidised (ready to accept electrons) | Reduced (carrying two electrons) |
| Main job in the body | Collects electrons in the mitochondrial membrane | Passes electrons on; acts as a fat-soluble antioxidant |
| Stability | Stable | Oxidises readily; needs protective formulation |
| As a supplement | The long-established form | Available more recently |
| Typical cost | Lower | Higher |
| On a label | "Coenzyme Q10 (as ubiquinone)" or similar | "Coenzyme Q10 (as ubiquinol)" or similar |
Ubiquinol is less stable than ubiquinone and oxidises back to ubiquinone when exposed to air. A 2020 review notes that this is why, until relatively recently, CoQ10 supplements could only be made with ubiquinone; newer encapsulation methods made ubiquinol products possible.
Does ubiquinol absorb better than ubiquinone?
This is the question most marketing focuses on, and the honest answer is that it depends on more than the form.
- Some lab and short-term studies favor ubiquinol. A 2014 study using simulated digestion and intestinal cells found that ubiquinol was taken up into the mixed micelles that carry fats during digestion more efficiently than ubiquinone, and was absorbed by the cells more readily. That was a laboratory model, not a study in people.
- Formulation has a large effect. CoQ10 is a large, fat-soluble molecule that tends to form crystals. A 2020 review argues that how well those crystals are dispersed in a product strongly affects absorption, whichever form is used. The review's authors work for a CoQ10 manufacturer, so it should be read with that in mind.
- The body converts both. Whatever form you swallow, CoQ10 circulates mostly as ubiquinol and is converted back and forth inside cells.
How a CoQ10 product is formulated can matter as much for absorption as which form it uses. Taking CoQ10 the way the label directs, in relation to meals, is also part of the picture, because it is fat-soluble. For timing, see our guide on the best time to take CoQ10.
How to choose between the two forms
Neither form is a wrong choice. A few practical points help:
- Read the panel for the form. A clear label names ubiquinone or ubiquinol next to the amount. A label that says only "CoQ10" leaves you guessing.
- Compare the daily amount. Milligrams per serving times servings per day is what you actually take.
- Weigh cost against your reason for taking it. Ubiquinol usually costs more per milligram. If you have a specific health reason for choosing one form, discuss it with a healthcare professional.
- Look for independent testing. Batch testing confirms the product contains the amount and form the label states.
Our full checklist is in how to choose a CoQ10 supplement.
Which form is in CoQ10+?
CoQ10+ uses ubiquinone: 200 mg of Coenzyme Q10 (Ubiquinone) in each capsule, with the form printed in brackets right after the name. It is a single-ingredient formula, with rice flour and a vegetable capsule as the only other ingredients, and it is vegan and free of the top 9 allergens.
The suggested use is one capsule once a day, taken 20 to 30 minutes before a meal with an 8 fl oz glass of water, or as directed by your healthcare professional. A bottle is a 30-day supply. CoQ10+ is formulated to support cellular energy production, everyday energy and healthy cell membranes.*
Every batch is third-party tested for purity and potency, and it is manufactured in USA with globally sourced materials, in an NSF-certified, GMP-certified, FDA-registered facility. See our standards for what the testing covers.
Safety notes
The CoQ10+ label states: Do not exceed recommended dose. Pregnant or nursing mothers, children under the age of 18, and individuals with a known medical condition should consult a physician before using this or any dietary supplement.
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health notes that CoQ10 may interact with the blood thinner warfarin and with insulin, and that mild side effects such as digestive upset or trouble sleeping may occur. These cautions apply to both forms. If you take any prescription medicine, talk with your healthcare provider before adding CoQ10.
Frequently asked questions about ubiquinone vs ubiquinol
What is the difference between ubiquinone and ubiquinol?
They are the same CoQ10 molecule in two chemical states. Ubiquinone is oxidised and ready to accept electrons; ubiquinol is reduced and carries two extra electrons. The body converts between them constantly.
Is ubiquinol better than ubiquinone?
Not necessarily. Some short-term and laboratory studies suggest ubiquinol absorbs more readily, but formulation strongly affects absorption, and the body converts ubiquinone to ubiquinol. Ubiquinone is more stable and usually less expensive.
Does the body convert ubiquinone to ubiquinol?
Yes. Studies show that taking ubiquinone raises ubiquinol in the blood, and most circulating CoQ10 is in the ubiquinol form. The body keeps the balance between the two tightly regulated.
Why is ubiquinol more expensive?
Ubiquinol oxidises easily when exposed to air, so it needs special processing and protective formulation to stay in its reduced form on the shelf. That adds cost.
Which form of CoQ10 is in CoQ10+?
CoQ10+ contains 200 mg of ubiquinone per capsule. The form is named on the label so there is no guesswork about what you are taking.
Related reading from our Wellness Hub
- What Does CoQ10 Do? Mitochondria, ATP, and Cellular Energy
- How to Choose a CoQ10 Supplement: Dose, Form, and Testing
- What Is in CoQ10+? A Plain-English Guide to the 200 mg Label
Sources
- Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University: Coenzyme Q10 (redox forms, antioxidant role, supplements)
- Mohr D, Bowry VW, Stocker R. Dietary supplementation with coenzyme Q10 results in increased levels of ubiquinol-10 within circulating lipoproteins. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1992
- Failla ML, et al. Increased bioavailability of ubiquinol compared to that of ubiquinone is due to more efficient micellarization during digestion. J Agric Food Chem, 2014
- Mantle D, Dybring A. Bioavailability of Coenzyme Q10: an overview of the absorption process and subsequent metabolism. Antioxidants, 2020 (authors employed by a CoQ10 manufacturer)
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Coenzyme Q10 (safety and interactions)
Individual results vary.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
