Kwame and Akua have been trying for a baby for over a year. At their last appointment, the prescriber mentioned CoQ10 for both of them. At the pharmacy, they found two products with nearly the same name, ubiquinone and ubiquinol, at different prices. Which one should they buy?
It is one of the most common questions we hear. Here is what the difference is, and how to choose.
What is CoQ10?
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a substance found in almost every cell in your body. It helps the tiny power stations inside cells, called mitochondria, turn food into energy. It also works as an antioxidant, protecting cells from damage.
Your body makes its own CoQ10, but it makes less as you get older, starting from around your 30s. Some medicines lower it further, especially statins, the tablets many people take to lower cholesterol.
Eggs and sperm need a lot of energy to develop well. That is why CoQ10 has become popular with couples trying for a baby.
The two forms
CoQ10 comes in two forms that your body switches between:
| Ubiquinone | Ubiquinol | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | The oxidised form | The reduced, “active” form |
| What your body does with it | Converts it into ubiquinol | Uses it directly |
| Absorption | Good in most younger adults | Absorbed more easily in some studies |
| Price | Lower | Higher |
| Often chosen by | Under 40s, general energy, people on cholesterol tablets | Over 40s, couples trying to conceive, people who absorb nutrients poorly |
Both forms raise CoQ10 levels in the blood. The main difference is how easily your body takes them up. As we age, our bodies become less efficient at turning ubiquinone into ubiquinol, which is why many people over 40 choose ubiquinol.
What the research suggests
- Egg quality. Studies in women having IVF, especially women over 35 or with a low egg reserve, found CoQ10 was linked to better responses to treatment and more good-quality embryos.
- Sperm quality. Several studies found CoQ10 improved sperm count and movement in men with fertility problems.
- People on cholesterol tablets. Some people who get muscle aches from statins feel better with CoQ10, although the research is mixed.
- Heart and energy. CoQ10 has been studied in heart failure, and some people use it for low energy, though it is not a cure for tiredness.
How to take it
- Take it with food that contains some fat, such as eggs, groundnuts, avocado or a meal cooked with oil. CoQ10 dissolves in fat, so this helps absorption.
- Be patient. Eggs take about three months to mature before they are released, and sperm take about the same time to develop. So give CoQ10 at least three months.
- Take it in the morning or at lunch. A few people find it keeps them awake if they take it late in the day.
- Couples can take it together. About a third of fertility problems come from the man’s side, so it makes sense for both partners to take it.
Who should check first
Speak to your pharmacist or prescriber before taking CoQ10 if you:
- take warfarin or another blood thinner (CoQ10 may change how it works)
- take medicines for blood pressure or diabetes (CoQ10 may lower both a little)
- are pregnant or breastfeeding (there is not enough research yet)
- are having chemotherapy
Side effects are uncommon and usually mild, such as an upset stomach or trouble sleeping.
So which one should you choose?
- Under 40 and generally healthy? Ubiquinone is a good, lower-cost choice.
- Over 40, trying for a baby, or on cholesterol tablets? Ubiquinol may be worth the extra cost.
- Not sure? Ask us. We will look at your age, your goals and any medicines you take.
What you can do today
- See Draxer Ubiquinol and Draxer Ubiquinone (CoQ10).
- Trying for a baby? Find your fertile days with our free ovulation calculator.
- Chat with a Draxer pharmacist on WhatsApp before you start.
Questions about this topic?
Talk to a Draxer pharmacist on WhatsApp. Advice is free.
This article is for general information. It does not replace advice from your prescriber or pharmacist about your own health.
For health professionals: the placebo-controlled trial of coenzyme Q10 for sperm motility, and our male fertility guide. Read the research summary →
