CoQ10 (or coenzyme Q10) is an essential nutrient your body requires for healthy mitochondrial function, a process that produces body energy at the cellular level.1-3 Because of this, it makes sense that CoQ10 is concentrated in organs with high-energy demands such as your brain, liver, kidneys and the heart.2-6
CoQ10 also has powerful antioxidant properties, protecting cell membranes, important proteins and mitochondrial DNA from oxidative stress.7,8 Unfortunately, CoQ10 levels in the body decrease over time.9,10
Improved bioavailability: ubiquinol
The traditional ubiquinone form of CoQ10 is difficult for the body to absorb.11 That's why Life Extension® offers a highly bioavailable form of ubiquinol CoQ10 in a patented delivery system shown to absorb up to 8 times better than ubiquinone.12,13 In people taking this form of ubiquinol, high levels of plasma CoQ10 were achieved in only four weeks.14
Shilajit enhances CoQ10 effectiveness
Shilajit is a nutrient discovered in the Himalayas. In preclinical models, shilajit has been shown to promote mitochondrial energy production and increase adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is the main source of cellular energy.15,16 The combination of CoQ10 and shilajit produced a 56% increase in cellular energy production in the brain—45% better than CoQ10 alone. Muscle tissue saw a 144% increase in ATP, more than 50% better than with CoQ10 by itself.15
CoQ10 and aging
With increasing age, in addition to declining CoQ10 levels, the body’s ability to convert ubiquinone into active ubiquinol declines.17 In a pre-clinical model, ubiquinol was up to 40% more effective at slowing measurements of aging compared with ubiquinone.18
PQQ promotes growth of new mitochondria
PQQ (pyrroloquinoline quinone) is a nutrient that promotes the production of new mitochondria. In fact, PQQ promotes youthful cellular function in three distinct ways:
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Promotes mitochondrial biogenesis. PQQ activates genes that promote the formation of fresh mitochondria. It also beneficially interacts with genes directly involved in mitochondrial health.19
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Mitochondrial support. PQQ’s antioxidant potency and favorable gene-expression profile act to support mitochondrial defense.20
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Antioxidant power. PQQ is a potent antioxidant, and its molecular stability enables PQQ to facilitate thousands of antioxidant reactions in the mitochondria, without breaking down, for maximum antioxidant and bioenergetic support.21
