What is Coenzyme Q10?

Coenzyme Q10 is a substance which is found in humans (and also in animals and in a big part of bacteria). It has several scientific names like ubiquinone, ubidecarenone or coenzyme Q. Nowadays, due to the enormous amount of commercials, lot of people hear about Coenzyme Q10, but just a few know what it really is.

What is “enzyme”? - These are substances that support and manage chemical, biochemical processes in the organism. At a molecular level, important processes would go slower or would not happen without enzymes. Enzymes are mostly proteins produced by our body. Additional non-protein organic molecules i.e. coenzymes are often necessary for the enzymes. Let’s imagine a situation of a train table with trains and electricity, but there is no switch to run the train. Coenzyme is like this switch.

It’s well known that the energy supply of the body is provided by “burning” of ingested food. For this process, we need food with high energy and oxygen. “Burn” in the cells is a little bit different than the real fire - but the point is the same, only the process is more difficult. There are little cell components in every cell, namely the mitochondria. These are the little power stations of the cell where the energy is produced. This process is supported by numerous enzymes whose essential switch is the coenzyme Q10. In these cell compartments, 95% of energy production happens with the help of Q10. Therefore Q10 concentration is extremely high in organs which use a lot energy for the regular functioning, such as the heart, the liver and the kidneys.

From the above it is clear, that we do not have any organ which does not need coenzyme Q10. We may see it in advertisements: this molecule is recommended for many things from face creams to cardiac medications.

That’s why there are lot of Q10 products. However, there is a significant difference.

Coenzyme Q10 is a crystalline material that is not water soluble, but does dissolve in oil. So the absorption is not easy. Fat-soluble molecules are absorbed from the small intestine, not from the stomach. Bile acids stored in the gall bladder and excreted to the small intestine when eating, support the absorption of these materials. That is the reason why coenzyme Q10 consumption is recommended while eating or immediately before or after eating.

It is also important, that Q10 pills must not fall apart in the stomach, as hydrochloric acid damages it. That’s why we put EvoQ10 coenzyme Q10 to a capsule, which resists gastric acid and dissolves only in the small intestine. Thus, the total amount consumed reaches the absorption site improving the chance of the absorption.