The Fertility Nutrient Men And Women Need To Know About.
The surge in social freezing
Egg freezing for non-medical reasons increasingly known as ‘social freezing’ and is gaining in popularity.[1] This is now one of the fastest growing fertility treatments in the UK. Rates of egg freezing have increased tenfold over the past 10 years.[2] According to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority egg storage cycles (when eggs are frozen for possible future use) was up by a colossal 81% between 2019 and 2022 and the trend is set to continue.[3] Women are ultimately freezing eggs to preserve fertility and give them more time to think about having children[4].
While freezing eggs to help preserve fertility health is one option, those trying to look after their fertility health and also couples trying to conceive, need to get savvy when it comes to nutrition as many are not aware of the fertility nutrient, Ubiquinol, and that is a must have. In fact, a real-world research study[5] commissioned by Kaneka Ubiquinol – the bioavailable form of Co-Enzyme Q10 (CoQ10), that offers help for those couples struggling to conceive found that:
- 45% would like to have children in the future but only 4% knew that Ubiquinol could improve oocyte (egg) health. That means that a staggering 96% of respondents polled were not aware of Ubiquinol
Alongside this, only 8% linked Ubiquinol to mitochondria function, 9% cell membrane stabilisation and 10% defence against oxidative damage.
Powering up eggs for freezing
Mitochondria are powerhouses that reside inside human cells and produce a molecule known as adenosine triphosphate which the body uses for energy. Public health nutritionist and part of the Kaneka Ubiquinol (the bioavailable form of Co-Enzyme Q10 – CoQ10) expert hub, Dr Emma Derbyshire says: “Mitochondria are abundant in egg cells and research indicates that mitochondrial energy may influence female fertility.[6] In females mature egg cells (also known as oocytes) house around 100,000 mitochondria[7] compared with about 1000-2500 mitochondria in other human cells.[8]”
GP, women’s health specialist and part of the Kaneka Ubiquinol expert hub, Dr Nisa Aslam notes further: “Ubiquinol plays an important role in mitochondrial function and the production of the energy molecule adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Ubiquinol is required for 95% of cellular energy (ATP) production.[9] Increasingly ubiquinol – the reduced form of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is being recognised for its important roles in reinforcing egg quality and fertility. Yet many confusions exist about what ubiquinol is and what it does.”
Fertility feelings
At the moment many fertility misconceptions and confusions exist. The Kaneka Ubiquinol real-world research study[10] revealed that 62% wonder about their own fertility and 44% would like to have children in the future. Yet 92% were unaware that ubiquinol had a role in mitochondrial function and 96% did not know that ubiquinol could improve egg health.
In the same research study, a considerable 97% reported that they did not do anything to protect or enhance their fertility and 56% reported that they felt there was stigma attached to infertility. Yet ubiquinol appears to be overlooked as a fertility nutrient.
- Around two-thirds (66%) didn’t know whether it could reinforce fertility treatments
- 43% didn’t know whether it could affect fertility with 44% wanting to find out more from their GP and 37% wanting to know more through from online content.
Raising ubiquinol awareness
In one study of women, all of whom were younger than 35 and had a reduced egg reserve, one group was supplemented with 200 mg of CoQ10 three times a day for two months before IVF.[11] The result was a significantly lower need for hormones that stimulate ovulation, an increased number of retrieved eggs, more fertilized eggs and more high-quality embryos compared to the control group.
In other research women with unexplained infertility undergoing IVF were given 100 mg of CoQ10 (ubiquinol) and 600 mg of omega-3 per day for two months before ovarian hormone stimulation. The results showed that the women in the group that received supplements had a significantly lower need for hormones that stimulate ovulation. Almost 50 per cent of them became pregnant compared to 33 per cent in the control group.
The fertility benefits extend to men also. Studies show Kaneka Ubiquinol®[12] promotes male preconception health, demonstrating:
- 26% improvement in sperm motility[13].
- 53% increase in sperm count[14].
- 19% improvement in sperm morphology[15].
Kaneka Ubiquinol and fertility explained
CoQ10 exists and alternates between two forms: ubiquinone and ubiquinol with ubiquinol making up approximately 95% of all CoQ10 circulating in the body.[16] Other forms of CoQ10, such as ubiquinone, need to be converted to ubiquinol prior to utilisation by the body. So ubiquinol is the biologically active form of CoQ10.
Dr Emma Derbyshire explains “The ubiquinol science is growing and looking interesting from a fertility stance. This information now needs to be transferred to those who are considering freezing their eggs or who are undergoing fertility treatments to help ensure that the egg or sperm cells are in their prime ready for conception be that in the immediate or imminent future.”
Kaneka Ubiquinol: offering hope around the world
“A well-balanced diet should give you enough CoQ10 but many of us are lacking in CoQ10[17],” says Dr Emma Derbyshire, who adds that oily fish, organ meats (such as liver), poultry, whole grains, and green vegetables such as broccoli and spinach all provide CoQ10.
Dr Nisa Aslam adds: “For individuals wanting to freeze their eggs or struggling with infertility, consider Kaneka Ubiquinol, which is three to five times more bioavailable than the oxidized form, ubiquinone, making it a preferred form for supplementation.[18]
“The production of ubiquinol also declines with age, as does the ability to convert ubiquinone to ubiquinol.”
Speaking of Kaneka Ubiquinol specifically, Dr Emma Derbyshire explains: “??There are now a few ubiquinol supplements coming on to the market, but Kaneka is a leading ingredient supplier specialising in CoQ10 and ubiquinol. Kaneka Ubiquinol products mean the highest quality standards of safety, sustainability and traceability. Plus, Kaneka has an ongoing research programme that is dedicated to investigating the importance of ubiquinol for health.[19]
“Kaneka Ubiquinol could be the aid that so many individuals freezing their eggs or who are battling infertility need. The research is promising and so many studies shine a positive light on ubiquinol and its potential to improve egg and sperm quality and fertility. This is an exciting time and I hope it offers hope to people around the globe who are thinking about having a child now or later on in the future.”
[1] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-68505321
[2] https://patient.info/news-and-features/why-is-egg-freezing-on-the-rise-and-is-it-safe
[3] https://www.hfea.gov.uk/about-us/media-centre/key-facts-and-statistics/
[4] https://patient.info/news-and-features/why-is-egg-freezing-on-the-rise-and-is-it-safe
[5] Perspectus Global; 1009 respondents polled; Data on file
[6] Xu, Y., Nisenblat, V., et al. (2018). Pretreatment with coenzyme Q10 improves ovarian response and embryo quality in low-prognosis young women with decreased ovarian reserve: a randomized controlled trial. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 16(1): p. 29.
[7] Babayev E, Seli E (2015) Oocyte mitochondrial function and reproduction. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol 27: 175-181.
[8] Pizzorno J (2014) Mitochondria-Fundamental to Life and Health. Integr Med (Encinitas) 13: 8-15.
[9] Martini FH. Muscle tissue. In: Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology, Prentice Hall, Inc, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, 12th edition.
[10] Perspectus Global; 1009 respondents polled; Data on file
[11] Xu Y et al. (2018) Pretreatment with coenzyme Q10 improves ovarian response and embryo quality in low-prognosis young women with decreased ovarian reserve: a randomized controlled trial. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 16(1):29.
[12] https://www.kanekanutrients.com/kaneka-ubiquinol/
[13] Thakur AS, Litarru GP, Funahashi I, et al. (2015) Effect of Ubiquinol therapy on sperm parameters and serum testosterone levels in Oligoasthenozoospermic infertile men. J Clin Diagn Res. 9(9):BC01-BC03.
[14] Thakur AS, Litarru GP, Funahashi I, et al. (2015) Effect of Ubiquinol therapy on sperm parameters and serum testosterone levels in Oligoasthenozoospermic infertile men. J Clin Diagn Res. 9(9):BC01-BC03.
[15] Cakiroglu B, Eyyupoglu SE, Gozukucuk R, Uyanik BS. Ubiquinol effect on sperm parameters in subfertile men who have astheno-teratozoospermia with normal sperm concentration. Nephro Urol Mon. 2014;6(3):e16870.
[16] Acosta MJ, Fonseca LV, Desbats MA, Cerqua C, Zordan R, et al. (2016) Coenzyme Q biosynthesis in health and disease. Bochum Biophys
Acta 1857: 1079-1085.
[17] Derbyshire E (2018) Micronutrient Intakes of British Adults Across Mid-Life: A Secondary Analysis of the UK National Diet and Nutrition
Survey. Front Nutr 5: 55.
[18] https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/PrimaryMitochondrialDisorders-HealthProfessional/#coQ
[19] Data on file