Quercetin vs COQ10: Which to Choose

Article Summary:

• Both quercetin and Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) have therapeutic potential to benefit optimal cardiovascular and immune function.*
  
  
• Both quercetin and CoQ10 uses distinct mechanisms to administer beneficial effects.
  
  
• Including quercetin and CoQ10 nutritional supplements in your diet can help protect your cells from oxidative stress and maintain a stable internal environment or homeostasis.*

Quercetin and Coenzyme Q10 are both antioxidants. Here’s what makes them different: quercetin is a plant-derived flavonoid, known for its bioactive and therapeutic properties. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), is a biological pigment (quinone) produced naturally by most organisms. In humans, both quercetin and CoQ10, also known as Ubiquinone, demonstrate strong antioxidant effects and support a wide range of health functions.* 

Below, we discuss the key similarities and differences between quercetin and CoQ10, how they support your health, and how to incorporate supplements of both nutrients into your diet.

Quercetin vs. CoQ10 — Similarities and Differences

Let’s look more closely at how the antioxidant activity of quercetin and CoQ10 can offer therapeutic benefits , including helping maintain a normal inflammatory response in the body.* 

Quercetin

As a flavonol, one of six subclasses of flavonoid compounds, quercetin is found in foods, like berries, apples, cruciferous vegetables, black tea, and red wine. Quercetin is among the many molecules with antioxidant abilities that can inhibit oxidative stress — which is a state of imbalance wherein the body’s production and accumulation of free radicals outweighs its ability to detoxify them. Various studies¹ establish that quercetin exercises antioxidant effects on the body by:

• Regulating glutathione levels*.
• Inhibiting enzyme activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE)*
• Enhancing expression levels of endogenous antioxidant enzymes*
• Regulating antioxidant signal pathways*

The antioxidant properties of quercetin help in down-regulating an exaggerated immune response in the body.* Although CoQ10 plays a similar role, it takes an entirely different route. These two antioxidant molecules use different pathways by which they exert their therapeutic effects in different areas of the body.

CoQ10

Our bodies use CoQ10 as a critical electron carrier in the human mitochondria — the powerhouse of our cells. CoQ10 plays a key role in mitochondrial energy production by converting carbohydrates to adenosine triphosphate (ATP).* Although CoQ10 is omnipresent in human tissues, its level varies depending on cell metabolism. The level of CoQ10 is highest in organs with high metabolism rates, like the heart, liver, and kidney. Primary dietary sources of CoQ10 include whole grains, organ meat (liver), and oily fish, including tuna and salmon.

As a significant lipid antioxidant, CoQ10 has been found² to produce therapeutic effects by:

• Providing cellular energy to enhance the mitochondrial functions of leukocytes, or white blood cells*
• Helping maintain normal inflammatory responses in the body by inhibiting the activation of NF-κB, a protein factor that regulates innate immunity.*
• Regulating lysosomal function by maintaining optimal pH levels*
• Supporting cellular antioxidant activities*

These antioxidant properties of CoQ10 promote the optimal functioning of your cardiovascular and immune systems.*

The table below summarizes the similarities and differences between quercetin and CoQ10. 

Although most individuals can consume sufficient amounts of quercetin and CoQ10 with a well-balanced diet, supplementation might be necessary in certain health-related conditions.

Incorporating Quercetin and CoQ10 Supplements Into Your Diet

Despite the many therapeutic benefits of quercetin and CoQ10, both are poorly absorbed, thereby limiting their beneficial effects. Therefore,  an advanced supplement formulation is needed to enhance  of these two potent antioxidants for greater bioavailability in the body. 

Developed by Tesseract Medical Research, QuerciSorb^® features quercetin and utilizes the proprietary CyLoc^® – DexKey^® nutrient delivery technology to ensure its maximum absorption and rapid delivery throughout the intestinal tract. As a highly bioavailable supplement formulation, QuerciSob^® makes it easy for your body to absorb quercetin effectively and optimize its immuno-supportive and cardio-protective benefits.*

CoQ10Pro^® is another advanced supplement formulation developed by the Tesseract team to support optimal cardiovascular health.* Most formulations containing CoQ10 typically demonstrate poor absorption. Tesseract’s revolutionary nanomolecular nutrient transport system enables optimal solubility and unprecedented absorption of CoQ10 to yield safe and efficacious physiological responses.