Dietary supplementation with a liposomal CoQ10 ingredient marketed by Indena as Ubiqsome CoQ10 Phytosome improved physical performance in older adults with statin-associated asthenia, according to an independent study presented at the 2023 European Meeting on Hypertension and Cardiovascular Protection.
 
One of the most common side effects of statin use is asthenia, which is a physical weakness and fatigue. It was theorized by the authors that the liposomal CoQ10 ingredient would be especially suitable for muscular uptake, making it more likely to reach its biological target. CoQ10 plays a central role in cellular metabolism, including ATP production, which is reported to have antioxidant and other beneficial effects. CoQ10 typically has low oral bioavailability due to its poor water solubility, high molecular weight, low solubility in lipids, and low intestinal permeability.
 
Study Details
 
60 subjects (33 men and 27 women) were randomized to receive daily treatment with either a placebo or 150 mg of CoQ10 Phytosome for eight weeks. After the first four weeks of supplementation, both groups improved significantly in asthenia compared to baseline, as assessed by a physical exam and lab analysis. At week eight, statistically significant improvements in physician-assessed measures of asthenia were maintained, Indena reported. 
 
“We’re very proud that Ubiqsome, our coenzyme Q10 formulated with Phytosome, the proprietary technology platform developed by indena, has been useful for the trial,” said Serena Tongiani, chief product officer at Indena. “We’ve been working to confirm our Ubiqsome as the leader in muscle uptake CoQ10 supplementation. This independent study is consistent with the capacity of Ubiqsome to reach the right biological target, and indicates its potential in case of asthenia in statin users.”
 
Ubiqsome is formulated with Indena’s Phytosome, which is a food-grade delivery system that optimizes several natural active ingredients with a liposomal delivery. Accordign to Indena, the ingredient is standardized to 18-22% CoQ10 content, as measured by high-performance liquid chromatography.