William Judy, PhD, passed away on October 30, 2022. For decades, Dr. Judy was one of the world’s leading coenzyme Q10 scientists.

Karl Folkers introduced Dr. Judy to coenzyme Q10 in 1968 and encouraged Dr. Judy to conduct CoQ10 clinical trials. Dr. Judy became so fascinated with coenzyme Q10 that it became his professional passion for the rest of his life.

Over a period of decades, Dr. Judy conducted numerous clinical trials on the safety and efficacy of CoQ10 supplementation for a wide range of diseases.2  Later in his career, Dr. Judy published groundbreaking studies on the absorption and bioavailability of coenzyme Q10.

The Problem with CoQ10 Absorption and the Importance of Crystal-Free CoQ10

As a raw material, coenzyme Q!0 is a crystalline powder with a melting point of 118^oF, which is 20 degrees above human body temperature. This creates absorption problems because at body temperature, CoQ10 crystallizes. In order to be absorbed, it must be dissociated into single molecules in solution. Dr. Judy’s studies revealed that many commercial CoQ10 products have very low rates of absorption because the CoQ10 is crystallized.3

Dr. Judy emphasized that the ability to keep CoQ10 in solution depends on the mixture of oils and the heating and cooling process used in the manufacturing process rather than the form or CoQ10 in the supplement. A detailed explanation of these issues can be found at www.q10facts.com/absorption-and-bioavailability/.

The Ubiquinone vs Ubiquinol Controversy

Ubiquinol, which is the reduced form of coenzyme Q10, was launched as a new CoQ10 supplementation in 2007 with claims of superior bioavailability. This was great marketing, but these claims were not based on sound science. In a presentation at the 2015 International Coenzyme Q10 Association symposium in Bologna, Italy, Dr. Judy reported the results of his research which revealed ubiquinol is quickly and nearly completely converted to ubiquinone when it enters the stomach and duodenum. It is absorbed as ubiquinone and then converted back to ubiquinol in the lymph.4 Ubiquinol is substantially more expensive than ubiquinone. Many consumers still purchase ubiquinol CoQ10 supplements but get no additional benefit for the extra expense.

Results from Dr. Judy’s groundbreaking studies enabled him to make the following conclusions:

1. The oxidized form, ubiquinone, is the more stable and better documented form of coenzyme Q10.  It is an electron acceptor that plays an essential role in the process of producing mitochondrial ATP, which is the primary source of energy used throughout the body.5
2. The reduced form, ubiquinol, is the antioxidant form.  It is an electron donor. It neutralizes superoxides and other harmful free radicals. By its nature, it is less stable than the ubiquinone form.6
3. Regardless of whether the oral coenzyme Q10 supplement is ingested in the ubiquinone form or the ubiquinol form, the coenzyme Q10 will be absorbed in the ubiquinone form and will be rapidly converted to the ubiquinol form in the lymph. It will enter the blood circulation predominantly in the ubiquinol form.7

Dr. Judy also wrote a book titled The Substance That Powers Life: Coenzyme Q10, An Insider’s Guide, which is available from Amazon.com.

I enjoyed a decades-long friendship with Dr. Judy, His keen mind and jovial spirit will be missed by his family, friends, and coenzyme Q10 scientists around the world.