CoQ10 is one of those ingredients that appears on many labels, but few people truly understand it. It's not just another antioxidant; it's a central component of cellular energy production and a specific protector of mitochondrial membranes. And the fact that its concentration in the skin measurably and progressively decreases with age makes it a legitimate target for skin-care oriented supplementation.
What is CoQ10 and what does it do inside the cell?
Coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinone/ubiquinol) is a fat-soluble molecule present in all cells of the body, with a special concentration in tissues with higher metabolic activity: heart, liver, kidneys, and skin. It performs two main functions: it participates as an electron transporter in the mitochondrial respiratory chain —the process that generates 95% of cellular energy in the form of ATP— and acts as a fat-soluble antioxidant, neutralizing free radicals in cell and mitochondrial membranes.
This dual function distinguishes it from other antioxidants: while vitamin C acts in the intracellular aqueous environment and vitamin E in lipid membranes, CoQ10 specifically protects mitochondrial membranes, which are where most endogenous oxidative stress occurs.
Why does it decrease with age and what does that mean for the skin?
Endogenous CoQ10 synthesis peaks in the third decade of life and progressively decreases thereafter. In the skin, this decrease is particularly noticeable: studies using skin biopsies have documented a reduction of CoQ10 content in the epidermis of up to 50% between 20 and 60 years of age. Concurrently, the activity of the enzymes that regenerate it also decreases.
This reduction has direct functional consequences: fibroblasts with lower CoQ10 availability have a reduced capacity for collagen synthesis, greater vulnerability to oxidative stress, and less efficient mitochondrial function. It's a self-perpetuating cycle: less CoQ10 → more oxidative damage → less cellular efficiency → less collagen.
Ubiquinone vs. ubiquinol: differences in bioavailability
CoQ10 exists in two forms: ubiquinone (oxidized form) and ubiquinol (reduced form). Ubiquinol is the bioactive form —the one that acts directly as an antioxidant— and has higher oral bioavailability, especially in people over 40 whose ability to convert ubiquinone to ubiquinol may be diminished. Some studies suggest that ubiquinol can reach plasma concentrations up to 4 times higher than ubiquinone at the same dose.
The CoQ10 included in LEVIAL (25 mg/vial) ensures a functional dose within the range evaluated in studies on skin parameters and mitochondrial function.
Studies on oral CoQ10 and skin parameters
Studies on oral CoQ10 in relation to the skin are less numerous than those on collagen or astaxanthin, but the available ones show consistent results. Žmitek et al. (2017) observed in a double-blind trial that CoQ10 supplementation significantly reduced wrinkle depth and improved skin smoothness in women aged 45 to 60 after 12 weeks. Hoppe et al. have documented protective effects on dermal oxidative damage in preclinical studies.
How it combines with other antioxidants
CoQ10 is part of the cellular antioxidant network along with vitamin E, vitamin C, and glutathione. Vitamin E regenerates oxidized CoQ10. Vitamin C regenerates vitamin E. This cycle of mutual regeneration is why antioxidants work best in combination rather than in isolation. The LEVIAL formula is designed precisely with this network logic: each antioxidant reinforces the effectiveness of the others.
