Maintaining Mitochondria: Why it’s Crucial for Women’s Wellness

The link between mitochondrial fitness and women’s health—and how to craft a strategic, science-backed protocol to protect your patients across all ages and life stages.

Women have specific and distinct health needs that differ, often dramatically, from those of men—and their needs change significantly across various ages and life stages. At the cornerstone of these is mitochondrial function, especially relevant for women. A personalized protocol that blends diet, lifestyle and science-backed supplements can preserve mitochondrial fitness and protect women across their lifespans. Here’s what the research shows.

Beyond energy: the far-reaching role of mitochondria.

Mitochondria, the power plants of the cells, are responsible for generating adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the primary energy currency required for cellular activities. But their function isn’t limited to energy production: mitochondria are central to a range of processes that influence overall health, including cell signaling and regulation, calcium homeostasis, thermogenesis, apoptosis. They’re also involved in the synthesis of hormones and neurotransmitters, as well as the coordination of activity across other cellular components. and mitochondrial dysfunction has profound impacts on the whole system.^{1, 2, 3, 4, 5}

Because of their participation in cellular respiration and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondria are susceptible to damage. mtDNA is particularly vulnerable, since it lacks protective histone-like proteins found in nuclear DNA and has a poor capacity for DNA repair. This combination of excessive oxidative stress exposure and limited repair mechanisms makes mitochondria, especially their DNA, highly prone to mutations and dysfunction, which can lead to cellular damage and the development of disease.^{6, 7, 8, 9, 10}

A number of modern influences, including stress, poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, insufficient sleep, environmental toxins and other factors drive ROS and threaten mitochondria. Additionally, aging is associated with increased oxidative stress and declines in mitochondrial integrity. Over time, chronic exposure to oxidative stress damages mtDNA, proteins and lipids, which disrupts mitochondrial and cellular function and impacts an array of physiological processes.^{11, 12, 13, 14, 15}

Supporting women’s mitochondrial health.

Given their critical role in hormone regulation and energy-intensive activities like fertility, pregnancy and cardiovascular function, mitochondrial health is especially important for women. Different ages and life stages, from preconception through post menopause, are characterized by changes in cellular needs related to reproductive biology, hormonal cycles and menopause. Mitochondria fuel the high-energy demands of egg development, embryo formation and the cardiovascular system. They’re also involved in synthesizing estrogen and other sex hormones, influencing mood and cognition and protecting against age-associated disease. Mitochondrial dysfunction impairs cellular energy production—with significant consequences for fertility, pregnancy, menopause, cardiovascular wellness, and healthy aging and vitality.

A growing body of evidence highlights the efficacy of natural interventions for preserving mitochondria. Low-glycemic regimens, whole-foods diets rich in plants and antioxidants, caloric restriction and intermittent fasting appear to shield mitochondria from oxidative damage and improve their function, and low-carb or Keto diets blunt oxidative stress, amplify ATP production and promote mitochondrial biogenesis. Increased physical activity has been shown to delay mitochondrial decline, and some research suggests endurance exercise and high-intensity interval training enhance cellular energy and protect against age-related mitochondrial impairments. And lifestyle interventions like stress-management techniques and sleep optimization are linked with reduced oxidative stress and improved mitochondrial function.^{16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25}

Along with diet and lifestyle, certain foundational supplements are known to protect against oxidative stress and preserve mitochondria. CoQ10 in particular is critical for maintaining mitochondria and addressing specific factors relevant to women’s health. Generic CoQ10 supplements occur as ubiquinone, which must be converted to ubiquinol, the active form. But the conversion process is inefficient and limited, and aging further interferes with the body’s ability to transform CoQ10. Ubiquinol supplements are bioidentical to naturally occurring ubiquinol; unlike conventional CoQ10 supplements, don’t require conversion and are significantly more bioavailable—important for women at any age or stage of life. In studies, ubiquinol supplements were two times better absorbed than standard CoQ10 supplements, with clinical trials showing a five- to eight-fold increase in plasma ubiquinol levels.^{26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34}

Research demonstrates ubiquinol’s potential for mitigating oxidative damage, enhancing mitochondrial function and benefitting women throughout the lifespan. Some highlights:

• Preconception and reproduction. Oocytes require significant energy for maturation and development, and a healthy egg with optimal mitochondrial function is better equipped to undergo successful fertilization. Oxidative stress and age affect oocyte numbers and quality, as well as damaging reproductive tissues critical for protecting and maturing oocytes. Mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress are implicated in infertility and higher rates of miscarriage and developmental issues. By decreasing oxidative stress and enhancing mitochondrial function,  ubiquinol has the potential to support fertility, oocyte development and healthy pregnancy.^{35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42}
• Menopausal and postmenopausal wellbeing. During menopause, fluctuations in hormones and lower estrogen levels are linked with amplified oxidative stress impacting mitochondrial fitness. Age-related declines in mitochondrial integrity and increased oxidative stress also worsen menopausal symptoms, disrupt mood and heighten the risk of other conditions. Ubiquinol has been shown to support overall health and wellbeing during and after menopause. In one study of menopausal women, 80 percent reported less irritability, sensitivity, stress, and mood swings after ubiquinol supplementation. In another trial,  ubiquinol improved quality of life  factors in postmenopausal women aged 45 to 55.^{43, 44, 45, 46, 47}
• Cardiovascular health. Estrogen is involved in regulating oxidative stress and maintaining mitochondria. During perimenopause and menopause, decreased estrogen leaves women more vulnerable to oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, endothelial damage and heart disease. Ubiquinol supports the energy-intensive needs of the heart, protecting mitochondria and reducing the risk of cardiovascular conditions. In studies, ubiquinol supplementation increased plasma levels of ubiquinol, associated with favorable cardiovascular biomarkers. Other research suggests ubiquinol supplementation facilitates proper vasodilation, enhances nitric oxide production, shields LDL cholesterol from oxidation and improves endothelial health. Additionally, ubiquinol is known to replenish CoQ10 depleted by cholesterol medications—an important consideration for patients taking statins.^{48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57}
• Brain health. Estrogen plays a crucial neuroprotective role during aging, in part through its positive impact on mitochondrial metabolism, and declining estrogen after menopause may accelerate neurodegenerative disorders in women. In studies, low estrogen has been linked with reduced antioxidant defenses and increased oxidation in the brain. And impaired mitochondrial function is widely implicated in brain aging, cognitive disorders and neurodegenerative disease. Ubiquinol’s ability to decrease oxidative stress and promote mitochondrial energy production may protect the brain from decline during aging, enhance cognitive function and lessen the risk of neurodegenerative disorders.^{58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64}
• Healthy aging, wellness and vitality. The natural process of aging is associated with accumulated mtDNA mutations, excessive ROS, impaired cellular activities and mitochondrial damage. This vicious cycle results in reduced ATP production, diminished vitality and accelerated aging. Mitochondrial dysfunction is a common hallmark across age-related conditions, including cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders and cognitive decline. Low mitochondrial function in skeletal muscles is also associated with decreased muscle strength and mobility and increased disability. Studies link total CoQ10 status and plasma ubiquinol levels with better physical functioning and muscle health in older adults, and supplementing with ubiquinol can protect mitochondria, preserve physical function, enhance vitality and increase resilience against diseases of aging.^{65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72}

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