Those who follow a vegetarian or vegan diet may need to pay extra attention to a key nutrient required for energy production and heart health, as a new study reveals that those who follow a plant-based diet may be lacking here.
The new study, which was published in the International Journal of Nutraceuticals shows that the blood plasma concentrations of Ubiquinol, which is the active reduced form of CoQ10 – the nutrient involved in energy production within the mitochondria in our cells – were lower in a sample vegan/vegetarian group compared to the omnivore group.
Considering the important role of CoQ10, it’s important that those who consume a plant-based diet pay extra attention to this nutrient to minimise the risk of developing health problems such as poor sleep, fatigue, fertility issues and depression.
Ubiquinol occurs naturally in the body but starts to deplete from about the age of 30.
Dietary sources
While CoQ10 can be supplemented, according to healthline, in addition to being found in animal products such as organ meats (heart, liver, kidney), pork, beef, chicken and fatty fish (trout, herring, mackerel, sardine), plant-based dietary sources include:
- Vegetables: spinach, cauliflower, and broccoli.
- Fruit: oranges and strawberries.
- Legumes: soybeans, lentils, peanuts.
- Nuts and seeds: sesame seeds and pistachios.
- Oils: soybean and canola oil.
