health management
Kaneka Corporation, the largest supplier in Japan since 1977,
Web Resources has already taken steps to meet demand by expanding its
CoQ10 manufacturing facilities in Japan. In November 2006, it
www.kanekaq10.info also opened a plant in Texas with an initial annual capacity of
www.sciencedirect.com 100 metric tons to help meet global demand. This marks the
www.mayoclinic.com/health/coenzyme-q10 first time CoQ10 has been manufactured outside the Asia-Pa-
www.naturalstandard.com cific region. Tom Schrier, national sales manager for Kaneka
www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?id=65767-kaneka-coq Nutrients LP, said: “The United States generates the largest
www.new-chapter.com/research/coq10_skin.html demand for CoQ10 globally, so it makes sense that Kaneka se-
www.mgc.co.jp/eng/news/2006/060409_e.pdf lected the US as the site of its newest facility. [This] will enable
www.npicenter.com us to support the many new applications for CoQ10 in rapidly
expanding markets such as functional foods and beverages.”
Prior to 2002, CoQ10 use in Japan was limited to pharma-
with CoQ10, acetyl-L-carnitine and omega-3 fatty acids improved ceuticals, which meant the remainder was available
their vision. A nutrient combination, including CoQ10, could for export in dietary supplements and skincare
help in the maintenance of healthy vision. products. But when regulations were relaxed to
• Photoageing: Topically applied CoQ10 may reduce oxidative allow CoQ10 use in Japanese supplements and
stress and wrinkle depth caused by ultraviolet light. A daily skincare products, it resulted in a considerable
CoQ10 regimen could provide antioxidant protection to the drop in the quantities available for export. The sud-
skin of patients up to middle age, thus offsetting the effects den increase in Japanese demand, coupled with
of photoageing and result in younger looking skin. new evidence to suggest that CoQ10 could help
• Male Fertility: Infertile men supplemented with CoQ10 for 6 slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease,
months demonstrated improved sperm motility and increased created a worldwide shortage.
levels of the nutrient in sperm and seminal fluid. CoQ10 may
enhance male fertility by encouraging mitochondrial energy However, three other major producers of
production and guarding sperm against oxidative stress. CoQ10 in Japan — Nisshin Pharma, Asahi-
• Migraine: Nearly half of the 42 patients supplemented with kasei Pharma and Mitsubishi Gas Chemical
CoQ10 experienced more than 50% reduction in the number (MGC) — are also expanding their produc-
of monthly headaches. tion capacity. In early 2006, Japan’s second
• Periodontol Disease: Patients with advanced disease have largest CoQ10 supplier, Nisshin Pharma,
low levels of CoQ10 in gum tissues. Applying topical CoQ10 acquired a 10% stake in Japan Bio — a
improved their gum health and accelerated tissue healing wholly owned CoQ10 business subsidiary of
following periodontal surgery. MGC — to ensure a stable supply of CoQ10 to
the Japanese market. And, in addition, Japan
Meeting CoQ10 Demand Bio began constructing a production facility
Recent findings have inevitably led to a global surge in with an annual output capacity of 40 tons.
demand for CoQ10 supplements. But the manufacturing pro-
cess is costly and difficult, resulting in a limited number of CoQ10: Natural or Synthetic?
manufacturers in the market. Historically, four Japanese sup- CoQ10 can occur as one of two isomers. The
pliers who have the capacity to supply multi-ton quantities ‘trans’ isomer is identical to the naturally occurring form in
have dominated the CoQ10 market. By 2005, the market for humans and animals, whereas the ‘cis’ isomer — commonly
CoQ10 products had reached the $150 million mark with 35 found as an impurity in synthetic and low grade CoQ10
metric tons of raw material being consumed in Japan alone. — can only be created in a synthetic process in the labora-
Overall, production has doubled in three years and by 2007, tory. Many researchers believe the natural, yeast-derived
world supply of raw material is expected to reach 300 metric trans CoQ10 — often favoured in clinical trials — is better
tons, increasing to 450 metric tons by 2009. Most Japanese absorbed than synthetic formulations. Although the benefits
manufacturers are concerned only with serving their markets of trans CoQ10 are well documented, scientists have not
in the US and Asia. But by spring 2007, the Chinese regula- yet determined whether cis CoQ10 can be utilized by the
tory authorities are expected to allow the marketing of CoQ10 human body … or if it offers the same protective benefits as
— which is bound to stretch resources. naturally occurring trans CoQ10.
Kaneka — one of the few CoQ10 brands promoted to
the supplement industry — provides the trans isomer,
whereas many synthetic products on the market today
26 nutraceutical business & technology may digital 2007 www.nutraceuticalmag.com
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