CoQ10 Group Buying Power
Our goal was to approach manufacturers as a group to achieve some volume discounts. We wanted to provide a convenient ordering system with no membership fees or dues. After doing research, our standards became pretty simple. We wanted to have a choice of three different brands or configurations. We wanted all of the types to use the Trans (natural) form of processing. We came to believe that the chemical processing form can contain solvents and other residues and can have quality and consistency problems. We wanted quality, consistent product that was easy to order.
We now have a distribution center that has donated a dedicated 800 number (1-800-540-3449) for ordering. This means that by using the 800 number you are automatically given the group pricing discounts. You are buying directly from the companies involved.. You are not required to join anything or pay membership fees or monthly dues. Just call 1-800-540-3449 to order. For International (outside USA) call 920-469-1313.
CoQ10 Choices and Pricing
VITALINE CoQ10. (label information) This is the formulation used in the recent PD clinical study which was promising. Yes, they are shipping us the product that contains Vitamin E. This is a 300mg wafer - 60 wafers per bottle with a fatty acid complex delivery system for absorption. We are getting a modest discount to begin with. We need to produce some volume and become a viable group to have more clout. However in fairness to Vitaline, if you do a web search for their product you will find it offered retail by discount vitamin websites in different forms with an average monthly cost (at 1200mg/day) of well over $400. Even at that price, the product available through these websites is not the formulation or specification used in the clinical trials. Vitaline already does offer the correct formulation at a significant discount to the PD community at $200. However, to be supportive of our efforts they are allowing us to order the Vitaline CoQ10 at $95 per bottle. This means if you want to use a program of 600mg per day (1 bottle/month) your cost would be $95. If you wanted to use 1200mg per day (this would be 2 bottles/month) your monthly cost would be $190. Its a good start. Its the best price on Vitaline anywhere and if you can save $120 per year that might pay for a few prescriptions. Again, to order Vitaline call 1-800-540-3449
NEW VITALINE CoQ10 Wafers. This is the same high quality formulation of Vitaline CoQ10 used in the clinical study but it is now available in a 400mg orange flavored wafer. This is offered for those who prefer an orange flavor over the maple and more importantly for convenience. Taking 1200 mg per day only requires three wafers, suggested one at each mealtime. Some people are using "mega" doses above the 1200mg level which is a personal choice not suggested or advocated by anyone other than their own physician. This is a much more convenient packaging for them also. The 400mg wafer includes 200mg of vitamin E and comes 90 tablets to a bottle. So one bottle of the 90 wafer 400mg is equal to two bottles of the 60 tablet 300mg packaging. The cost per month is identical with either supplement. The 90 tablets of 400mg costs group members $190 per bottle. Taking 1200mg per day for a month only requires a single bottle of the new configuration.
The second formulation for those who prefer a gel cap is:
PHYTOPHARMICA CoQ10. (label information) This is a pharmacy and medical professional brand sold to them for resale. If you buy CoQ10 at a drugstore under their own label it could well have been manufactured and private labeled for them by this firm. This is also a Trans (natural) process form of CoQ10 in a gel cap with a soy oil delivery system for absorption. It is packaged 100mg per cap with 60 soft gels per bottle. When resold through pharmacies or medical outlets the price can average $300+ per month for a 1200mg per day usage. We can buy it at $26.25 per bottle. This means if you use 600mg per day (3 bottles) your monthly cost is $78.75 and at 1200mg per day (6 bottles) it is $157.50 per month. To order just phone 1-800-540-3449.
The final formulation available is powder CoQ10 in capsule form.
NF FORMULAS CoQ10 (label information) (a medical professional brand sold primarily to doctors for resale). This again is a Trans (natural) form of CoQ10. It is blended with rice flour only and the gelatin capsules are also natural. The lower cost doesn't necessarily reflect a lower quality. It is more expensive to put a liquid form in a gel cap than it is to put powder into a snap together capsule. However you must also realize this is just raw CoQ10 with no absorption/delivery system. In other words (OUR OPINION ONLY-NOT MEDICAL ADVICE) since it is fat soluble you need to take it with some food containing fat or a fat substance such as Vitamin E in a gel cap or Flax Seed oil etc. to try to help with absorption. The packaging here can be made more convenient when we start to show some volume. Right now it is packaged 100mg capsules with 30 capsules per bottle. This probably retails for around $250 per month for a 1200mg per day usage. We can buy this for $8.90 per bottle. This means that if you use 600mg per day (6 bottles) your monthly cost is $53.40 and if you use 1200mg per day (12 bottles) cost is $106.80 per month. To order phone 1-800-540-3449.
OUR OPINION AGAIN: We did find some other brands which were slightly cheaper. However we have questions as to manufacturing process and quality and consistency. Apparently some companies buy lower grade batches of CoQ10 on the open market and mix them together and get what they get.
If you can afford it we recommend the Vitaline CoQ10 as there is more to the absorption and assimilation process than meets the eye. This is also the only product on the market designed to be taken at high mg doses and is the formulation used in the clinical trials. However if you choose to use the gel cap version at least you know you are getting a natural, quality, consistent product with a proven delivery system. Finally if you go with the powder capsules, again you will know you are getting a natural, quality, consistent product that you can take with fats or fatty acids to help with absorption. If you can afford it, the CoQ10 study showed the most promise at 1200mg per day. However there were also positive results at 600mg per day and even at 300mg per day. For now, if you are going to use the 1200mg per day level of any of the three formulations and you set up automatic deliveries, there is no shipping/handling charge. The deliveries can be set up for a months supply delivered once a month or for two months worth delivered every two months etc... Otherwise shipping and handling is $10 per order. Again with growing volume things can evolve.
We remind you that there are no membership fees or monthly dues. The website and the growth of our group is supported by small per bottle volume rebates from manufacturers. The 800 number is for ordering only. They cannot give medical advice and neither can we. Always consult your doctor with medical questions or before taking a new supplement. If you are going to utilize the group access please let us know by sending an email to danh@isomedia.com It is helpful if we can track the number of potential buyers we represent when we negotiate discounts for the group from manufacturers. This is a modest beginning compared to our long term vision but we hope this is of help.