CoQ10

What is CoQ10 (ubiquinol)? 

CoQ10 is important for optimal cell function and is used for energy production in cell development and maintenance. The body usually produces its own CoQ10 until a person is about 60 years old, when production decreases in the pancreas, brain, and heart. Other situations can also decrease the body's production of CoQ10. (i.e., genetics, heart disease, Parkinson's, diabetes, some cancers, and reduced by certain medications)

HISTORY: Ubiquinone (a form of ubiquinol or CoQ10) was discovered in the 1950s as a vitamin or vitamin-like substance naturally found in the body. There are very minute amounts in certain foods. Since its discovery, chemists have learned to synthesize CoQ10, and in 2006, it became available to the public as a supplement.

  

PROPERTIES:

Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory

CONSIDERED USES

Respiratory: May help lung function, asthma, COPD, and COVID-19 (need more studies)

Cardiovascular: Heart disease and heart failure (especially when used with cardiac medications) (1); may help lower blood pressure (2); cardiomyopathy, myocarditis

Ears: Hearing loss, tinnitus

Eyes: May protect and improve eyesight, age-related macular degeneration, dry eye disease

Gastrointestinal: May help gum inflammation/disease (oral or topical), may decrease potential liver effects of statins (cholesterol-lowering medications) (3), hepatitis C, hepatotoxicity, periodontitis, ulcerative colitis, dry tongue.

Genitourinary: May improve kidney function/renal failure and possibly increase sperm and egg count (4), benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), diabetic nephropathy, male infertility, PCOS (or PMOS-as it is now called-polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome.

Musculoskeletal: May help fibromyalgia symptoms, sometimes used to decrease myopathy caused by statins (5) (a few patients have told me this as well), muscular dystrophy, athletic performance (esp post exercise muscle soreness 1-3 days after exercise), and Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Neurologic: May help slow Alzheimer's, may help prevent migraines when taken for a period of time (6), may help with trigeminal neuralgia, Parkinson's, and possibly migraines (when taken for several months), autism, bipolar disorder (discuss use with your primary care or mental health provider), and chronic fatigue: Huntington's disease, MS, and memory loss.

Skin: May reduce wrinkles

Glucose: May modestly decrease glucose levels.

Cholesterol: Statins decrease available CoQ10 in the body, thereby causing side effects like muscle pain, fatigue, memory loss, peripheral neuropathy, and possibly liver problems. It may help lower cholesterol.

Immunity: Boosts the immune system

Cancer: May help prevent cancer

Genitourinary: May increase sperm and egg count.

Mental Health: May work somewhat with depression, ADHD, and cocaine dependence.

schizophrenia and bipolar (check with a healthcare provider)

Other: Exercise tolerance/may increase physical performance, edema, HIV, aging, obesity

Side Effects: Stomach problems (nausea), increased liver enzymes, headaches, insomnia or fatigue, irritability, muscle pain, palpitations, dizziness, rash, sensitivity to light, decreased appetite, pneumonitis, itching, tremors, UTI

Cautions and Contraindications: Heart failure, kidney disease, liver problems, diabetes, and those taking antidiabetic medications (may decrease blood sugar too much), low blood pressure, those on blood pressure-lowering medications (antihypertensives), and anticoagulants.

Note: Statins used to lower cholesterol can reduce CoQ10

FORMS: Capsules, tablets, syrups, IV, wafers, gels

Ubiquinol is also found in certain foods and vegetables, but the amounts are not significant enough to raise levels in the body.

RECOMMENDED BRANDS

Order through Amazon:

• Garden of Life® Vitamin Code® Gummies CoQ10 150 mg - Strawberry Flavor (order through Amazon here)

• GNC CoQ-10 200 mg softgel (order through  Amazon here)

• Mary Ruth's® CoQ10 Gummies - Raspberry (order through Amazon here)

• ProCaps Laboratories Andrew Lessman Coenzyme Q-10 100 mg (order through Amazon here)

• Puritan's Pride® Q-Sorb™ Co Q-10 200 mg (order through Amazon here)

• Spring Valley [Walmart] CoQ10 200 mg (Walmart)

• Swanson® CoQ10 capsule 200 mg (order through Amazon here)

• Doctor's Best® High Absorption CoQ10 With BioPerine (to help increase absorption) (order through Amazon here)

• Nature Made® CoQ10 100 mg with Black Pepper Extract softgel (order through Amazon here)

• Healthy Origins® Vegan Ubiquinol (order through Amazon link here)

• Swanson® Ubiquinol softgels 100 mg (order through Amazon link here)

Note: When ordering through Amazon, the safest way to ensure you’re getting the real product is to buy from listings marked “Ships from and sold by Amazon.com” or from the brand’s official Amazon store, since counterfeit listings are far more common among third‑party sellers. Also check that the seller isn’t newly launched, the price isn’t unusually low, and the photos and descriptions match the brand’s official materials

Fullscripts:

• Thorne CoQ10 100 gelcaps (formerly Q-Best 100) - NSF certified (available through Fullscripts link here)

• Jarrow Formulas® QH-absorb® + PQQ 200 mg (order through Fullscripts link here)

• Pure Encapsulations CoQ10 120 mg - also available in 30, 50 and 500 mg gelcaps - NSF certified - (order through the Fullscripts link here)

• Designs for Health Q-Evail 100 mg softgels - NSF certified - (Order through Fullscripts link here)

Life Extensions:

• Life Extension® Super Ubiquinol CoQ10 100 mg (order through Life Extension link here

We only recommend herbal and supplement brands that meet high standards for safety, effectiveness, and transparency. I research each product before sharing. The above links—like those to Amazon—are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. It helps support this free site. Plus, these links often offer discounts, fast shipping, and helpful reviews.

DOSAGE: As directed

The following are reported doses and may NOT be supported by evidence (reported by various sources, i.e., WebMD, RxList, Epocrates, ConsumerLabs, German Commission E, NIH publications, and others). Read dosages and instructions carefully when available on the label.

• Cardiomyopathy: 120-240 mg by mouth daily or 60-120 mg by mouth daily

• Cardiovascular disease: 100 mg by mouth 2 times daily

• Congestive heart failure (CHF): 15-300 mg by mouth 2 times daily or 30 mg by mouth daily or 600 mg by mouth daily

• COPD: 90 mg by mouth daily

• Diabetic neuropathy: 400 mg by mouth daily

• Fatigue: 60-500 mg by mouth daily

• Fibromyalgia: 300-400 mg by mouth daily

• Hearing loss: 160 mg by mouth daily

• High blood pressure: 100-900 mg by mouth 2 times daily

• High cholesterol:100-200 mg by mouth 2 times daily

• Male infertility: 200 -- 400 mg by mouth daily

• Migraine prophylaxis:100-150 mg by mouth daily

• MS: 500 mg by mouth daily

• Statin-induced myopathy: 100 mg by mouth daily or 2 times daily

• Myocarditis: 10 mg by mouth 3 times daily

• Nonalcoholic liver disease: 100 mg by mouth daily

• Peridontitis: 50 mg by mouth daily

• PCOS: 100-200 mg by mouth daily

• Renal failure: 180 mg by mouth daily

• Ulcerative colitis:100 mg by mouth daily

• Wrinkled skin: 1% cream to the affected area 2 times daily

• Xerostomia: 100 mg by mouth daily

Food Sources: Many types of meat (beef, pork, liver) and poultry, fish (mackerel, tuna, sardines, salmon, herring) and nuts (the dietary source may not be adequate), cauliflower, spinach, broccoli, strawberries, blueberries, oranges, peanuts, lentils, and soybeans among others.

Additional Disclaimer: The material above is for informational purposes only. This information is not intended to diagnose or treat a condition. The uses listed above are tentative; some have or are undergoing research trials, but many are not FDA-approved. It is essential that you investigate these supplements further before deciding to use them. Check interactions and contraindications on sites like Drugs.com or WebMD. Do not attempt to treat a serious condition like liver or kidney problems, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, or thyroid issues without discussing it with a healthcare provider first. If you are pregnant, do not use supplements without discussing it with your healthcare provider.