Coenzyme Q10 is a vitamin-like substance found throughout the body, but especially in the heart, liver, kidneys and pancreas. It is consumed in small quantities in meats and seafood. Coenzyme Q10 can also be manufactured in the laboratory.
Coenzyme Q10 is a vitamin-like substance found throughout the body, but especially in the heart, liver, kidneys and pancreas. It is consumed in small quantities in meats and seafood. Coenzyme Q10 can also be manufactured in the laboratory.
Coenzyme Q10 is most often used for conditions that affect the heart, such as heart failure and fluid buildup in the body (congestive heart failure or CHF), chest pain (angina), and high blood pressure. It is also used to prevent migraines, Parkinson's disease and many other conditions.
How it works ?
Coenzyme Q10 is an important vitamin-like substance necessary for the proper functioning of many organs and chemical reactions in the body. It helps provide energy to cells. Coenzyme Q10 also appears to have antioxidant activity. People with certain illnesses, such as heart failure, high blood pressure, gum disease, Parkinson's disease, blood infections, certain muscle diseases, and HIV infection, may have low levels. lower levels of coenzyme Q10.
Uses & Effectiveness?
Coenzyme Q10 deficiency. Taking coenzyme Q10 orally appears to improve the symptoms of coenzyme Q10 deficiency. This is a very rare condition. Symptoms include weakness, fatigue and seizures.
A group of disorders that most commonly cause muscle weakness (mitochondrial myopathies). Taking coenzyme Q10 orally appears to reduce the symptoms of mitochondrial myopathies. However, improvement of symptoms is slow. Some people need to take coenzyme Q10 for 6 months to get the most benefit from it.
Coenzyme Q10 may be effective for heart failure and fluid buildup in the body (congestive heart failure or CHF). Early research found that heart failure may be linked to low levels of coenzyme Q10. Some research shows that taking coenzyme Q10 may help reduce some symptoms of heart failure. Coenzyme Q10 could also reduce the risk of death or hospitalization linked to heart failure.
Nerve pain in people with diabetes (diabetic neuropathy). Research shows that taking coenzyme Q10 improves nerve damage and nerve pain in people with nerve damage caused by diabetes.
Fibromyalgia. Some research shows that taking coenzyme Q10 orally reduces pain, tenderness, fatigue, and sleep problems in people with fibromyalgia.
Tissue damage caused when blood flow is restricted and then blood flow is restored (ischemia-reperfusion injury). Decreased blood supply during heart or vascular surgery can deprive tissues of oxygen. When the blood supply returns to this tissue, the tissue can become damaged. There is some evidence that taking coenzyme Q10 by mouth for at least a week before heart bypass or blood vessel surgery may help reduce tissue damage.
Migraine. Taking coenzyme Q10 orally appears to help prevent migraines in adults. Taking coenzyme Q10 also appears to reduce the frequency of migraines in children who have low levels of coenzyme Q10. It may take up to 3 months to see a benefit.
Multiple sclerosis (MS). Taking coenzyme Q10 orally appears to reduce fatigue and low mood in people with MS.
A group of inherited disorders that cause muscle weakness and muscle loss (muscular dystrophy). Taking coenzyme Q10 orally appears to improve exercise performance in some people with muscular dystrophy.
Heart attack. When started within 72 hours of a heart attack and taken for a year, coenzyme Q10 appears to reduce the risk of cardiac events, including another heart attack.
A condition that causes curved and painful erections (Peyronie's disease). Research shows that taking coenzyme Q10 improves erectile function in men with painful erections.
Perhaps ineffective for
Alzheimer's disease. Taking coenzyme Q10 does not appear to improve mental function in people with Alzheimer's disease.
Lou Gehrig's disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS). Research shows that taking coenzyme Q10 does not slow the progression of ALS.
Fatigue in people treated with anticancer drugs. Taking coenzyme Q10 does not appear to reduce fatigue in people being treated for breast cancer.
Diabetes. Research has shown that taking coenzyme Q10 does not lower blood sugar levels in people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
Symptoms such as muscle weakness and fatigue that affect polio survivors. Research shows that taking coenzyme Q10 does not improve muscle strength, muscle function, or fatigue in polio survivors.
Probably ineffective for
Athletic performance.
Taking coenzyme Q10 orally, alone or with other ingredients, does not improve sports performance in athletes or non-athletes.
An inherited brain disorder that affects movement, emotions, and thinking (Huntington disease). A large research study shows that taking coenzyme Q10 in high doses (2.4 grams per day) for 5 years does not prevent Huntington's disease symptoms from getting worse.
Insufficient evidence for
- Chest pain (angina). Some early research shows that taking coenzyme Q10 orally may reduce chest pain and improve exercise capacity in people with chest pain.
Heart damage caused by certain anticancer drugs (anthracycline cardiotoxicity). Early research shows that taking coenzyme Q10 by mouth may protect the heart in children ages 3 to 12 who are treated with a class of drugs called anthracyclines. But results from larger studies are inconsistent.
- Autism. Early research shows that taking a specific form of coenzyme Q10 called ubiquinol improves autism symptoms in autistic patients ages 3 to 6, based on parent assessment. Better quality studies are needed to confirm these results.
- Bipolar disorder. Early research shows that taking coenzyme Q10 improves symptoms of depression in people over 55 with bipolar disorder.
- Breast cancer. Some research in Chinese women suggests that low blood levels of coenzyme Q10 are linked to an increased risk of breast cancer.
- Cancer. Low levels of coenzyme Q10 appear to be linked to an increased risk of skin cancer. Early research suggests that taking coenzyme Q10 with other antioxidants increases survival time by 40% in terminal cancer patients. Better quality studies are needed to confirm these results.
- Brain damage affecting muscle movements (cerebellar ataxia). Early research suggests that taking coenzyme Q10 orally may improve posture and muscle function in people with cerebellar ataxia and low levels of coenzyme Q10. However, it does not appear to benefit people with normal coenzyme Q10 levels.
- A lung disease that makes breathing more difficult (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD). Early research suggests that taking coenzyme Q10 does not improve lung function or exercise performance in people with COPD.
- A disorder that causes repeated episodes of nausea and vomiting (cyclic vomiting syndrome or CVS). Early research suggests that taking coenzyme Q10 may work as well as prescription medications used to treat CVS.
- Weakened and enlarged heart (dilated cardiomyopathy). Early research suggests that taking coenzyme Q10 improves heart function in children and adolescents with dilated cardiomyopathy.
- Dry mouth. Early research suggests that taking a modified form of coenzyme Q10 called ubiquinol improves dry mouth.
- Hearing loss. Some research suggests that taking coenzyme Q10 may improve hearing in some people with age-related hearing loss. But combining coenzyme Q10 with conventional steroid treatments does not improve hearing in people with sudden deafness. Additionally, it does not appear to improve hearing in people with noise-induced hearing loss.
- Swelling (inflammation) of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus (hepatitis C). Research shows that taking coenzyme Q10 does not improve liver function in people with hepatitis C who do not respond to conventional treatment.
- High levels of cholesterol or other fats (lipids) in the blood (hyperlipidemia). It is not known whether coenzyme Q10 reduces cholesterol levels. A study shows that it could slightly reduce triglycerides and LDL (or “bad” cholesterol). Other studies show no benefit from taking coenzyme Q10 for lowering total or LDL cholesterol or increasing HDL (or "good" cholesterol) levels. It may take at least 3 months to see a benefit.
- High blood pressure. Some research shows that taking coenzyme Q10 alone or with other medications to treat high blood pressure helps lower blood pressure in people with hypertension. However, not all research has shown benefits. Coenzyme Q10 may only benefit people with high blood pressure who also have diabetes or low blood levels of coenzyme Q10 before treatment. Taking coenzyme Q10 by mouth daily appears to lower systolic blood pressure (the top number) in some people who have high systolic blood pressure but normal diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number).
- Weakened and thickened heart (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy). Taking coenzyme Q10 orally appears to decrease the thickness of the heart wall and reduce symptoms of shortness of breath and fatigue in people with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
- Inability to become pregnant within 1 year of trying to conceive (infertility). Although coenzyme Q10 may increase the chances of getting pregnant, it may not reduce miscarriages or increase successful pregnancies in women with this condition.
- Renal failure. Some preliminary research suggests that taking coenzyme Q10 improves kidney function in people with kidney failure. But it might not be helpful in people with less severe kidney disease.
- Conditions in a man that prevent him from getting a woman pregnant within a year of trying to conceive (male infertility). There is early evidence that taking coenzyme Q10 or a modified form of coenzyme Q10 called ubiquinol orally for 3 to 6 months may improve sperm movement and density in men with certain types of infertility. It is not known whether these improvements increase pregnancy rates.
- Hereditary form of diabetes linked to deafness. Early research suggests that taking coenzyme Q10 orally may prevent the progression of a rare form of diabetes inherited from the mother.
- Fat accumulation in the liver in people who drink little or no alcohol (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or NAFLD). Early research shows that taking coenzyme Q10 may improve markers of liver damage and disease severity in people with NAFLD.
- Obesity. Taking coenzyme Q10 does not appear to help with weight loss.
- Parkinson disease. Some research shows that taking coenzyme Q10 alone or with other supplements could slow mental decline in people with early-stage Parkinson's disease. At least 16 months of treatment and doses greater than 600 mg per day appear necessary to achieve these benefits. However, not all data has been positive. Some research shows that coenzyme Q10 does not benefit people with early or middle-stage Parkinson's disease.
- A serious gum infection (periodontitis). Applying coenzyme Q10 to the gums is not effective in treating gum disease. However, there is early evidence that taking coenzyme Q10 orally may be helpful.
- A hormonal disorder that causes enlarged ovaries with cysts (polycystic ovarian syndrome or PCOS). Early research shows that taking coenzyme Q10 may reduce hair loss and acne in women with PCOS. It could also reduce blood sugar levels and cholesterol levels.
- A rare hereditary disease that causes obesity, short stature and learning disabilities (Prader-Willi syndrome or PWS). Early research suggests that taking coenzyme Q10 improves the mental and physical development of children with PWS. But it's unclear whether these improvements are due to coenzyme Q10 or an age-related phenomenon.
- A pregnancy complication marked by high blood pressure and protein in the urine (pre-eclampsia). Pre-eclampsia is a condition that some women develop during pregnancy. Some research shows that women at risk are less likely to develop the disease if they take coenzyme Q10 from the 20th week of pregnancy until delivery.
- Schizophrenia. It is not known whether taking coenzyme Q10 improves symptoms in people with schizophrenia.
Blood infection (sepsis). Some early research shows that taking coenzyme Q10 could prevent death in people with blood infections. But other research shows that taking a form of coenzyme Q10 called ubiquinol does not prevent death. Coenzyme Q10 does not appear to reduce the time spent in the hospital due to a blood infection.
- Muscle pain caused by statins (statin-induced myalgia). Statins, a class of drugs used to lower cholesterol, can sometimes cause muscle pain. There is some evidence that taking coenzyme Q10 may reduce this pain. But not all research agrees.
- Muscle weakness caused by statins (statin-induced myopathy). Statins, a class of drugs used to lower cholesterol, can sometimes cause muscle weakness. There is some evidence that taking coenzyme Q10 may improve this weakness. But not all research agrees.
- Skin wrinkles caused by sun damage. Early evidence suggests that applying coenzyme Q10 cream to the skin improves wrinkled skin.
- An eye disease that causes vision loss in older people (age-related macular degeneration or AMD).
- Aging.