CoQ10 (coenzyme Q10)

What it is

• CoQ10 levels in the body go down with age.
• People with heart disease, or people who take cholesterol-lowering statins, may have lower CoQ10 levels.
• Supplements come as capsules, chewable tablets and liquid syrups.

Source: Mayo Clinic: Coenzyme Q10 - Mayo Clinic ↗

How it's thought to work

Cells use CoQ10 to grow and to make energy.

Source: Mayo Clinic: Coenzyme Q10 - Mayo Clinic ↗

What the research has found so far

• Findings are mixed on whether it lowers blood pressure.
• Some research suggests it may help lower cholesterol in people with diabetes.
• High doses do not seem to help Parkinson's disease symptoms.
• Some research suggests it might lower how often migraines happen or how long they last.

Source: Mayo Clinic: Coenzyme Q10 - Mayo Clinic ↗

On CoQ10 and aging, PubMed lists 23 trials in people, 12 studies that watched people over time, 237 animal and lab studies. See the counts and searches

Side effects and risks

• Pages say CoQ10 seems safe and causes few side effects, mostly mild stomach problems, but it might make the blood thinner warfarin work less well.
• Mayo Clinic says CoQ10 supplements seem to be safe and cause few side effects when taken as directed.
• A health professional fact sheet from the NIH says CoQ10 side effects are mild. It lists fatigue, insomnia, rashes, nausea, upper belly pain, heartburn, sensitivity to light, irritability, dizziness and headaches.
• One small study found that people who took CoQ10 had a smaller gain in power after high-intensity cycling sprints than people who took a placebo (a dummy pill).

Sources: Mayo Clinic: Coenzyme Q10 - Mayo Clinic ↗ · NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Dietary Supplements for Exercise and Athletic Performance - Health Professional Fact Sheet ↗

Who should be careful, and drug interactions

Healthcare professionals have not decided if CoQ10 is safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding. CoQ10 might make the blood thinner warfarin work less well, which could raise the risk of a blood clot.

Source: Mayo Clinic: Coenzyme Q10 - Mayo Clinic ↗

Amounts used in studies

What studies or labels describe, not a recommendation.

Studies of exercise have used 120 mg a day of CoQ10 for 22 days. Mayo Clinic says people with migraines usually have to take it for three months before they may see a benefit.

Sources: NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Dietary Supplements for Exercise and Athletic Performance - Health Professional Fact Sheet ↗ · Mayo Clinic: Coenzyme Q10 - Mayo Clinic ↗

Roughly what it costs

The 5 products we list that contain CoQ10 cost from $32.49 to $55, as read from the makers' pages. See the products

Questions to ask your doctor

• Is CoQ10 a sensible option for me, given my health and the medicines I take?
• Could CoQ10 interact with any medicine or supplement I already take?
• What side effects should I watch for, and when should I stop or call you?
• Supplements aren't checked by the FDA before sale. Is there a brand or a third-party test seal you would trust?
• How would we tell whether it is helping, and when should we review it?