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Coenzyme Q10

Supplement Forms/Alternate Names:

CoQ10UbiquinoneUbiquinol

Introduction

Coenzyme Q10 is a protein in the body that helps produce energy. It has been used to improve heart function and the health of cells. Coenzyme Q10 can be taken as a pill or powder. It can also be applied to the skin as a cream and has been used to fight signs of aging.

Dosages

100 to 500 milligrams once daily

What Research Shows

Likely Effective

Coronary artery disease —likely to lower total cholesterol and increase HDL (“good”) cholesterol ^C1
Heart failure —likely to help manage symptoms ^E1-E4
High blood pressure —likely to lower systolic blood pressure ^{G1, G2}
Migraine —likely to reduce migraine duration and number of attacks ^I1

May Be Effective

Bipolar disorder —may improve symptoms of depression ^A1
Peyronie disease —may ease symptoms and improve erectile function ^K1
Polycystic ovary disease —may lower total and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol ^L1

Unlikely to Be Effective

Parkinson Disease —unlikely to improve symptoms ^{J1, J2}
Statin-induced myopathy —unlikely to improve symptoms ^M1

Not Enough Data to Assess

Cardiovascular disease ^B1
Diabetes ^D1-D3
Heart surgery complications ^F1
Male infertility ^H1

Editorial process and description of evidence categories can be found at EBSCO NAT Editorial Process.

Safety Notes

It is likely safe to apply coenzyme Q10 to the skin and to take it orally in small doses for a short time. Not enough studies have been done to say whether it is safe to use for a long period. It is also not known whether it is safe to take by women who are breastfeeding.

Interactions

Talk to your doctor about any supplements or therapy you would like to use. Some can interfere with treatment or make conditions worse.

References►

A. Bipolar disorder

A1. Mehrpooya M, Yasrebifar F, et al. Evaluating the Effect of Coenzyme Q10 Augmentation on Treatment of Bipolar Depression: A Double-Blind Controlled Clinical Trial. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2018;38(5):460-466.

B. Cardiovascular Disease

B1. Flowers N, Hartley L, et al. Co-enzyme Q10 supplementation for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014;(12):CD010405.

C. Coronary Artery Disease

C1. Jorat MV, Tabrizi R, et al. The effects of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on lipid profiles among patients with coronary artery disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Lipids Health Dis. 2018;17(1):230.

D. Diabetes

D1. Suksomboon N, Poolsup N, et al. Effects of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on metabolic profile in diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Pharm Ther. 2015;40(4):413-418.

D2. Moradi M, Haghighatdoost F, et al. Effect of Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation on Diabetes Biomarkers: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials. Arch Iran Med. 2016;19(8):588-596.

D3. Stojanović M, Radenković M. A meta-analysis of randomized and placebo-controlled clinical trials suggests that coenzyme Q10 at low dose improves glucose and HbA1c levels. Nutr Res. 2017 Feb;38:1-12.

E. Heart Failure

E1. Fotino AD, Thompson-Paul AM, et al. Effect of coenzyme Q₁₀ supplementation on heart failure: a meta-analysis. Am J Clin Nutr. 2013 Feb;97(2):268-275.

E2. Madmani ME, Yusuf Solaiman A, et al. Coenzyme Q10 for heart failure. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014;(6):CD008684.

E3. Lei L, Liu Y. Efficacy of coenzyme Q10 inpatients with cardiac failure: a meta-analysis of clinical trials. BMC Cardiovasc Disord. 2017;17(1):196.

E4. Jafari M, Mousavi SM, et al. Coenzyme Q10 in the treatment of heart failure: A systematic review of systematic reviews. Indian Heart J. 2018 Jul;70 Suppl 1:S111-S117.

F. Heart Surgery Complications

F1. de Frutos F, Gea A, et al. Prophylactic treatment with coenzyme Q10 in patients undergoing cardiac surgery: could an antioxidant reduce complications? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg. 2015 Feb;20(2):254-259.

G. High Blood Pressure

G1. Ho MJ, Li EC, et al. Blood pressure lowering efficacy of coenzyme Q10 for primary hypertension. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016 Mar 3;3:CD007435.

G2. Tabrizi R, Akbari M, et al. The Effects of Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation on Blood Pressures Among Patients with Metabolic Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. High Blood Press Cardiovasc Prev. 2018 Mar;25(1):41-50

H. Male Infertility

H1. Lafuente R, González-Comadrán M, et al. Coenzyme Q10 and male infertility: a meta-analysis. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2013;30(9):1147-1156.

I. Migraine

I1. Zeng Z, Li Y, et al. Efficacy of CoQ10 as supplementation for migraine: A meta-analysis. Acta Neurol Scand. 2019 Mar;139(3):284-293.

J. Parkinson Disease

J1. Negida A, Menshawy A, et al. Coenzyme Q10 for Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets. 2016;15(1):45-53.

J2. Zhu ZG, Sun MX, et al. The efficacy and safety of coenzyme Q10 in Parkinson’s disease: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Neurol Sci. 2017;38(2):215-224.

K. Peyronie Disease

K1. Safarinejad MR. Safety and efficacy of coenzyme Q10 supplementation in early chronic Peyronie’s disease: a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial. Int J Impot Res. 2010;22(5):298-309.

L. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

L1. Samimi M, Zarezade Mehrizi M, et al. The effects of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on glucose metabolism and lipid profiles in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2017;86(4):560-566.

M. Statin-Induced Myopathy

M1. Banach M, Serban C, et al. Effects of coenzyme Q10 on statin-induced myopathy: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Mayo Clin Proc. 2015 Jan;90(1):24-34.

Last reviewed February 2020 by EBSCO NAT Review Board Eric Hurwitz, DC Last Updated: 6/17/2020

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