CoQ10 acts as anti-antioxidant, which protects cells from damage and plays an important part in the metabolism. Why do people take CoQ10? Although CoQ10 plays a key role in the body, most healthy people have enough CoQ10 naturally. There is some evidence that adding more in the form of CoQ10 supplements may be beneficial. Increasing age and some medical conditions are associated with dropping levels of CoQ10. But in these cases, it’s uncertain that adding CoQ10 will have an effect. CoQ10 has been used to treat many different conditions. There's evidence that CoQ10 supplements can lower blood pressure slightly. CoQ10 is also used to treat heart failure and other heart conditions, possibly helping to improve some symptoms and lessen future cardiac risks when combined with regular medications, but the evidence is conflicting. Though still controversial, some preliminary evidence suggests that CoQ10 may help to prevent or treat the adverse effects, such as muscle pains and liver problems, of taking statin type cholesterol drugs. Preliminary studies have shown that CoQ10 may slow, but not stop, the progression of Alzheimer's disease. Additional research is needed to confirm this effect. CoQ10 has also been studied as a preventive treatment for migraine headaches, though it may take several months to work. It has also been studied for low sperm count, cancer, HIV muscular dystrophy, Parkinson’s disease, gum disease, and many other conditions. However, the research has not found any conclusive benefits.
Coenzyme Q10 is a compound found naturally in your body. Known to have antioxidant effects, it is essential for the proper functioning of your cells; one of its main jobs is to aid in the production of energy. Research suggests coenzyme Q10 may help treat or prevent disease ranging from diabetes to migraines to Alzheimer's disease, as well as reverse signs of aging.
Levels of coenzyme Q10 decrease with time, so many turn to its dietary supplement form in hopes of reaping these benefits.
Also Known As CoQ10 and Ubiquinol
Here's a look at some of the science behind the health effects of coenzyme Q10:
Coenzyme Q10 may benefit patients with certain cardiac diseases including atherosclerosis, heart failure, and coronary artery disease, according to a report in Pharmacology & Therapeutics.
The authors note that coenzyme Q10 may treat cardiac ailments in a few different ways. For example, research suggests that coenzyme Q10 may reduce oxidative stress, as well as promote widening of the blood vessels—a key factor in blood pressure control
In addition, coenzyme Q10 may be beneficial to cardiac cells, which have high energy requirements and are extremely sensitive to coenzyme Q10 deficiency.
In a 2016 review published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, scientists pooled data from two previously published clinical trials (with a total of 50 participants) comparing the effects of coenzyme Q10 to those of a placebo in the treatment of high blood pressure.
In their review, the report's authors found some evidence that coenzyme Q10 may not provide blood-pressure-lowering effects, contrary to previous studies’ findings. However, the reviewed studies were too small and unreliable to draw any firm conclusions as to CoQ10's effectiveness in the long-term management of high blood pressure.
Coenzyme Q10 shows promise in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, according to a research review published in Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment
While few clinical trials have tested the effects of coenzyme Q10 supplementation in people with Parkinson's or Alzheimer's, some preliminary research indicates that the supplement may be helpful to such patients. For example, animal-based research has shown that coenzyme Q10 may inhibit the overproduction of beta-amyloid, a protein fragment that forms the brain plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease.
Coenzyme Q10 may improve diabetic neuropathy and insulin sensitivity in people with diabetes. In a 2018 study, 50 people with diabetic neuropathy were given either 100 milligrams (mg) of CoQ10 a day or a placebo for 12 weeks. Patients taking CoQ10 had significant reductions in blood sugar, markers of oxidative stress, and insulin resistance compared to the control group.
Guidelines from the American Academy of Neurology and the American Headache Society say that CoQ10 is possibly effective in preventing migraines, but this conclusion is based on limited evidence.
In one small study published in Neurology, 42 patients with migraines with and without aura received either 100 mg of CoQ10 or a placebo pill three times daily for three months. A little under half of participants who took CoQ10 reported a 50 percent or more decrease in the number of migraine attacks at the end of the study period compared with just 14.4 percent of people with took the placebo.
Some research suggests coenzyme Q10 may help reduce muscle pain and weakness as a side effect of statin use. However, the evidence is inconclusive.
In one small study, 50 patients taking statin medications were given 100 mg of CoQ10 or a placebo for 30 days. Three-quarters of the CoQ10 group reported a reduction in statin-related muscle pain, while the placebo group saw no improvement.
No serious side effects of CoQ10 have been reported. Mild side effects such as insomnia or upset stomach may occur as well as fatigue, dizziness, heartburn, or abdominal pain.
CoQ10 may interact with blood-thinning medication and blood pressure medication, and may not be compatible with certain cancer medications. Check with your doctor before taking CoQ10.
CoQ10 supplements are sold in capsule, soft gel, and liquid forms. There is no recommended daily amount for CoQ10. The typical dose ranges from 90 mg to 200 mg daily, but depends on the condition it is being used to treat.
The following doses have been studied:
Heart disease: 50 mg to 200 mg a day
Migraine: 150-300 mg a day
Statin muscle pain: 100 mg a day
Source:
CoQ10: Benefits, Side Effects, Dosage, and Interactions (verywellhealth.com)