How we rate
“Strong” = several concordant meta-analyses or systematic reviews. “Moderate” = one synthesis, or several controlled trials. “Limited” = early trials only. The rating is about the quality of the studies, not about how useful the supplement is.
Coenzyme Q10
A molecule involved in cellular energy production, studied for cardiovascular health and fatigue.
Benefits
- Lowers blood markers of inflammation (CRP, IL-6, TNF-α), according to a meta-analysis of 17 randomized trials
- Improves heart ejection fraction by an average of 3.7 points in heart failure (meta-analysis of randomized trials)
- Combined with selenium for 5 years in 70-88 year-olds, halves cardiovascular mortality: 5.9% vs 12.6% with placebo (443 participants)
Precautions
Can interact with anticoagulants. Better absorbed with a fatty meal. Seek medical advice in case of heart treatment or statin use. The authors of the meta-analysis on inflammation themselves call for caution (heterogeneous and few studies), and the mortality trial combined CoQ10 with selenium: the effect cannot be attributed to CoQ10 alone.
Recommended dosage
100 to 300 mg per day most often, for 8 to 12 weeks.
How to take it
- Trial doses: 100 to 300 mg per day most often, up to 500 or 600 mg in a few trials on patients.
- In one or two doses: some trials split it, for example 100 mg twice a day.
- How long: most trials last 8 to 12 weeks. In 14 days, blood levels are already rising.
- With statins: against statin-induced muscle pain, 60 mg twice a day for 3 months did no better than the placebo.
- No reference dose: recent reviews still call for agreement on the optimal dose and form.
Did you know?
A clinical study has shown that CoQ10, taken at a dose of 60 mg twice daily, is no more effective than a placebo in relieving muscle pain attributed to statins.
What the studies say
This meta-analysis evaluated the effects of Coenzyme Q10 supplementation on inflammatory markers, notably C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). It concluded that CoQ10 significantly reduced the circulating levels of these three markers. The results suggest beneficial effects of CoQ10 on inflammation, but the authors recommend interpreting these data with caution due to the heterogeneity of the studies and their limited number.
Fan L, Feng Y, Chen GC, Qin LQ, Fu CL, Chen LH. — Pharmacological research (2017) — View the source study
For information only: not a substitute for medical advice. Dietary supplements are not a replacement for a varied, balanced diet. Learn more