1/22/2015

CoenzymeQ10|UniversityofMarylandMedicalCenter

CoenzymeQ10
Overview
CoenzymeQ10(CoQ10)isasubstancethatsfoundnaturallyinthebodyandhelpsconvertfoodinto
energy.CoQ10isfoundinalmosteverycellinthebody,anditisapowerfulantioxidant.
Antioxidantsfightdamagingparticlesinthebodyknownasfreeradicals,whichdamagecellmembranes,
tamperwithDNA,andevencausecelldeath.Scientistsbelievefreeradicalscontributetotheaging
process,aswellasanumberofhealthproblems,includingheartdiseaseandcancer.Antioxidants,such
asCoQ10,canneutralizefreeradicalsandmayreduceorevenhelppreventsomeofthedamagethey
cause.
SomeresearchersbelievethatCoQ10mayhelpwithheartrelatedconditions,becauseitcanimprove
energyproductionincells,preventbloodclotformation,andactasanantioxidant.

Uses
SomestudiessuggestthatcoenzymeQ10supplements,eitherbythemselvesorinwithotherdrug
therapies,mayhelppreventortreatthefollowingconditions:
AfterHeartAttack
OneclinicalstudyfoundthatpeoplewhotookdailyCoQ10supplementswithin3daysofaheartattack
werelesslikelytohavesubsequentheartattacksandchestpain.Theywerealsolesslikelytodieofheart
diseasethanthosewhodidnottakethesupplements.Anyonewhohashadaheartattackshouldtalkwith
theirhealthcareproviderbeforetakinganyherbsorsupplements,includingCoQ10.
Heartfailure(HF)
TheresevidencethatCoQ10mayhelptreatheartfailurewhencombinedwithconventionalmedications.
Peoplewhohavecongestiveheartfailure,wheretheheartisntabletopumpbloodaswellasitshould
mayalsohavelowlevelsofCoQ10.Heartfailurecancausebloodtopoolinpartsofthebody,suchas
thelungsandlegs.Itcanalsocauseshortnessofbreath.SeveralclinicalstudiessuggeststhatCoQ10
supplementshelpreduceswellinginthelegsreducefluidinthelungs,makingbreathingeasierand
increaseexercisecapacityinpeoplewithheartfailure.Butnotallstudiesarepositivesomefindno
effectsousingCoQ10forheartfailureremainscontroversial.CoQ10shouldneverbeusedbyitselfto
treatheartfailure,andyoushouldaskyourhealthcareproviderbeforetakingitforthiscondition.
Highbloodpressure
SeveralclinicalstudiesinvolvingsmallnumbersofpeoplesuggestthatCoQ10maylowerblood
http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/coenzymeq10

1/7

1/22/2015

CoenzymeQ10|UniversityofMarylandMedicalCenter

pressure.However,itmaytake412weekstoseeanychange.Inoneanalysis,afterreviewing12
clinicalstudies,researchersconcludedthatCoQ10hasthepotentialtolowersystolicbloodpressureby
upto17mmHganddiastolicbloodpressureby10mmHg,withoutsignificantsideeffects.More
researchwithgreaternumbersofpeopleisneeded.Donttrytotreathighbloodpressurebyyourself
seeyourhealthcareproviderfortreatment.
Highcholesterol
PeoplewithhighcholesteroltendtohavelowerlevelsofCoQ10,soCoQ10hasbeenproposedasa
treatmentforhighcholesterol,butsofartheresnoevidencewhetheritworksornot.Thereissome
evidenceitmayreducesideeffectsfromconventionaltreatmentwithcholesterolloweringdrugscalled
statins,whichreducenaturallevelsofCoQ10inthebody.TakingCoQ10supplementscanbringlevels
backtonormal.Plus,studiesshowthatCoQ10maydecreasethemusclepainassociatedwithstatin
treatment.AskyourhealthcareproviderifyouareinterestedintakingCoQ10withstatins.
Diabetes
CoQ10supplementsmayimprovehearthealthandbloodsugarandhelpmanagehighbloodpressurein
peoplewithdiabetes.Twostudiesfoundthat100mgofCoQ10twicedailyimprovedA1clevels,a
measureoflongtermbloodsugarcontrol.Butanotherstudyfoundnoeffect.Ifyouhavediabetes,talkto
yourdoctororregistereddietitianbeforeusingCoQ10.
Heartdamagecausedbychemotherapy
SeveralclinicalstudiessuggestthatCoQ10mayhelppreventheartdamagecausedbycertain
chemotherapydrugs,adriamycin,orotherathracyclinemedications.Morestudiesareneeded,however.
Talktoyourhealthcareproviderbeforetakinganyherbsorsupplementsifyouareundergoing
chemotherapy.
Heartsurgery
ClinicalresearchindicatesthatintroducingCoQ10priortoheartsurgery,includingbypasssurgeryand
hearttransplantation,canreducedamagecausedbyfreeradicals,strengthenheartfunction,andlowerthe
incidenceofirregularheartbeat(arrhythmias)duringtherecoveryphase.Youshouldnttakeany
supplementsbeforesurgeryunlessyourhealthcareproviderapproves.
Gum(Periodontal)disease
Gumdiseaseisacommonproblemthatcausesswelling,bleeding,pain,andrednessofthegums.
ClinicalstudiesshowthatpeoplewithgumdiseasetendtohavelowlevelsofCoQ10intheirgums.A
fewstudieswithsmallnumbersofpeoplefoundthatCoQ10supplementsledtofasterhealingandtissue
repair,butthestudieswerenotwelldesigned.Moreresearchisneeded.
Other
PreliminaryclinicalstudiesalsosuggestthatCoQ10may:
ImproveimmunefunctioninpeoplewithHIVorAIDS
Increasespermmotility,improvingmalefertility
BeusedaspartofthetreatmentforParkinson'sdisease
Improveexerciseabilityinpeoplewithangina
Helppreventmigraines
http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/coenzymeq10

2/7

1/22/2015

CoenzymeQ10|UniversityofMarylandMedicalCenter

ScientificstudiesareneededtoseewhetherCoQ10canbesafelyandeffectivelyusedforthesehealth
problemsandneeds.

DietarySources
PrimarydietarysourcesofCoQ10includeoilyfish(suchassalmonandtuna),organmeats(suchas
liver),andwholegrains.MostpeoplegetenoughCoQ10throughabalanceddiet,butsupplementsmay
helppeoplewithparticularhealthconditions(see"Uses"section)orthosetakingcertainmedications(see
"Interactions"section).

AvailableForms
CoQ10isavailableasasupplementinseveralforms,includingsoftgelcapsules,oralspray,hardshell
capsules,andtablets.CoQ10isalsoaddedtovariouscosmetics.

HowtoTakeIt
Pediatric
DontgiveCoQ10toachildunder18exceptunderthesupervisionofahealthcareprovider.
Adult
Foradults19yearsandolder:TherecommendeddoseforCoQ10supplementationis30200mgdaily.
Softgelstendtobebetterabsorbedthancapsulesorotherpreparations.Higherdosesmaybe
recommendedforspecificconditions.
CoQ10isfatsoluble,soitshouldbetakenwithamealcontainingfatsoyourbodycanabsorbit.Also,
takingCoQ10atnightmayhelpwiththebody'sabilitytouseit.

Precautions
Becauseofthepotentialforsideeffectsandinteractionswithmedications,youshouldtakedietary
supplementsonlyunderthesupervisionofaknowledgeablehealthcareprovider.
CoenzymeQ10appearstobegenerallysafewithnomajorsideeffects,exceptoccasionalstomachupset.
However,researchershaventdonestudiesanddontknowifCoQ10supplementsaresafeduring
pregnancyandbreastfeeding.
CoQ10maylowerbloodsugar,sopeoplewithdiabetesshouldtalkwiththeirhealthcareproviderbefore
takingittoavoidtheriskoflowbloodsugar.

PossibleInteractions
Ifyouarebeingtreatedwithanyofthefollowingmedications,youshouldnotuseCoQ10withoutfirst
talkingtoyourhealthcareprovider.
ChemotherapymedicationsResearchersarentsurewhetherCoQ10santioxidanteffectmightmake
http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/coenzymeq10

3/7

1/22/2015

CoenzymeQ10|UniversityofMarylandMedicalCenter

somechemotherapydrugslesseffective.Alwaysaskyouroncologistbeforetakingantioxidantsorany
supplementalongwithchemotherapy.
DaunorubicinanddoxorubicinCoQ10mayhelpreducethetoxiceffectsontheheartcausedby
daunorubicin(Cerubidin)anddoxorubicin(Adriamycin),twochemotherapymedicationsthatareusedto
treatseveralkindsofcancer.Alwaysaskyouroncologistbeforetakingantioxidantsoranysupplement
alongwithchemotherapy.
BloodpressuremedicationsCoQ10mayworkwithbloodpressuremedicationstolowerblood
pressure.Inaclinicalstudyofpeopletakingbloodpressuremedications,addingCoQ10supplements
allowedthemtolowerthedosesofthesemedications.Moreresearchisneeded,however.Ifyoutake
medicationforhighbloodpressure,talktoyourhealthcareproviderbeforetakingCoQ10,anddontstop
takingyourregularmedication.
BloodthinningmedicationsTherehavebeenreportsthatCoQ10maymakemedicationssuchas
warfarin(Coumadin)orclopidigrel(Plavix)lesseffectiveatthinningtheblood.Ifyoutakeblood
thinners,askyourhealthcareproviderbeforetakingCoQ10.
Betaxolol(Betoptic)CoQ10supplementsmayreducetheheartrelatedsideeffectsofbetaxololdrops
(Betoptic),abetablockermedicationusedtotreatglaucoma,withoutmakingthemedicationanyless
effective.
OtherMedicationsthatcanlowerthelevelsofCoQ10inthebodyinclude:
Statinsforcholesterol,includingatorvastatin(Lipitor),lovastatin(Mevacor),pravastatin
(Pravachol),andsimvastatin(Zocor)
Fibricacidderivativesforcholesterol,includinggemfibrozil(Lopid)
Betablockersforhighbloodpressure,suchasatenolol(Tenormin),labetolol(Normodyne),
metoprolol(LopressororToprol),andpropranolol(Inderal)
Tricyclicantidepressantmedications,includingamitriptyline(Elavil),doxepin(Sinequan),and
imipramine(Tofranil).

SupportingResearch
AguilaniuH,DurieuxJ,DillinA.Metabolism,ubiquinonesynthesis,andlongevity.GenesDev.
200519(20):2399406.
AlHasso.CoenzymeQ10:areview.HospPharm.200136(1):5166.
BealMF.TherapeuticeffectsofcoenzymeQ10inneurodegenerativediseases.MethodsEnzymol.
2004382:47387.
BelardinelliR,MucajA,LacalapriceF,etal.,CoenzymeQ10andexercisetraininginchronicheart
failure.EurHeartJ.200627(22):267581.
BertholdHK,NainiA,DiMauroS,HallikainenM,GyllingH,KroneW,GouniBertholdI.Effectof
ezetimibeand/orsimvastatinoncoenzymeQ10levelsinplasma:arandomisedtrial.DrugSaf.
200629(8):70312.
CasoG,KellyP,McNurlanMA,LawsonWE.Effectofcoenzymeq10onmyopathyicsymptomsin
patientstreatedwithstatins.AmJCardiol.200799(10):140912.
http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/coenzymeq10

4/7

1/22/2015

CoenzymeQ10|UniversityofMarylandMedicalCenter

DhanasekaranM,RenJ.TheemergingroleofcoenzymeQ10inaging,neurodegeneration,
cardiovasculardisease,canceranddiabetesmellitus.CurrNeurovascRes.20052(5):44759.
deBustosF,MolinaJA,JimenezJimenzFJ,GarciaRedondoA,GomezEscalonillaC,PortaEtessamJ,
etal.SerumlevelsofcoenzymeQ10inpatientswithAlzheimer'sdisease.JNeuralTransm.
2000107(2):233239.
HeckAM,DeWittBA,LukesAL.Potentialinteractionsbetweenalternativetherapiesandwarfarin.Am
JHealthSystemPharm.200057(13):12211227.
HodgsonJM,WattsGF,PlayfordDA,etal.CoenzymeQ(10)improvesbloodpressureandglycaemic
control:acontrolledtrialinsubjectswithtype2diabetes.EurJClinNutr.200256:11371142.
KhanM,GrossJ,HauptH,etal.,ApilotclinicaltrialoftheeffectsofcoenzymeQ10onchronictinnitus
aurium.OtolaryngolHeadNeckSurg.2007136(1):727.
KhattaM,AlexanderBS,KrichtenCM,FisherML,FreudenbergerR,RobinsonSWetal.Theeffectof
conenzymeQ10inpatientswithcongestiveheartfailure.AnnIntMed.2000132(8):636640.
LangsjoenPH,LangsjoenJO,LangsjoenAM,LucasLA.Treatmentofstatinadverseeffectswith
supplementalCoenzymeQ10andstatindrugdiscontinuation.Biofactors.200525(14):14752.
LevyG,KaufmannP,BuchsbaumR,etal.,AtwostagedesignforaphaseIIclinicaltrialofcoenzyme
Q10inALS.Neurology.200666(5):6603.
McCartyMF.Towardpracticalpreventionoftype2diabetes.MedHypotheses.200054(5):786793.
NahasR.Complementaryandalternativemedicineapproachestobloodpressurereduction:Anevidence
basedreview.CanFamPhysician.2008Nov54(11):152933.Review.
OchiaiA,ItagakiS,KurokawaT,KobayashiM,HiranoT,IsekiK.Improvementinintestinalcoenzyme
q10absorptionbyfoodintake.YakugakuZasshi.2007127(8):12514.
OstrowskiRP.EffectofcoenzymeQ(10)onbiochemicalandmorphologicalchangesinexperimental
ischemiaintheratbrain.BrainResBull.200053(4):399407.
PalanPR,ConnellK,RamirezE,InegbenijieC,GavaraRY,OusephJA,MikhailMS.Effectsof
menopauseandhormonereplacementtherapyonserumlevelsofcoenzymeQ10andotherlipidsoluble
antioxidants.Biofactors.200525(14):616.
QuinziiCM,DimauroS,HiranoM.Humancoenzymeq(10)deficiency.NeurochemRes.200732(4
5):7237.
RaitakariOT,McCredieRJ,WittingP,GriffithsKA,LetterJ,SullivanD,StockerR,CelermajerDS.
CoenzymeQimprovesLDLresistancetoexvivooxidationbutdoesnotenhanceendothelialfunctionin
hypercholesterolemicyoungadults.FreeRadicBiolMed.200028(7):11001105.
RakelD.Rakel:IntegrativeMedicine,2nded.Philadelphia,PA.ElsevierInc.,2007.
RosenfeldtFL,HaasSJ,KrumH,HadjA,NgK,LeongJY,WattsGF.ConenzymeQ10inthetreatment
ofhypertension:ametaanalysisoftheclinicaltrials.JHumHypertens.200721(4):297306.
http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/coenzymeq10

5/7

1/22/2015

CoenzymeQ10|UniversityofMarylandMedicalCenter

RosenfeldtF,HiltonD,PepeS,KrumH.SystematicreviewofeffectofcoenzymeQ10inphysical
exercise,hypertensionandheartfailure.Biofactors.200318(14):91100.
SallesJE,MoisesVA,AlmeidaDR,ChacraAR,MoisesRS.Myocardialdysfunctioninmitochondrial
diabetestreatedwithCoenzymeQ10.DiabetesResClinPract.200672(1):1003.
SanderS,ColemanCI,PatelAA,KlugerJ,WhiteCM.TheimpactofcoenzymeQ10onsystolic
functioninpatientswithchronicheartfailure.JCardFail.200612(6):46472.
ShultsCW,HaasR.ClinicaltrialsofcoenzymeQ10inneurologicaldisorders.Biofactors.200525(1
4):11726.
ShultsCW.TherapeuticroleofcoenzymeQ(10)inParkinson'sdisease.PharmacolTher.
2005107(1):12030.
SinghU,DevarajS,JialalI.CoenzymeQ10supplementationandheartfailure.NutrRev.200765(6Pt
1):28693.
SpigsetO.Reducedeffectofwarfarincausedbyubidecarenone.Lancet.1994344:13721373.
TorkosS.Drugnutrientinteractions:Afocusoncholesterolloweringagents.IntJIntegrativeMed.
20002(3):913.
WatsonPS,ScaliaGM,GalbraithA,etal.LackofeffectofcoenzymeQonleftventricularfunctionin
patientswithcongestiveheartfailure.JAmCollCardiol.199933:15491552.
WeantKA,SmithKM.TheroleofcoenzymeQ10inheartfailure.AnnPharmacother.200539(9):1522
6.
WitteKK,ClarkAL,ClelandJG.Chronicheartfailureandmicronutrients.JAmCollCardiol.
200137(7):17651774.

AlternativeNames
CoQ10Ubiquinone

VersionInfo
LastReviewedon03/31/2011
StevenD.Ehrlich,NMD,SolutionsAcupuncture,aprivatepracticespecializingincomplementary
andalternativemedicine,Phoenix,AZ.ReviewprovidedbyVeriMedHealthcareNetwork.
A.D.A.M.,Inc.isaccreditedbyURAC,alsoknownastheAmericanAccreditationHealthCare
Commission(www.urac.org).URAC'saccreditationprogramisanindependentaudittoverifythat
A.D.A.M.followsrigorousstandardsofqualityandaccountability.A.D.A.M.isamongthefirstto
achievethisimportantdistinctionforonlinehealthinformationandservices.Learnmoreabout
A.D.A.M.'seditorialpolicy,editorialprocessandprivacypolicy.A.D.A.M.isalsoafoundingmemberof
HiEthicsandsubscribestotheprinciplesoftheHealthontheNetFoundation(www.hon.ch)
Theinformationprovidedhereinshouldnotbeusedduringanymedicalemergencyorforthediagnosis
http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/coenzymeq10

6/7

1/22/2015

CoenzymeQ10|UniversityofMarylandMedicalCenter

ortreatmentofanymedicalcondition.Alicensedmedicalprofessionalshouldbeconsultedfordiagnosis
andtreatmentofanyandallmedicalconditions.Call911forallmedicalemergencies.Linkstoother
sitesareprovidedforinformationonlytheydonotconstituteendorsementsofthoseothersites.
19972013A.D.A.M.,Inc.Anyduplicationordistributionoftheinformationcontainedhereinisstrictly
prohibited.

Thispagewaslastupdated:May7,2013

FindaDoctorAsktheExpert

RelatedLinks
PatientSuccessStories
AwardsandHonors
2015UniversityofMarylandMedicalCenter(UMMC).Allrightsreserved.UMMCisamemberofthe
UniversityofMarylandMedicalSystem,22S.GreeneStreet,Baltimore,MD21201.1.800.492.5538
TDD:1.800.735.2258PhysicianReferral:1.800.373.4111

http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/coenzymeq10

7/7