Coenzyme Q10

Also listed as: CoQ10; Ubiquinone

Overview

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a compound found naturally in the energy-producing center of the cell known as the mitochondria. CoQ10 is involved in the making of an important molecule known as ATP. ATP serves as the cell's major energy source and drives a number of biological processes including muscle contraction and the production of protein. CoQ10 also works as an antioxidant.

Uses

CoQ10 boosts energy, enhances the immune system, and acts as an antioxidant. A growing body of research suggests that using coenzyme Q10 supplements alone or in combination with other drug therapies and nutritional supplements may help prevent or treat some of the following conditions:

Heart Disease

inhibit blood clot formation

act as an antioxidant

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)

High Blood Pressure

may take 4 to 12 weeks before any beneficial effect is observed.

High Cholesterol

Certain cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins (such as atorvastatin, cerivastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, simvastatin) appear to deplete natural levels of CoQ10 in the body.

Diabetes

Heart Damage caused by Chemotherapy

Heart Surgery

Breast Cancer

Periodontal (gum) Disease

Other

Preliminary studies also suggest that CoQ10 may:

• Improve immune function in individuals with immune deficiencies (such as AIDS) and chronic infections (such as yeast and other viral infections)

• Increase sperm motility leading to enhanced fertility

• Be used as part of the treatment for Alzheimer's disease

• Reduce damage from stroke

• Boost athletic performance

• Enhance physical activity in people with fatigue syndromes

• Improve exercise tolerance in individuals with muscular dystrophy

Research in all of these areas is underway to determine whether CoQ10 can be safety and effectively used in people with these health problems.  

How to Take It

Pediatric

There are no known scientific reports on the pediatric use of CoQ10. Therefore, use of CoQ10 supplements is not currently recommended for children.

Adult

The general recommended dose for CoQ10 supplementation is 30 to 60 mg daily. Higher doses have been used in studies and may be recommended for the following conditions:

• Congestive heart failure: 50 to 150 mg a day

• High blood pressure: 50 to 150 mg a day

• To enhance athletic performance: 60 mg a day for 4 to 8 weeks

• Heart attack: 120 mg a day for 28 days after the heart attack

• Breast cancer: 400 mg per day for potential prevention and treatment

Coenzyme Q10 is fat-soluble so should be taken with a meal containing fat for optimal absorption.

Possible Interactions

If you are currently being treated with any of the following medications, you should not use CoQ10 without first talking to your healthcare provider.

Daunorubicin and Doxorubicin
Coenzyme Q10 may help to reduce the toxic effects on the heart caused by daunorubicin and doxorubicin, two chemotherapy medications that are commonly used to treat a variety of cancers.

Blood Pressure Medications
In a study of individuals taking blood pressure medications (including diltiazem, metoprolol, enalapril, and nitrate), CoQ10 supplementation allowed the individuals to take lower dosages of these drugs. This suggests that CoQ10 may enhance the effectiveness of certain blood pressure medications, but more research is needed to verify these results.

Warfarin
There have been reports that coenzyme Q10 may decrease the effectiveness of blood-thinning medications such as warfarin, leading to the need for increased doses. Therefore, given that this medication must be monitored very closely for maintenance of appropriate levels and steady blood thinning, CoQ10 should only be used with warfarin under careful supervision by your healthcare provider.

Timolol
CoQ10 supplementation may reduce the heart-related side effects of timolol drops, a beta-blocker medication used to treat glaucoma, without decreasing the effectiveness of the medication.

Other
Medications that can lower the levels of coenzyme Q10 in the body include statins for cholesterol (atorvastatin, cerivastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, simvastatin), fibric acid derivatives for cholesterol (specifically, gemfibrozil), beta-blockers for high blood pressure (such as atenolol, labetolol, metoprolol, and propranolol), and tricyclic antidepressant medications (including amitriptyline, amoxapine, clomipramine, desipramine, doxepin, imipramine, nortriptyline, protriptyline, and trimipramine).

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