CoQ10 (CoenzymeQ10)

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), also known as ubiquinone, is a yellow crystalline powder that is often produced by the fermentation of sugar beets. Coenzyme Q10 occurs naturally within the body, but tends to decreases with age.1

Coenzyme Q10 can be found in foods such as: beef, chicken, soybean oil, canola oil, peanuts, pistachios, broccoli, and oranges.2

Major Health Benefits

Coenzyme Q10 plays a vital role as a cofactor in the production of cellular energy (ATP, the energy currency of the body) from energy providing nutrients, such as carbohydrates and fatty acids.3 Coenzyme Q10 also acts as an antioxidant to help neutralize free radicals and prevent oxidation of bad cholesterol (LDL-cholesterol).4

Coenzyme Q10 supplementation has been suggested to help lower blood pressure in hypertensive individuals, improve heart function, and reduce the risk and symptoms of heart failure and atherosclerosis.5-9 Low levels of Coenzyme Q10 in the brain have been found in individuals with Parkinson’s disease, suggesting an association of Parkinson’s disease with CoQ10 levels in the brain.10

Cautions

The observed safe level for Coenzyme Q10 is 1,200 mg per day due to the adverse side effects of nausea, decrease in appetite, and diarrhea.11,12

References

  1. Saini R. Coenzyme Q10: The essential nutrient. J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2011 Jul;3(3):466-7.PMID: 21966175; PMCID: PMC3178961.
  2. Higdon, J. CoEnzyme Q10. Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University. 2003. (Reviewed by Stocker, R in 2012). (Food Sources). http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/dietary-factors/coenzyme-Q10 Accessed in July 2015.
  3. Crane FL. Biochemical functions of coenzyme Q10. J Am Coll Nutr. 2001 Dec;20(6):591-8.PMID: 11771674.
  4. Higdon, J. CoEnzyme Q10. Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University. 2003. (Reviewed by Stocker, R in 2012). (Antioxidant Function) http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/dietary-factors/coenzyme-Q10 Accessed in July 2015.
  5. Ho MJ, Bellusci A, Wright JM. Blood pressure lowering efficacy of coenzyme Q10 for primary hypertension. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009 Oct 7;(4):CD007435.PMID: 19821418.
  6. Burke BE, Neuenschwander R, Olson RD. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of coenzyme Q10 in isolated systolic hypertension. South Med J. 2001 Nov;94(11):1112-7. PubMed PMID: 11780680.
  7. Sander S, Coleman CI, Patel AA, Kluger J, White CM. The impact of coenzyme Q10 on systolic function in patients with chronic heart failure. J Card Fail. 2006 Aug;12(6):464-72. PubMed PMID: 16911914.
  8. Higdon, J. CoEnzyme Q10. Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University. 2003. (Reviewed by Stocker, R in 2012). (Cardiovascular disease) http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/dietary-factors/coenzyme-Q10 Accessed in July 2015.
  9. Mortensen SA, Rosenfeldt F, Kumar A, Dolliner P, Filipiak KJ, Pella D,Alehagen U, Steurer G, Littarru GP; Q-SYMBIO Study Investigators. The effect of coenzyme Q10 on morbidity and mortality in chronic heart failure: results from Q-SYMBIO: a randomized double-blind trial. JACC Heart Fail. 2014 Dec;2(6):641-9. PubMed PMID: 25282031.
  10. Hargreaves IP, Lane A, Sleiman PM. The coenzyme Q10 status of the brain regions of Parkinson’s disease patients. Neurosci Lett. 2008 Dec 5;447(1):17-9.PMID: 18840506.
  11. Hathcock JN, Shao A. Risk assessment for coenzyme Q10 (Ubiquinone). Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2006 Aug;45(3):282-8. Epub 2006 Jun 30. Review. PubMed PMID: 16814438.
  12. Higdon, J. CoEnzyme Q10. Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University. 2003. (Reviewed by Stocker, R in 2012). (Safety) http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/dietary-factors/coenzyme-Q10 Assessed in July 2015.