Acceptable dosage form for the age category listed in this monograph and specified route of administration are indicated in the Compendium of Monographs Guidance Document. Not to exceed milligrams of Coenzyme Q 10 , per day Bonakdar and Guarneri ; Kalpravidh et al.

Use for at least 3 months to see beneficial effects Hershey et al. Products providing more than mg of Coenzyme Q 10 per day. Must be chosen from the current Natural Health Products Ingredients Database NHPID and must meet the limitations outlined in the database.

Here are other reasons:. CoQ10 has been shown to offset decreases in activity of mitochondrial electron transport chains that affect nerve channels and brain function, and studies show that people with cognitive disorders tend to have reduced levels of CoQ10 in their blood.

That being said, not every study has found coenzyme Q 10 to be effective over placebo. In clinical trials, supplementation with coenzyme Q 10 significantly:. Multiple clinical trials and case reports have found that CoQ10 may be a powerful natural method of treating fibromyalgia symptoms.

In adults, the dosage was typically milligrams per day, while one study on juvenile fibromyalgia focused on a milligram dose. Coenzyme Q 10 is found naturally in our diets from foods, including fish, liver, kidney and the germs of whole grain.

The richest natural sources of dietary coenzyme Q10 are meat, poultry and fish, but vegetarian options, such as beans, nuts, some vegetables, eggs and dairy products, are also helpful for increasing your intake. Currently, there is no specific dietary intake recommendation for CoQ10 established from the Institute of Medicine or other agencies.

Symptoms of deficiency have not been widely reported or studied in much detail in the general population. The best way to obtain enough is to eat a varied, nutrient-dense diet — plus to consider supplementing if it makes sense for your individual situation.

COQ10 is found in such low quantities in most foods that even a healthy diet might be an impractical way to meet the daily recommended dosages. Taking a daily, high-quality CoQ10 supplement in capsule form which helps with easier absorption into the bloodstream can close the bridge between this gap.

Dosage sizes of CoQ10 dietary supplements range anywhere from 50—1, milligrams per day. Most supplements fall in the — milligram range. Depending on the condition a person is attempting to treat, the CoQ10 dosage recommendations can range from 90 milligrams up to 1, milligrams.

This larger dose has typically been used only to study the neurological benefits of CoQ10 — most successful studies use between — milligrams. Some products use fillers or enhancers and may even supply less of a dosage than the manufacturer claims. Look for products with reviews, certifications ensuring the listed dosage is correct and as minimal preservatives or fillers as possible, along with supplements that possess the right CoQ10 concentrations.

When should you take CoQ10, morning or night? However, some people report having difficulty falling asleep if they take CoQ10 close to bedtime, so this comes down to individual preference. What are the risks of taking CoQ10? Always read the dosage labels on your coenzyme Q10 supplements, and stick to them unless instructed otherwise by your health care professional.

Who should not take CoQ10? Coenzyme Q10 supplements can decrease the anticoagulant efficacy of statins like warfarin and other common cholesterol-lowering medications such as those known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor statins.

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Levels of CoQ10 in your body decrease as you age. CoQ10 levels have also been found to be lower in people with certain conditions, such as heart disease, and in those who take cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins. CoQ10 is found in meat, fish and nuts.

The amount of CoQ10 found in these dietary sources, however, isn't enough to significantly increase CoQ10 levels in your body. CoQ10 dietary supplements are available as capsules, chewable tablets, liquid syrups, wafers and by IV.

CoQ10 might help prevent or treat certain heart conditions, as well as migraine headaches. Research on CoQ10 use for specific conditions and activities shows:. CoQ10 supplements might be beneficial for treating conditions such as congestive heart failure and preventing migraines.

CoQ10 is considered safe, with few side effects. However, be sure to take this supplement under your doctor's supervision. CoQ10 supplements appear to be safe and to produce few side effects when taken as directed.

The safety of use of CoQ10 during pregnancy and breast-feeding hasn't been established. Don't use CoQ10 if you're pregnant or breast-feeding without your doctor's approval.

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Request Appointment. It may also decrease oxidative stress and certain risk factors for heart disease in people with diabetes. According to some test-tube studies , CoQ10 could block the growth of cancer cells.

Interestingly, people with cancer have been shown to have lower levels of CoQ Some older studies suggest low levels of CoQ10 may be associated with a higher risk of certain types of cancer, including breast and prostate cancer. Newer studies have also suggested this with regard to lung cancer.

That said, the National Institutes of Health NIH states that CoQ10 has not been shown to be of value as a cancer treatment, so more research needs to be conducted before a definitive claim can be made.

CoQ10 could reduce oxidative stress, which may be involved in cancer development. Though more research is needed, some studies also show that low levels of CoQ10 could be linked to an increased risk of certain types of cancer. Unfortunately, the brain is very susceptible to oxidative stress due to its high fatty acid content and its high demand for oxygen.

This oxidative stress enhances the production of harmful compounds that could affect memory, cognition, and physical functions.

CoQ10 can protect against oxidative damage in the brain, which could potentially protect against cognitive decline. However, more studies in humans are needed.

Increased oxidative damage in the lungs and poor antioxidant protection, including low levels of CoQ10, can result in lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD and asthma. Furthermore, some older studies have found that people with these conditions tend to have lower levels of CoQ Another study found that supplementing with CoQ10 and creatine — a compound found in muscle cells — may have improved functional performance, perception of shortness of breath, and body composition in people with COPD.

CoQ10 could reduce oxidative damage in the lungs, which may benefit respiratory conditions like asthma or COPD. Current studies note that either ubiquinol or ubiquinone is acceptable for use as a supplement. No significant difference between the two was found in regards to absorption.

CoQ10 supplements are available in various doses, ranging from 30 to mg. Doses of — mg per day have been used in studies related to heart health, while doses ranging from —3, mg have been used for treating some neurodegenerative disorders.

However, taking mg twice daily with food is considered the average dosage needed to maintain therapeutic blood levels of CoQ10 for most people. Because CoQ10 is a fat-soluble compound, its absorption is slow and limited. However, taking CoQ10 supplements with food can help your body absorb it better than taking it without food.

Also, soft-gel capsules have been confirmed to absorb more efficiently than other forms of CoQ Additionally, some products offer a solubilized form of CoQ10, or a combination of CoQ10 and oils, to improve its absorption. CoQ10 is well-tolerated and is not associated with any serious side effects.

The following foods contain CoQ10 :. In addition to the foods listed above, some types of fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and cereals also contain CoQ10, though in much lower amounts. CoQ10 is found in many food sources, including meat, fish, poultry, legumes, nuts, seeds, and oils.

Supplementing with CoQ10 appears to be well tolerated by humans, even when used in doses up to 1, mg. You may experience some insomnia or indigestion, and you should not take it if you are also taking blood thinning medications like Warfarin Jantoven and certain cancer medications.

CoQ10 may reduce the effectiveness of warfarin Jantoven , as well as interact with some blood pressure and cancer medications. In particular, research suggests that it may help improve heart health and blood sugar regulation, protect against certain types of cancer, and reduce the frequency of migraine.

It may also reduce oxidative damage that leads to muscle fatigue, skin damage, and brain and lung diseases. However, more research is necessary to determine whether CoQ10 can help in these areas. CoQ10 can be found as a supplement that seems well tolerated, but you should ask your doctor before trying it.

You can also increase your intake through various food sources, including organ and muscle meats, oils, nuts, seeds, and legumes. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

VIEW ALL HISTORY. Coenzyme Q10 CoQ10 is used to treat various health conditions, including migraines, infertility and the effects of aging. This article reviews the…. Learn more about how taking a supplement can affect statin side effects and your overall heart health.

Life can take a toll on your energy levels. Fortunately, these 11 vitamins and supplements can boost your energy levels when you need it most. If your period is so heavy that you quickly soak through pads or tampons, there are things you can do to find relief.

Find out what home remedies and…. While they're not typically able to prescribe, nutritionists can still benefits your overall health. All three of the above-mentioned human studies [ 11 , 15 , 16 ] had important design flaws that could have influenced their outcome.

Study weaknesses include the absence of a control group i. Thus, it is impossible to determine whether any of the beneficial results was directly related to coenzyme Q 10 therapy. Anecdotal reports of coenzyme Q 10 lengthening the survival of patients with pancreatic , lung , rectal , laryngeal , colon , and prostate cancers also exist in the peer-reviewed scientific literature.

Use our advanced clinical trial search to find NCI-supported cancer clinical trials that are now enrolling patients. The search can be narrowed by location of the trial, type of treatment, name of the drug, and other criteria.

General information about clinical trials is also available. No serious toxicity associated with the use of coenzyme Q 10 has been reported. In a prospective study that explored the association between supplement use and breast cancer outcomes SWOG S , the use of any antioxidant supplement before and during treatment—including coenzyme Q 10 , vitamin A , vitamin C , vitamin E , and carotenoids—was associated with a trend showing an increased hazard of recurrence adjusted hazard ratio, 1.

Certain lipid -lowering drugs, such as the statins lovastatin, pravastatin , and simvastatin and gemfibrozil, as well as oral agents that lower blood sugar, such as glyburide and tolazamide, cause a decrease in serum levels of coenzyme Q 10 and reduce the effects of coenzyme Q 10 supplementation.

The contractile force of the heart in patients with high blood pressure can be increased by coenzyme Q 10 administration. To assist readers in evaluating the results of human studies of integrative, alternative, and complementary therapies for cancer , the strength of the evidence i.

To qualify for a level of evidence analysis , a study must:. Separate levels of evidence scores are assigned to qualifying human studies on the basis of statistical strength of the study design and scientific strength of the treatment outcomes i.

The resulting two scores are then combined to produce an overall score. A table showing the levels of evidence scores for qualifying human studies cited in this summary is presented below.

For an explanation of the scores and additional information about levels of evidence analysis for cancer, see Levels of Evidence for Human Studies of Integrative, Alternative, and Complementary Therapies. The PDQ cancer information summaries are reviewed regularly and updated as new information becomes available.

This section describes the latest changes made to this summary as of the date above. This summary is written and maintained by the PDQ Integrative, Alternative, and Complementary Therapies Editorial Board , which is editorially independent of NCI.

The summary reflects an independent review of the literature and does not represent a policy statement of NCI or NIH.

More information about summary policies and the role of the PDQ Editorial Boards in maintaining the PDQ summaries can be found on the About This PDQ Summary and PDQ® Cancer Information for Health Professionals pages.

This PDQ cancer information summary for health professionals provides comprehensive, peer-reviewed, evidence-based information about the use of coenzyme Q10 in the treatment of people with cancer.

It is intended as a resource to inform and assist clinicians in the care of their patients. It does not provide formal guidelines or recommendations for making health care decisions.

This summary is reviewed regularly and updated as necessary by the PDQ Integrative, Alternative, and Complementary Therapies Editorial Board , which is editorially independent of the National Cancer Institute NCI.

The summary reflects an independent review of the literature and does not represent a policy statement of NCI or the National Institutes of Health NIH. Board members review recently published articles each month to determine whether an article should:.

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These designations are intended to help readers assess the strength of the evidence supporting the use of specific interventions or approaches. The PDQ Integrative, Alternative, and Complementary Therapies Editorial Board uses a formal evidence ranking system in developing its level-of-evidence designations.

PDQ is a registered trademark. Although the content of PDQ documents can be used freely as text, it cannot be identified as an NCI PDQ cancer information summary unless it is presented in its entirety and is regularly updated.

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gov on the Managing Cancer Care page. More information about contacting us or receiving help with the Cancer. gov website can be found on our Contact Us for Help page. Questions can also be submitted to Cancer. Coenzyme Q 10 is made naturally by the human body.

Coenzyme Q 10 helps cells to produce energy, and it acts as an antioxidant. Coenzyme Q 10 has shown an ability to stimulate the immune system and to protect the heart from damage caused by certain chemotherapy drugs. Low blood levels of coenzyme Q 10 have been detected in patients with some types of cancer.

No report of a randomized clinical trial of coenzyme Q 10 as a treatment for cancer has been published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. Coenzyme Q 10 is marketed in the United States as a dietary supplement. Coenzyme Q 10 is used by cells of the body in a process known variously as: Aerobic respiration.

Aerobic metabolism. Oxidative metabolism. Cell respiration. Protect the heart from anthracycline -induced cardiotoxicity anthracyclines are a family of chemotherapy drugs, including doxorubicin , that have the potential to damage the heart. Am J Health Syst Pharm 56 6 : , Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2 : , Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1 : , Prog Drug Res , Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther 36 9 : ,