What is CoQ10 and Why Do You Need It?

October 28, 2022

Feeling sluggish lately? It could be your mitochondria.

Oh yea, it’s the conveyor belt located in the center of your cells. It’s responsible for producing energy, but toxins, stress, and an unhealthy lifestyle can make it harder for your mitochondria to do its job.

The result? You get tired, deal with headaches, blood sugar imbalances, and more.

All hope is not lost. After all, you’ve heard there are certain nutrients that can help restore your energy, optimize cell function, and even reduce some of these pecky aging symptoms.

CoQ10 is one of those nutrients.

But what is CoQ10, and why do you need it? Keep reading to find out all the amazing benefits of this incredible compound.

What Is CoQ10?

Coenzyme Q10, also known as Q10, CoQ10, ubiquinol and ubiquinone, is a compound your body makes naturally. And where does CoQ10 come from, exactly? From deep within your cells, in the mitochondria. This is sometimes called the “powerhouse” of your cells because that’s where ATP energy is produced (1).

Your body uses this energy to make sure functions and systems work properly. As you age, however, you begin to produce less and less. Taking cholesterol medication can also lower the amount of CoQ10 in your body.

Besides your body making this yourself, CoQ10 is found naturally in foods like nuts, fish, and other meats. These food sources aren’t enough to sustain high levels of CoQ10, though, so supplementing is needed now more than ever.

Not only does CoQ10 help you produce energy by breaking down your food, it has powerful antioxidant properties (2). These are very helpful in fighting oxidative stress and inflammation, helping you feel and look your best.

There are several ways to take CoQ10, including:

Tablets
Capsules
Syrups
Wafers
IV

Finding the right method will depend on your goals and lifestyle.

Benefits

So what can CoQ10 do for your body? Over the years, some astounding research shows CoQ10 can help with:

Migraines: Low mitochondrial function has been linked to decreased energy in brain cells, which can contribute to migraines. One study showed those who usually suffered from headaches experienced fewer episodes after going through CoQ10 treatments (9).

Brain health: Your brain requires a lot of oxygen, making it vulnerable to oxidative damage as you age. Taking CoQ10 can help reduce inflammation in the brain, making it a great addition for cognitive health. Research suggests it can help slow down deteriorating diseases like Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s (12).

Heart failure: Chronic high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, stress, and other factors all lead to heart failure. Co10 has been shown to reduce the number of hospitalizations in heart failure patients (3), improve symptoms, and reduce the risk of deaths associated with heart failure (4).

Physical exercise: Muscles need energy just like the rest of your body, and when your mitochondria don’t work properly, physical performance can be negatively affected. Taking CoQ10 can help you recover from workouts with less fatigue (13).

Lung health: Your lungs come in contact with oxygen every day, making them highly susceptible to oxidative stress. Those with lung conditions such as COPD have been shown to test low in CoQ10 levels (16), making it a reasonable supplement to take to reduce inflammation and improve the oxygen your tissues receive.

Diabetes: Faulty cell function has enormous impacts, and your hormones are no exception. Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction have been connected with insulin resistance (14). CoQ10 can help improve your insulin sensitivity and balance blood sugars (17).

Fertility: The older you get, the more susceptible your reproductive organs are to oxidative stress and damage. Taking CoQ10 may help increase fertility by protecting both egg quality in older women (5), as well as may improve sperm concentration, activity, and quality in men (6).

Skin Health: Hailed as your largest organ, your skin is constantly being exposed to internal and external elements that age you. Because of CoQ10’s antioxidant properties, applying it topically has been shown to reduce the depth of wrinkles (7), as well as reduce your risk for developing skin cancers (8).

Cancers: Chronic DNA damage and oxidative stress are a recipe for all kinds of cancers. Research shows those with low levels of CoQ10 had a 53.3% higher chance of developing cancer (15). Taking CoQ10 may help reduce these risks.

Side Effects and Risks

Who should not use CoQ10? While generally considered safe, mild side effects (10) could include:

Headache
Dizziness
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
Fatigue
Insomnia
Abdominal pain
Itchy skin or rashes

If you notice these symptoms consistently, stop taking them immediately.

Don’t take CoQ10 if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. There just isn’t enough research to know how it affects the mother and fetus, so it’s best to air on the side of caution.

Possible drug interactions include anticoagulants such as warfarin (Jantoven). Taking CoQ10 makes this type of medication less effective, increasing your risk of developing blood clots (11).

Dosage

CoQ10 actually comes in two forms: ubiquinol and ubiquinone. Ubiquinol is more absorbable by your body and makes up the majority of supplements on the market today.

Typical recommended doses range from 90mg – 500mg per day, although some studies have found no negative side effects with doses up to 1,200mg per day (18).

Conclusion

Living your healthiest life involves a variety of different aspects. Eating healthy foods, getting regular exercise, and managing stress are all important.

Taking quality supplements has become another aspect of wellness, and CoQ10 is one to add to your list. This powerful compound is made both in your body and found naturally in some foods. It helps your body produce energy, and contains antioxidants that help protect your organs and tissue from oxidative damage.

CoQ10 is generally safe to use with minimal risks. You can find topical products as well as internal pills and liquids.

Are you boosting your health with CoQ10? If not, consider try KaraMD's CoQ10 Plus formulated with a high-quality dose of CoQ10 and Magnesium!

References & Disclaimers

1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-biology/coenzyme-q10

2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25126052/

3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8241697/

4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25282031/

5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26111777/

6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28066832/

7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10416055/

8. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16443053/

9. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17355497/