CoQ10 has been thoroughly studied for its role in heart and mitochondrial health and as a potent antioxidant. CoQ10 has also been shown to support physical performance and reduce fatigue. Coenzyme Q10 is found in almost every cell in the body and production declines as we age. CoQ10 production can also be compromised by lifestyle factors and by certain prescription medication, making supplementation important for many people.

Supports Heart and Mitochondrial Health*

A 5-year prospective randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial among Swedish citizens aged 70 to 88 was performed in 443 participants given combined supplementation of selenium and coenzyme Q10 or a placebo. Clinical examinations, echocardiography and biomarker measurements were performed. Participants were monitored every 6th month throughout the intervention. The cardiac biomarker N-terminal proBNP (NT-proBNP) and echocardiographic changes were monitored, and mortalities were registered. This study concluded that long-term supplementation of selenium/coenzyme Q10 reduces
cardiovascular mortality. The positive effects could also be seen in NT-proBNP levels and on echocardiography.

Researchers analyzed the same data for cardiovascular mortality up to 10 years after intervention with selenium and coenzyme Q10, to evaluate if mortality differed in subgroups differentiated by gender, diabetes, ischemic heart disease (IHD), and functional class. Four-hundred forty-three healthy elderly individuals were included from a rural municipality in Sweden. All cardiovascular mortality was registered, and no participant was lost to the follow-up. In the 10-year follow-up of a group of healthy elderly participants given four years of intervention with selenium and coenzyme Q10, significantly reduced cardiovascular mortality was observed. The protective action was not confined to the intervention period but persisted during the follow-up period.

One study investigated whether the effect of 48-month usage of coenzyme Q10 and selenium on cardiac function was different for participants with different levels of cardiac wall tension as measured by plasma levels of N-terminal natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) at baseline. A 48-month randomized double-blind controlled trial in a cohort of community-dwelling elderly (mean age 78 years) was carried out. A total of 443 participants were given coenzyme Q10 combined with selenium, or a placebo. NT-proBNP measured at baseline and 48 months was used to evaluate cardiac wall tension. The study concluded that long-term supplementation of coenzyme Q10/selenium reduces NT-proBNP levels and cardiovascular mortality in those with baseline NT-proBNP in the second to fourth quintiles, indicating those who gain from supplementation are patients with mild to moderate impaired cardiac function.

Potent Antioxidant*

As coenzyme Q10 is involved in the anti-oxidative defense, a study evaluated effects of selenium and coenzyme Q10 on copeptin and adrenomedullin as oxidative stress biomarkers. Therefore, 437 elderly individuals were included and given intervention for 4 years. Clinical examination and blood samples were undertaken at start and after 18 and 48 months. Evaluations of copeptin and MR-proADM changes were performed using repeated measures of variance. Cardiovascular mortality was evaluated using a 10-year-period of follow-up. The study concluded that supplementation with selenium and coenzyme Q10 for four years resulted in lower concentration of both copeptin and MR-proADM. A cardioprotective effect of the supplementation was registered, irrespective of the initial levels of these biomarkers, and this protection was recognized also after 10 years of observation.

Another single-blinded, randomized, parallel, placebo-controlled study included patients experiencing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Patients (n = 41) were randomly assigned to placebo (n = 20) or coenzyme Q10 (300 mg/day, n = 21) group after surgery. The intervention lasted for 12 weeks. Plasma coenzyme Q10, vitamin E, oxidative stress antioxidant enzymes activity and inflammatory markers levels were measured. The study concluded that 300 mg/d of coenzyme Q10 supplementation significantly increased antioxidant capacity and reduced oxidative stress levels in HCC patients after surgery.

Another study attempted to determine whether short-term supplementation with Ubiquinol can prevent oxidative stress associated with strenuous exercise. Participants, healthy adults (n = 100), were classified in two groups: Ubiquinol (experimental group), and placebo (control). The protocol consisted of two identical strenuous exercise tests with a 24-hour rest period between tests. Blood and urine samples were collected from participants before and after exercise. The study found that short-term supplementation (2 weeks) with Ubiquinol (200 mg/day) before strenuous exercise decreases oxidative stress and increases plasma NO. The researchers concluded that their findings suggest CoQ10 could improve endothelial function, energetic substrate supply, and muscle recovery after strenuous exercise.

Supports Physical Performance and Reduces Fatigue*

Researchers attempted to determine whether short-term supplementation with Ubiquinol can prevent oxidative stress associated with strenuous exercise. The participants (n = 100 healthy and well trained, but not at an elite level) were classified into two groups: Ubiquinol (experimental group), and placebo group (control). The protocol consisted of conducting two identical strenuous exercise tests with a 24h rest period between tests. Blood and urine samples were collected from participants before supplementation (basal value) (T1), after supplementation (2 weeks) (T2), after first physical exercise test (T3), after 24 h of rest (T4), and after second physical exercise test (T5). The increase observed in the lactate, isoprostanes, DNA damage, and hydroperoxide levels reveals the severity of the oxidative damage induced by the exercise. The study concluded that short-term supplementation (2 weeks) with Ubiquinol (200 mg/day) before strenuous exercise, decreases oxidative stress and increases plasma NO, which could improve endothelial function, energetic substrate supply, and muscle recovery after strenuous exercise.

Another trial was designed to evaluate the benefits of CoQ10 administration for mitochondrial function. Twenty athletes aged ≥ 50 years who were taking stable doses of statins were randomized to receive either CoQ10 (200 mg daily) or placebo for 6 weeks in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study to evaluate the impact of CoQ10 on the anaerobic threshold (AT). Several secondary endpoints, including muscle function, cardiopulmonary exercise function, and subjective feelings of fitness, were also assessed. The researchers found that CoQ10 improved AT compared to baseline values in 11 of 19 (58%) subjects and compared to placebo treatment values in 10 of 19 (53%) subjects. Overall, treatment with CoQ10 (200 mg daily) did not significantly improve AT in older athletes taking statins. However, it did improve muscle performance as measured by time to AT and leg strength (quadriceps muscle reps). Many other measures of mitochondrial function also tended to improve during CoQ10 treatment.

A separate study attempted to determine the changes of oxidative stress and antioxidant markers in plasma after repeated bouts of supramaximal exercise and the effects of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on these changes. This randomized, double blind, crossover study was composed of two 8-week periods of supplementation with either 100 mg/day CoQ10 or placebo. Fifteen healthy and sedentary men participated in the study. Five Wingate tests with 2 min rest between tests were performed. Blood samples were collected at rest, immediately after, 15 and 60 min after the fifth Wingate test for oxidative stress (malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, xanthine oxidase and adenosine deaminase) and antioxidant (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and uric acid) markers. The researchers found that CoQ10 supplementation partially prevents lipid peroxidation increase after repeated short-term supramaximal exercise.

A secondary analysis using the same subjects as the previous study tried to determine the effects of oral CoQ10 on performance during repeated bouts of supramaximal exercise. This randomized, double-blind, crossover study was composed of two 8-week periods of supplementation with either 100 mg/d CoQ10 or placebo. Fifteen healthy and sedentary men participated in the study. Five Wingate tests (WTs) with 75 g.kg body weight load with 2-minute intervals between tests were performed 3 times at baseline, after CoQ10, or placebo supplementation during the study period. Peak power (PP), mean power (MP), and fatigue index were calculated. The analysis concluded that CoQ10 may show performance-enhancing effects during repeated bouts of supramaximal exercises and CoQ10 might be used as ergogenic aid.

A different study examined the effect of an antioxidant, coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), on muscular injury and oxidative stress during exercise training. Eighteen male students, all elite Japanese kendo athletes, were randomly assigned to either a CoQ10 group (n 10) or a placebo group (n 8) in a double-blind manner. Subjects in the CoQ10 group took 300 mg CoQ10 per d for 20 d, while subjects in the placebo group took the same dosage of a placebo. All subjects practiced kendo 5.5 h per d for 6 d during the experimental period. Blood samples were taken 2 weeks before, during (1 d, 3 d, 5 d) and 1 week after the training. The researchers found that CoQ10 supplementation reduced exercise-induced muscular injury in athletes.

Other researchers examined the effects of coenzyme Q10 administration on physical fatigue. In a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, three crossover designs, 17 healthy volunteers were randomized to oral coenzyme Q10 (100 or 300 mg/d) or placebo administration for 8 d. As a fatigue-inducing physical task, subjects performed workload trials on a bicycle ergometer at fixed workloads twice for 2 h and then rested for 4 h. During the physical tasks, subjects performed non-workload trials with maximum velocity for 10 s at 30 min (30-min trial) after the start of physical tasks and 30 min before the end of the tasks (210-min trial). The researchers found that oral administration of coenzyme Q10 improved subjective fatigue sensation and physical performance during fatigue-inducing workload trials and might prevent unfavorable conditions because of physical fatigue.

* This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.