Health conditions that may decrease CoQ10 levels include diabetes, cancer, vitamin deficiencies, hyperthyroidism, and genetic mutations. CoQ10 deficiency is not common in the general population and is typically only seen in individuals with genetic mutations.
The fully oxidized form, ubiquinone (CoQ), can be reduced by the two-step gain of two electrons and two protons to give the fully reduced form (ubiquinol form or CoQH2), passing through a radical form (the semiquinone form or CoQH) (Figure 1).
What are the symptoms of CoQ10 deficiency? Whilst everyone is different, people who have a deficiency in CoQ10 levels often experience physical fatigue and muscle weakness, even while undertaking relatively non-strenuous physical activities such as walking.
What drugs and food should I avoid while taking Coq10 (Ubiquinone (Coenzyme Q-10))? Avoid using ubiquinone together with other herbal/health supplements that can also lower blood pressure. This includes andrographis, casein peptides, cat's claw, fish oil, L-arginine, lycium, stinging nettle, or theanine.
The endogenous production of CoQ10 decreases after the age of 20, and the myocardial concentration of CoQ10 is reduced to about half at the age of 80 (Fig. 3) (Kalén et al., 1989; Gutierrez-Mariscal et al., 2019).
How Long Will It Take? If your body's Ubiquinol levels are low, it may take two to three weeks for your body to replenish its natural Ubiquinol levels and you may not see an immediate difference.
No interactions were found between caffeine and CoQ10.
Interactions between your drugs
No interactions were found between CoQ10 and magnesium oxide.
There are no apparent interactions between vitamin D and CoQ10, showing they're safe to supplement together. Some studies show that CoQ10 and vitamin D are beneficial for supporting heart health and exert protective effects on cardiovascular and renal health.
In addition to reducing the risk of cardiovascular problems in patients with liver disease, CoQ10 supplementation may also benefit the disease process within the liver by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress.
Due to it's antioxidative effects, research has found that CoQ10 reduces inflammation in the body. This is significant because so many diseases are caused by inflammation. We are realizing that inflammation is often due to our poor health habits, insufficient sleep, and… you guessed it – lack of nutrients!
The data on CoQ10 and blood pressure is mixed, and most data suggests CoQ10 does not have an impact on heart rate [1,15]. Fish oil, however, has shown promising results in many research studies for lowering blood pressure and was shown to decrease heart rate in a few trials [10,16].
CoQ10 positively influences the age-affected cellular metabolism and enables to combat signs of aging starting at the cellular level.
Vitamins B-12 and B-6 also ensure optimal energy through their roles producing healthy red blood cells. While CoQ10 is vital for energy, it fills a different role than the B vitamins. Taking them together helps cover all your bases.
Don't use calcium, zinc, or magnesium supplements at the same time. Also, these three minerals are easier on your tummy when you take them with food, so if your doctor recommends them, have them at different meals or snacks.
Antibiotics: Taking magnesium supplements may reduce the absorption of quinolone antibiotics, tetracycline antibiotics, and nitrofurantoin (Macrodandin). Magnesium should be taken 1 hour before or 2 hours after taking these medications. Quinolone and tetracycline antibiotics include: Ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
Plus, research confirms that exercise further depletes your levels of CoQ10 in the body. Research further shows that athletes have lower levels of CoQ10 than sedentary people.
Answer: Yes. Although CoQ10 is generally well-tolerated, it can cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and diarrhea in a small percentage of people.
Studies that looked at both athletically untrained and well-trained individuals reported mixed results regarding the effect of CoQ10 on physical performance. Some studies showed an increase in exercise capacity and oxygen consumption, while others showed no benefit.
CoQ10 protects mitochondria and enhances its abilities. This can help to increase alertness and prevent “brain fog,” which impacts the memory as well as many mental functions.
While it's generally considered to be safe for healthy adults, CoQ10 can be potentially harmful to people with certain conditions or those taking certain medications. The typical dose ranges from 100 mg of CoQ10 or 25 mg of ubiquinol daily for generally healthy people not taking any medications.
Which Form of CoQ10 Is Best Absorbed? Most of the original research on CoQ10 supplementation was done using ubiquinone, but more recent studies suggest a different form called ubiquinol is better absorbed.