Risks. People with chronic diseases such as heart failure, liver problems, or diabetes should be wary of using this supplement. CoQ10 may lower blood sugar levels and blood pressure.
Safety. No serious side effects of CoQ10 have been reported. Mild side effects such as insomnia or digestive upsets may occur. CoQ10 may interact with the anticoagulant (blood thinner) warfarin and the diabetes drug insulin, and it may not be compatible with some types of cancer treatment.
CoQ10 supplements may improve heart health and blood sugar and help manage high blood pressure in people with diabetes. Preliminary studies found that CoQ10 improves blood sugar control. But other studies show no effect. If you have diabetes, talk to your doctor or registered dietitian before taking CoQ10.
The Bottom Line
Typically, 90–200 mg of CoQ10 per day are recommended, though some conditions may require higher dosages of 300–600 mg. CoQ10 is a relatively well-tolerated and safe supplement that may benefit a wide variety of people looking for a natural way to boost health.
What are CoQ10 supplements good for? CoQ10 supplements aren't necessary for everyone. “If you have a balanced diet, and if you're young and healthy, you probably have enough CoQ10 in your body,” Peart says.
Other neurological abnormalities that can occur in primary coenzyme Q10 deficiency include seizures, intellectual disability, poor muscle tone (hypotonia), involuntary muscle contractions (dystonia), progressive muscle stiffness (spasticity), abnormal eye movements (nystagmus), vision loss caused by degeneration ( ...
If you eat sources of saturated fat, like beef, switching to foods with omega-3 fatty acids, like fatty fish, can help lower your heart disease risk. CoQ10 may offer benefits if you already struggle with cardiovascular disease risk or you've had a heart attack.
If you have been taking CoQ10 supplements while trying to conceive or through fertility treatments, we recommend stopping as soon as you are pregnant UNTIL you discuss it with your doctor.
Many cardiologists place their patients on CoQ10 to help cardiac function as well as to reduce the bad side effects of statin cholesterol drugs. The supplement also may help decrease the pain of rheumatoid arthritis by decreasing the bad inflammatory chemicals that lead to cartilage breakdown.
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), a nutrient produced by the body and used for cellular energy, is often touted as being vital if you're taking statin drugs to lower cholesterol. Proponents of CoQ10 say it helps reduce muscle pain, which can be a side effect of statin use, and is an important energy source that the body needs.
CoQ10 supplementation is associated with increased energy levels. As with other supplements that boost energy levels, CoQ10 users have reported side effects such as slight stomach upset, headaches, feeling jittery or “wired,” and experiencing mild insomnia.
Recent research links low blood levels of CoQ10 with low levels of heart-protective “good” cholesterol which in turn may further increase risk for heart disease. Cholesterol-lowering statins may also reduce blood levels of CoQ10.
The findings showed that taking CoQ10 by patients with CAD significantly decreased total-cholesterol (SMD -1.07; 95% CI, − 1.94, − 0.21, P = 0.01) and increased HDL-cholesterol levels (SMD 1.30; 95% CI, 0.20, 2.41, P = 0.02).
This review provides moderate‐quality evidence that coenzyme Q10 does not have a clinically significant effect on blood pressure or heart rate.
Coenzyme Q10 has no known severe, serious, or moderate interactions with other drugs.
Drug Interactions and Additive Effects
On the other hand, some studies have shown that CoQ10 has done the complete opposite to Vitamin K Antagonists and actually enhanced the anti-blood-clotting effect, which leads to excessive bleeding.
When it comes to treating arthritis pain and improving joint function omega 3 fatty acids [1], turmeric [2] and resveratrol [3] are typically deemed to be the most effective ingredients for natural rheumatoid arthritis pain. As such we'd typically recommend supplements for arthritis that contain all three.
Consuming healthy fats can increase joint health and lubrication. Foods high in healthy fats include salmon, trout, mackerel, avocados, olive oil, almonds, walnuts, and chia seeds. The omega-3 fatty acids in these foods will assist in joint lubrication.
How much CoQ10 should you take? There is no established ideal dose of CoQ10. Studies have used doses of CoQ10 ranging from 50 milligrams to 1,200 milligrams in adults, sometimes split into several doses over the course of a day. A typical daily dose is 100 milligrams to 200 milligrams.
Fatigue and muscle weakness are signs of a slight CoQ10 deficiency. As mentioned previously, it's unlikely that the general population will experience CoQ10 deficiency; however, in individuals with specific health conditions such as genetic mutations, diabetes, or cancer, there is an increased risk.
CoQ10 positively influences the age-affected cellular metabolism and enables to combat signs of aging starting at the cellular level. As a consequence topical application of CoQ10 is beneficial for human skin as it rapidly improves mitochondrial function in skin in vivo.
Answer: Studies with CoQ10 have not shown serious adverse effects at moderate doses even when taken for several years — although it may be best to divide the dose over the course of the day.
Interactions between your drugs
No interactions were found between CoQ10 and magnesium oxide. However, this does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider.
Research indicates that supplementing with CoQ10 or magnesium may provide palpitation relief in some individuals. One study investigating the effects of CoQ10 on heart failure found that 50 mg/day for 4 weeks led to a reduction in heart palpitations in participants.