Coenzyme Q10

Coenzyme Q-10 (CoQ-10) is a vitamin-like substance found throughout the body, but especially in the heart, liver, kidney, and pancreas. It is eaten in small amounts in meats and seafood. Coenzyme Q-10 can also be made in a laboratory. It is used as medicine.

Many people use coenzyme Q-10 for treating heart and blood vessel conditions such as congestive heart failure (CHF), chest pain (angina), high blood pressure, and heart problems linked to certain cancer drugs. It is also used for diabetes, gum disease (both taken by mouth and applied directly to the gums), breast cancer, Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, muscular dystrophy, increasing exercise tolerance, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and Lyme disease. Some people think coenzyme Q-10 will treat hair loss related to taking warfarin (Coumadin), a medication used to slow blood clotting.

Some people also think coenzyme Q-10 might help increase energy. This is because coenzyme Q-10 has a role in producing ATP, a molecule in body cells that functions like a rechargeable battery in the transfer of energy. Coenzyme Q-10 been tried for treating inherited or acquired disorders that limit energy production in the cells of the body (mitochondrial disorders), and for improving exercise performance.

Some people have also used coenzyme Q-10 for strengthening the immune systems of people with HIV/AIDS, male infertility, migraine headache, and counteracting muscle pain sometimes caused by a group of cholesterol-lowering medications called “statins.”

Coenzyme Q-10 has even been tried for increasing life span. This idea got started because coenzyme Q-10 levels are highest in the first 20 years of life. By age 80, coenzyme-Q10 levels can be lower than they were at birth. Some people thought that restoring high levels of coenzyme-Q10 late in life might cause people to live longer. The idea works in bacteria, but not in lab rats. More research is needed to see if this works in people.

It's not only time that uses up the body's store of coenzyme Q-10. Smoking does, too.

Coenzyme Q-10 was first identified in 1957. The “Q-10” refers to the chemical make-up of the substance. These days coenzyme Q-10 is used by millions of people in Japan for heart disease, especially congestive heart failure. Coenzyme Q-10 is also used extensively in Europe and Russia. Most of the coenzyme Q-10 used in the US and Canada is supplied by Japanese companies. Coenzyme Q-10 is manufactured by fermenting beets and sugar cane with special strains of yeast.

How does it work?

Coenzyme Q-10 is an important vitamin-like substance required for the proper function of many organs and chemical reactions in the body. It helps provide energy to cells. Coenzyme Q-10 also seems to have antioxidant activity. People with certain diseases, such as congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, periodontal disease, Parkinson's disease, certain muscular diseases, and AIDS, might have lower levels of coenzyme Q-10.

Coenzyme Q-10 deficiency.
Inherited or acquired disorders that limit energy production in the cells of the body (mitochondrial disorders).
Age-related vision loss (age-related macular degeneration).
Congestive heart failure (CHF).
Nerve damage caused by diabetes (diabetic neuropathy).
An inherited neurological disorder called Huntington's disease.
High blood pressure.
HIV / AIDS.
Blood vessel complications caused by heart bypass surgery.
A specific type of high blood pressure.
Migraine headache.
An inherited muscle disorder called muscular dystrophy.
Heart attack.
Parkinson's disease.
Peyronie's disease (painful erection in men).
Chest pain (angina).
Asthma.
Breast cancer.
Heart toxicity caused by chemotherapy drugs.
Lung disease called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Cyclic vomiting syndrome.
Diabetes.
Weakened and enlarged heart (dilated cardiomyopathy).
Dry mouth.
Eye surgery.
Fibromyalgia.
Uncoordinated movement due to brain damage (cerebellar ataxia).
Rare inherited disease that causes nerve damage (Friedreich's ataxia).
Hearing loss.
Hepatitis C.
A heart condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Rare genetic disorder called Prader-Willi syndrome.
Male infertility.
Inherited diabetes and deafness.
Gum disease.
High blood pressure during pregnancy (pre-eclampsia).
Kidney failure.
A muscle condition called “statin-induced myopathy.”
Hair loss related to use of the warfarin.
Wrinkled skin.
Fatigue.
Lyme disease.

By Mouth:

For known coenzyme Q-10 deficiency: 150 mg daily.
For mitochondrial disorders (mitochondrial encephalomyopathies): 150-160 mg, or 2 mg/kg/day. In some cases, doses may be gradually increased to 3000 mg per day.

For heart failure in adults: 100 mg per day divided into 2 or 3 doses.

For reducing the risk of future cardiac events in patients with recent myocardial infarction: 120 mg daily in 2 divided doses.

For high blood pressure: 120-200 mg per day divided into 2 doses.

For isolated systolic hypertension: 60 mg twice daily.

For preventing migraine headache: 100 mg three times daily. A dose of 1-3 mg/kg has also been used in pediatric and adolescent patients.

For Parkinson's disease: 300 mg, 600 mg, 1200 mg, and 2400 mg per day in 3-4 divided doses.

For HIV/AIDS: 200 mg per day.

For infertility in men: 200-300 mg per day.

For muscular dystrophy: 100 mg per day.

For pre-eclampsia: 100 mg twice daily starting at week 20 of pregnancy until delivery.

Coenzyme Q-10 is SAFE for most adults when taken by mouth or when applied directly to the gums. While most people tolerate coenzyme Q-10 well, it can cause some mild side effects including stomach upset, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. It can cause allergic skin rashes in some people. It also might lower blood pressure, so check your blood pressure carefully if you have very low blood pressure.

Dividing the total daily dose by taking smaller amounts two or three times a day instead of a large amount all at once can help reduce the possibility of side effects.

Coenzyme Q-10 is SAFE for children when taken by mouth. However, coenzyme Q-10 should not be used in children without medical supervision.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Coenzyme Q-10 is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth appropriately during pregnancy. Coenzyme Q-10 has been used safely twice daily starting at 20 weeks until delivery. Not enough is known about the use of coenzyme Q-10 during breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Chemotherapy: There is some concern that coenzyme Q-10 might lower the effectiveness of some chemotherapy drugs. People undergoing chemotherapy with certain drugs should use coenzyme Q-10 with caution.

High blood pressure or low blood pressure: Coenzyme Q-10 might lower blood pressure. It can increase the effects of medications used to lower blood pressure. Discuss your use of coenzyme Q-10 with your healthcare provider if you have blood pressure problems.

Smoking: Cigarette smoking depletes the amount of coenzyme Q-10 stored by the body.

Surgery: Coenzyme Q-10 might interfere with blood pressure control during and after surgery. Stop using coenzyme Q-10 at least two weeks before a scheduled surgery.