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How Much CoQ10 Should One Take?

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a vitamin-like substance that is fat-soluble and present in all cells in the body. It works in tandem with multiple key enzyme-related steps when energy is produced. CoQ10 has been praised as an important supplement to heart and overall health, but any supplementation should be approved by a doctor.

  1. Studied Effects of CoQ10

    • The most important use for CoQ10 supplementation may be in patients who are deficient in natural levels of the coenzyme. When a person has a metabolic disorder, a mitochondrial problem, not enough CoQ10 taken in, and over use of CoQ10 by the body, there may be a need to add more CoQ10 in supplement form. Hypertension has been shown in preliminary studies to lead to a small decrease in blood pressure. A study of 641 people with congestive heart failure showed that CoQ10 greatly reduced the severity of heart symptoms and led to fewer hospitalizations. CoQ10 has been tested on people with Parkinson's disease, and it showed a significant improvement in symptoms and visual function in one study, and a reduction in disability in comparison to the placebo.

      A typical dose of CoQ10 is 30 to 90mg per day in divided doses, but different conditions can lead to a vastly different recommendation of these doses. While most trials use 100 to 200mg, the Parkinson's disease trial found that a dose of 1200mg was most successful when compared to 300 and 600mg groups. If you are healthy and not experiencing symptoms, but are committed to using CoQ10, a dose in the 30 to 90mg region is probably best for you.

    Hypothetical Effects of CoQ10

    • There are many theoretical uses for CoQ10 that have not yet had adequate studies to support their potential results. The coenzyme may have an effect on both age-related macular degeneration and slowing the dementia in Alzheimer's disease. CoQ10 has been linked to improving chronic fatigue syndrome and exercise performance. Cancer and HIV have also been tested with CoQ10, but with not enough support for indication of a positive effect.

    CoQ10 Drug Interactions

    • Since CoQ10 is naturally produced in the body, your levels may be effected by the medications that you take. As a result, be careful about your CoQ10 supplementation when you are on any of the following medications: ACE inhibitors, beta blockers, diuretics, calcium channel blockers, anticoagulants, dopamine enhancing drugs and cholesterol reducing drugs.

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