Coenzyme Q-10

• What other names is Coenzyme Q-10 known by?
• What is Coenzyme Q-10?
• How does Coenzyme Q-10 work?
• Are there safety concerns?
• Are there any interactions with medications?
• Dosing considerations for Coenzyme Q-10

What other names is Coenzyme Q-10 known by?

Coenzyme Q10, CoQ, CoQ10, CoQ-10, Mitoquinone, Ubidecarenone, Ubiquinol, Ubiquinone, Q10.

What is Coenzyme Q-10?

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.

Likely Effective for...

• Coenzyme Q-10 deficiency (very rare).
• Mitochondrial disorders, inherited or acquired disorders that limit energy production in the cells of the body.

Possibly Effective for...

• Congestive heart failure (CHF), in combination with other medications.
• Decreasing the risk of additional heart problems in people who have had a recent heart attack (myocardial infarction).
• Huntington's disease.
• Preventing blood vessel complications caused by heart bypass surgery.
• High blood pressure (hypertension) in combination with other medications.
• Preventing migraine headache.
• Parkinson's disease. Some research shows that taking coenzyme Q-10 supplements might slow functional decline in people with early Parkinson's disease. But taking a coenzyme Q-10 supplement in people with mid-stage Parkinson's disease does not seem to improve symptoms.
• Improving the immune system of people with HIV/AIDS.
• Muscular dystrophy, an inherited disorder involving muscle wasting.

Likely Ineffective for...

• Improving exercise performance.
• Dental (periodontal) disease, when applied directly to the teeth and gums.

Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...

• Improving blood sugar control in people with diabetes, breast cancer, fatigue, Lyme disease, male infertility, chest pain (angina), a muscle condition called "statin-induced myopathy," cardiomyopathy in children and adults, and other conditions.

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).

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