Vitamins

Coenzyme Q10

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Coenzyme Q10, Ubiquinone, Ubiquinol, CoQ, Vitamin Q10, 2,3 Dimethoxy-5-Methyl-6-Decaprenyl Benzoquinone

  • Background
  1. Fat-soluble, Vitamin-like quinone
  2. Endogenous compound used in Energy Metabolism within mitochondria
  3. Highest concentrations in heart, brain, liver, Kidney
  4. Activity
    1. Central to electron transfer in ATP production
    2. Antioxidant scavenger against free radicals
    3. Decreases Calcium overload
    4. Protective against ischemia in CHF
  • Medications
  1. Ubiquinone
  2. Ubiquinol
  • Indications
  • Neurologic
  1. Parkinsonism (360-1200 mg orally daily)
    1. Shults (2002) Arch Neurol 59:1541-50 [PubMed]
  2. Migraine Headaches (150-300 mg orally daily)
    1. Sandor (2005) Neurology 64:713-5 [PubMed]
  • Indications
  • Cardiovascular (50-200 mg/day)
  1. Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) - unclear benefit
  2. Hypertension - insufficient evidence
  3. Coronary Artery Disease - experimental
  4. Statin-Induced Myopathy
    1. Conflicting evidence for benefit
  • Indications
  • Miscellaneous
  1. Diabetes Mellitus (100-200 mg/day) - unclear benefit
  2. Symptomatic deficiency (rare)
    1. Effective
  3. MItochondrial Myopathy (rare, genetic or acquired)
    1. Effective
  • Adverse effects
  1. Gastrointestinal upset (e.g. Diarrhea)
    1. Divide twice daily for doses >100 mg/day to reduce adverse effects
  2. Potential risk of Hypoglycemia, Hypotension
  • Safety
  1. Unknown safety in pregnancy
  2. Unknown safety in Lactation
  • Drug Interactions
  1. Warfarin
    1. Coenzyme Q10 is structurally similar to Vitamin K
    2. Coenzyme Q10 may have procoagulant effects (reducing Warfarin efficacy)
  • References
  1. (2024) Presc Lett 31(1): 6
  2. Bonakdar (2005) Am Fam Physician 72:1065-70 [PubMed]