Coenzyme Q10

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a compound the body makes itself and uses to produce energy in its cells and as an antioxidant. It is also sold as a dietary supplement, and in cosmetics it is used as an antioxidant.

Type

Chemical compound

Other names

ubiquinone, CoQ10

In the body

A coenzyme helps an enzyme do its work. Cells use CoQ10 to make the energy they need, and it also protects cells from free radicals, reactive molecules that can damage them. It is found in most tissues, with the highest amounts in the heart, liver, kidneys and pancreas and the lowest in the lungs, and the amount falls with age.

As a supplement: what the evidence shows

As a supplement, CoQ10 is taken by mouth as a tablet or capsule. Because people with some diseases have lower levels, CoQ10 supplements have been studied for many conditions.

• Heart failure: moderate-quality evidence suggests CoQ10 probably lowers the risk of death and of hospital stays, but the trials were small and varied, and there is no convincing evidence to support or refute its use.
• Muscle pain from statins: the overall evidence does not show that CoQ10 helps.
• Blood pressure and Parkinson's disease: no meaningful benefit was found.
• Cancer: it has not been shown to help treat cancer.

In skin care

In cosmetics, ubiquinone, another name for CoQ10, is used as an antioxidant. A 2022 safety assessment by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR), a US expert panel, said that cosmetic makers should use ubiquinone ingredients only in ways that do not lighten the skin. Facial vitiligo, a patchy loss of skin colour, has been described as triggered by Q10.

Safety

No serious side effects have been reported; mild ones include sleeplessness and stomach upset.

CoQ10 may interact with the blood thinner warfarin and with insulin, and it may not be compatible with some cancer treatments.

Products containing it

• Eye Contour Cream, Secret Of Serenity (I 406)
• Face Cream For Night Use, Secret Of Serenity (I 401)
• Viva Q10 Forte capsules (D 228)