Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) FAQs
What is coQ10 and what is it good for?
CoQ10, or coenzyme Q10, is a vitamin-like compound also known as ubiquinone. CoQ10 plays an important role in the body’s energy production and is an essential component of the mitochondria, the microscopic organelles found in most of our cells that are vital for cellular respiration and energy production.*
It’s not an understatement to say that CoQ10 is absolutely essential for life. It helps to metabolize fats and carbohydrates, and maintains cell membrane stability.* It’s also involved in the production of several key enzymes that are used to create adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, a key energy storage molecule.*
CoQ10 is also an effective free radical scavenger that may beneficially affect the aging process.* As we age, our body’s production of CoQ10 declines gradually. Because it’s so important to energy production, and therefore life, researchers believe that this decline may be a factor in the effects of aging on the human body.*
The highest levels of CoQ10 are found in tissues in the body that work the hardest, such as the heart and liver.* Studies have shown that supplementation increases CoQ10 levels and can help to maintain healthy heart function.* CoQ10 is not only an effective free radical scavenger, but supports cardiovascular health as well.*
How and when should I take CoQ10?
As always, follow the suggested usage on the product label. CoQ10 works better if taken with fats and/or oils. Many CoQ10 supplements contain oils in the base and are sold as liquid-filled softgel capsules, but all forms of CoQ10 will work better if taken with a meal containing fats, or with other healthy supplements providing fat such as fish oil, flax seeds or oil, coconut oil, etc.
What about the quality of NOW’s CoQ10?
NOW sells only natural, all-trans form CoQ10 that is produced using leading Japanese natural fermentation technology. This form is considered to be the best and most natural form available; cheap synthetic forms, on the other hand, tend to have significant impurities.
Differences in absorption or utilization of CoQ10 products are mostly associated with oils and other compounds added to CoQ10 within a softgel capsule, such as the more soluble ubiquinol products that have a special delivery system to enhance absorption.
These differences are still less important than if the supplement is taken at the same time as other oils or oil-based supplements in the diet, rather than between meals. This makes it possible to take CoQ10 in a vegetarian form, or even as a powder, and still enjoy the benefits of this important nutrient.
