MEA comment:
Although this supplement is quite often used by people with ME/CFS, there has been no sound evidence from a clinical trial till now to indicate that it could be a safe and effective form of treatment for ME/CFS
General information on co-enzyme Q10:
http://www.medicinenet.com/coenzyme_q10_ubiquinone_ubidecarenone-oral/article.htm
MEA information on co-enzyme Q10 from an MEE Question and Answer below
We also have an MEA information leaflet summarising the evidence for all the 'muscle energy supplements' >>
MEA literature order form:
http://www.meassociation.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/MEA-Order-Form-Feb-2016.pdf
QUESTION: Coenzyme Q10 – does it work?
My nutritionist has advised me to start taking a supplement called coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) which, she says, will boost my energy levels. So what is CoQ10 and is this claim correct? Are there any side-effects? And can I take it with prescription only medicines?
ANSWER
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), which is also known as ubiquinone, is often referred to as a vitamin. However, this isn't strictly true as it is made in the liver from an amino acid called tyrosine. CoQ10 is also present in a wide variety of foods. So deficiency can occur as a result of reduced dietary intake, decreased production, or increased usage - or a combination of all three.
CoQ10 is known as a coenzyme because it helps other enzymes in the body to carry out their normal functions. In relation to muscle fatigue, it is involved in energy producing chemical pathways inside the mitochondria - parts of the cell where energy in the form of a chemical called ATP is produced. It also has antioxidant activity. So there are clearly some theoretical reasons why CoQ10 might be helpful in ME/CFS.
However, despite all the claims being made for CoQ10, there is very little scientific evidence linking deficiency with disease. Neither is there much evidence of benefit in diseases where it is sometimes recommended such as heart failure, mitochondrial muscle diseases, and Parkinson's disease (where decreased levels have been found in the spinal fluid). The same situation applies to ME/CFS.
As far as side effects are concerned, CoQ10 is normally well tolerated with no serious side-effects. But it has not been properly assessed in pregnancy.
One important note of caution relates to its use with statins - prescription only drugs used for lowering blood cholesterol levels. Statins can lower the levels of CoQ10, and it has been suggested that this could make people more liable to develop statin-induced myopathy (muscle damage). This is a well recognised side-effect of statins, and is something that is occasionally reported by people with ME/CFS. So there may be a case for taking CoQ10 if you have ME/CFS and are also taking a statin. It has also been reported that CoQ10 can interfere with anticoagulants (blood thinning drugs such as warfarin) at high doses.
Overall, CoQ10 is a supplement that may be worth a try - bearing in mind that reports of benefit are speculative rather than scientifically proven.
Dr Charles Shepherd
Hon Medical Adviser, MEA