The market has been flooded with supplements that offer benefits from cancer protection to anti-aging and everything in between.
It can be hard to tell what works and what is nothing more than modern day snake oil.
Coenzyme Q10, known popularly as CoQ10, is one of those popular supplements with one main difference – some recent studies have shown that it has a variety of benefits for everything from migraine headaches to sperm motility.
What is CoQ10 and if you’re considering adding it to your diet, which supplements should you be buying?
We’ve reviewed 5 of the top CoQ10 supplements on the market today and collected a ton of useful information to help make your decision easier.
Stick with us to the end and we’ll let you know who wins the title of best CoQ10 supplement.
Viva Naturals CoQ10
Doctor’s Best High Absorption CoQ10
Qunol Ultra 100 mg CoQ10
BRI Nutrition COQ10 Ubiquinone
Nature Made Coq10 200 Mg
What are the Benefits of CoQ10?
CoQ10 is an enzyme that is produced naturally by your body.
This enzyme is essential for cell growth and cell maintenance.
It has also been found to act as an antioxidant, a substance that helps to protect your cells from damage caused by harmful free radical agents in the body.
Like every supplement, there are dozens of claims as to this product’s effectiveness – it’s supposed to protect against heart failure, cancer, and muscular dystrophy, just to name a few.
While some studies have shown that CoQ10 has some benefits for heart health, it has not been definitively proven as an effective treatment option or treatment supplement. (Reference: http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/heart-failure/tc/coenzyme-q10-topic-overview#1)
One thing CoQ10 has been proven to do is help improve performance and recovery from exercise. A small-group study out of Japan found that participants who were given 300 mg doses of the supplement showed significant improvement in performance and recovery and also experienced less fatigue during and after their workout.
Also another study here: Effects of acute and 14-day coenzyme Q10 supplementation on exercise performance in both trained and untrained individuals
Read Also: What Athletes should know about when switching to a plant based diet
The benefits did not manifest when participants were given a smaller dose of 100mg, and the participants that were given the placebo did not experience any benefits at all.
Since this enzyme is naturally produced by the body, you may experience side effects if you do not have enough CoQ10 in your body.
Deficiency symptoms include cardiovascular problems, stomach ulcers, problems with dental health, and issues with blood sugar regulation.
A CoQ10 deficiency can only be diagnosed by a medical professional. (Resource: https://www.drweil.com/vitamins-supplements-herbs/vitamins/coenzyme-q10-coq10/)
What should you consider when purchasing a CoQ10 supplement?
Not all supplements are created equal. When you’re looking for a CoQ10 supplement, there are a few things you should consider, including:
Dosage per individual pill. We’ll discuss recommended doses more in a moment.
Blend – Does your supplement provide just CoQ10 or it is mixed with other materials? Also, avoid proprietary blends wherever possible. They make it impossible to find out exactly how much of each ingredient is in the supplement.
Source – Where is the CoQ10 harvested from? Does it come from natural and/or sustainable sources?
Most companies that produce supplements are transparent in their labeling – you’ll always know what you’re taking.
Make sure you’re not taking any off-label supplements or supplements shipped in from overseas, as they could be filled with ingredients that aren’t listed on the label.
What is the recommended dosage for CoQ10?
The recommended dosage for CoQ10 will vary depending on your goals.
The standard dosage for this supplement is between 100 and 200 mg daily.
As we’ve mentioned previously, the therapeutic dosage of this supplement for benefits during and after exercise is 300 mg daily.
Standard CoQ10 supplements are potentially safe when taken in doses of up to 3,000mg a day, but there is not enough research for us to recommend doses that high. In most cases, though, you won’t need a dose that high. Other forms of CoQ10 like nanoparticles CoQ10 are only safe in doses up to 300mg a day.
Any dosage higher than the recommended dose should be discussed with your physician or a licensed dietitian.
Are there any side effects from CoQ10 supplements?
The reported side effects from taking a CoQ10 supplement are generally mild, and can include:
Nausea, upset stomach, or vomiting.
Heartburn
Headaches
Individuals who have trouble regulating their blood sugar such as those who are diabetic or hyperglycemic, should not take CoQ10 because it can lower blood sugar levels.
This supplement can potentially also interact with blood thinning medications and/or chemotherapy medications, so you should always consult with your physician before adding CoQ10 to your diet.
(Resource: http://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/coenzyme-q10/safety/hrb-20059019)
When is the best time to take a CoQ10 supplement?
There is no perfect time of the day to take your CoQ10 supplement.
It’s a systemic supplement so you can get the same effect taking it any time during the day.
The one caveat to this is that CoQ10 is best taken and most readily absorbed with food, especially if your meal has a bit of fat in it.
Just take your CoQ10 with your evening meal and you’ll be good to go. (Resource: https://www.drsinatra.com/coq10-facts-what-you-should-know)
Product Reviews
And now for the part you’ve all been waiting for – our reviews of the top 5 CoQ10 supplements on the market today.
Read on to find out what we thought of each supplement and stick around to learn who wins the crown of Best CoQ10 Supplement.
Viva Naturals CoQ10
When it comes to straightforward and transparent supplements, you can’t do much better than Viva Naturals.
Their CoQ10 supplement is made of two ingredients – CoQ10 and a black pepper fruit extract that is designed to help increase the absorption of the enzyme.
This particular version of the supplement is marketed for heart health, skin health, and exercise recovery.
The capsules themselves deliver 100mg of CoQ10, making it easy to take the proper dose for your individual needs.
As with all Viva Naturals products, this supplement is manufactured in the United States, and comes with a 90 day money back guarantee.
Pros
Simple Formula – There are no crazy extras to worry about with this supplement. You just get your CoQ10 and some black pepper extract to help increase absorption.
Easy Dosages – 100mg tablets make it easy to find your ideal dose.
Sourced in the States – The supplement is manufactured here at home, in the United States.
Cons
Additional Ingredients – Supplement contains black pepper fruit extract, which may not work well for all users.
Not Vegan Friendly – The capsules themselves are made of bovine gelatin, making it a poor choice for people who prefer a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle.
Doctor’s Best High Absorption CoQ10
When it comes to Coq10 supplements, not all of them are created equal and it’s easy to see why Doctor’s Best stands above the rest.
This supplement offers two ingredients – CoQ10 and black pepper fruit extract to aid absorption. These 100mg tablets make dosing simple, and the soft gelcaps are easy to swallow.
These supplements are ideal for exercise recovery, heart health, and even as a potential treatment for migraine headaches.
It is also recommended for individuals who may be taking statin medications, because these have been shown to decrease the body’s natural CoQ10 levels, especially as we age.
Pros
Cost Effective – This is one of the most affordable CoQ10 supplements on the market today.
Simple Formula – This supplement only contains CoQ10 and black pepper fruit extract to provide the best results.
Multiple Sizes – If you only need a 1 month’s supply, you have the option of purchasing smaller amounts of this supplement.
Vegan-Friendly Product – This supplement utilizes a cellulose capsule rather than animal gelatin, and contains no animal products.
Cons
Contains Soy Products – According to the product label, this supplement contains soy products.
Qunol Ultra 100 mg CoQ10
This is the first supplement on our list that doesn’t rely on black pepper fruit extract to improve product absorption.
Those that do offered approximately 30% better absorption than just taking CoQ10 by itself.
Qunol Ultra CoQ10 offers 3 times better absorption by switching out the black pepper fruit extract and replacing it with a large dose of Vitamin E.
This is ideal for anyone who prefers to avoid adding additional extracts to their diets, though the capsule itself does list a fair number of other chemicals (like polysorbate 60 and hydroxylated lecithin) as inactive ingredients.
It is a vegan friendly product, free of animal products or byproducts, but it’s not ideal for anyone who is trying to avoid soy products in their diets.
Pros
Vegan-Friendly product – This supplement does not contain any animal products, making it ideal for people following a vegan diet.
Better Absorption – By swapping black pepper fruit extract for vitamin E, this supplement offers better absorption than other similar products on the market today.
Cons
Contains Soy – According to the product label, this supplement contains soy products.
BRI Nutrition CoQ10 Ubiquinone
If you worry about getting your daily doses of Vitamin E or A during the day, worry no longer – not only does this supplement offer a 100 mg dose of CoQ10, it includes both vitamins to aid in absorption.
While not as good as the Qunol Ultra in terms of absorption, this supplement does offer 2.6x better absorption than just taking CoQ10 by itself.
This particular type of supplement is marketed for heart health, energy, and improved CoQ10 levels as our bodies naturally produce less of the enzyme as we age.
While the supplement has been subjected to a random placebo study to assess its effectiveness, there doesn’t appear to be any data comparing it to any other supplements on the market.
Pros
No Extra Ingredients – This supplement relies on vitamins and CoQ10. There are no additional ingredients or extracts.
No Soy – There are no soy products in this supplement, making it ideal for anyone who is trying to keep soy products out of their diet.
Easy Dosing – 100mg tablets make it easy to choose the proper dose for your needs.
Cons
Not Vegan Friendly – The capsules contain animal gelatin, making them unfriendly for a vegan diet.
Nature Made CoQ10 200mg
Nature Made is probably one of the most well known vitamin and supplement companies in the country.
You can find their products just about anywhere, and they’re known for their natural effective products. This is easily one of the simplest supplements on the market – it doesn’t add anything to the CoQ10, simply including 200 mg of the enzyme in each of the gelatin capsules.
Instead of using extra virgin olive oil in their capsules, Nature Made uses soybean oil, and the gelatin in the capsules themselves means that theses are not a vegan friendly product.
This supplement is manufactured in the United States, and is marketed as a useful tool for anyone taking statin drugs who may be experiencing a CoQ10 deficiency.
Pros
No Extra Active Ingredients – This supplement delivers one thing, 200 mg of CoQ10. There are no additional vitamins or extracts to be worried about.
Higher Doses – Most supplements have a suggested dosage of 100mg. This one provides 200mg because it is not paired with any products that improve absorption.
Made in the U.S.A. – This supplement is manufactured in the US.
Cons
Soy products – This capsule contains soybean oil, which is less than idea for anyone trying to keep soy products out of their diet.
Not Vegan Friendly – Vegans should avoid this products due to the animal sourced gelatin in the capsules.
Now we come to the final question – who has earned the title of Best CoQ10 Supplement? After careful review, it’s easy to see who the winner is: the CoQ10 Ubiquinone by BRi Nutrition.
This supplement has it all – vitamins to aid absorption,100mg of CoQ10 to meet all your enzyme needs, and a simple formula that doesn’t leave anything to the imagination.
The only thing that even counts as a strike against this product is that they use gelatin capsules, which is only a bad thing if you’re vegan.
While these supplements may not be recommended for pregnant or nursing women, almost everyone can benefit from the extra energy, cardiovascular protection, and exercise recovery that these supplements offer.
BRI Nutrition COQ10 supplement is easily the best of the lot, which is why it takes the crown as Best CoQ10 Supplement.
