Coenzyme Q10 (Ubiquinone/Ubiquinol)
Lipid-soluble electron carrier in the mitochondrial electron transport chain, shuttling electrons between Complex I/II and Complex III. Essential for oxidative phosphorylation and ATP synthesis. Also functions as a potent lipid-phase antioxidant, protecting mitochondrial membranes from peroxidation. Ubiquinol (reduced form) has superior bioavailability compared to ubiquinone.
Three tiers ordered by aggressiveness. Tier chips on every OPTIMIZE intervention let you filter the catalog by your evidence tolerance.
- hs-crp
- lipid-panel
- warfarin-use
- PMID:25282031Coenzyme Q10 supplementation in aging and disease — Front Biosci, 2014
- PMID:24986061The effect of coenzyme Q10 on morbidity and mortality in chronic heart failure (Q-SYMBIO) — JACC Heart Fail, 2014
- PMID:29067832Coenzyme Q10 and statin-induced myopathy — Ochsner J, 2017
CoQ10 is one of two supplements that belongs in every protocol stack regardless of goals. The other is vitamin D. The electron transport chain cannot function without it. Endogenous production declines with age. Statin drugs actively deplete it by inhibiting the mevalonate pathway, which is shared between cholesterol and CoQ10 synthesis. Anyone on a statin who is not supplementing CoQ10 is accepting unnecessary mitochondrial compromise. Take it with fat. The bioavailability is abysmal without it.
This is not medical advice
Discuss with a licensed clinician before starting, stopping, or changing any compound. This page documents what the research literature describes — it is not a prescription.
See Coenzyme Q10 (Ubiquinone/Ubiquinol) in a protocol matched to you