Foods high in coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10): are you getting enough?

Most people aren’t excited about getting older. They’re not looking forward to their joints hurting or slowing down. They’re really dreading the wrinkles.

But there are aging processes inside our body too that we need to know about. They may not be, well, uplifting, but awareness means you can plan for them—and even anticipate the changes to age as well and healthfully as possible.

One of the things that happens as we age—that we don’t see written on the outside of our bodies—is that we start making less coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10).

CoQ10 is a compound that our bodies produce and then store in our mitochondria. It helps with energy production in our cells and also has antioxidant properties that combat oxidative damage throughout our bodies.

Oxidative damage is caused by free radicals, which are byproducts of chemical processes in our bodies. Free radicals are normal and natural. Unchecked by antioxidants, however, they can cause cellular damage.

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This compound’s ability to lower oxidative stress and prevent oxidative damage means the health benefits of adequate levels of CoQ10 may include helping to protect against several diseases and boosting our heart health.

And there are other benefits of CoQ10. This compound may lower blood pressure (both systolic and diastolic) and reduce migraine headaches, which researchers believe are linked to mitochondrial function (Yorns, 2013).

Most people trying to follow a healthy diet rich in whole foods and low in processed foods are already getting some dietary intake of CoQ10. But if you want to boost your CoQ10 levels (and your cardiovascular health), make sure some of these foods are in your weekly diet.

• Organ meats: kidney, liver

• Fatty fish: sardines, salmon, trout, mackerel

• Meats: chicken, beef, pork

• Vegetables: spinach, broccoli, cauliflower

• Fruits: strawberries, oranges

• Oils: soybean and canola oils

• Legumes: soybeans, lentils, peanuts

• Nuts and seeds: pistachio, sesame seeds

• Whole grains

Organ meats are especially good food sources of coenzyme Q10 with the highest concentrations of this compound. But if you find these difficult to work into your diet, talk to a medical professional about supplements.

Our bodies appear to absorb CoQ10 similarly from food and dietary supplements, so neither has an advantage over the other in terms of bioavailability (Weber, 1997).

CoQ10 supplementation is a viable option for everyone and may be easier for some people trying to get enough of this compound than planning their diets around food sources.

Healthcare providers may also put people on statin drugs on CoQ10 supplements since these cholesterol-lowering medications may deplete levels of this compound in the human body.

CoQ10 supplements are most commonly seen as capsules. If you’re shopping for a supplement, you may also see CoQ10 listed as two different ingredients—ubiquinol and ubiquinone.

It's suggested that you choose ubiquinol since this form is the most readily absorbed. But since CoQ10 is fat-soluble, your body will better be able to use supplements you’re taking if they’re paired with a meal that contains some fat (Langsjoen, 2013).

Standard supplements range from 90–200 mg of CoQ10 per day. In some cases, a medical professional may suggest doses as high as 500 mg, but always follow medical advice when beginning a new supplement regimen.

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How we reviewed this article

Every article on Health Guide goes through rigorous fact-checking by our team of medical reviewers. Our reviewers are trained medical professionals who ensure each article contains the most up-to-date information, and that medical details have been correctly interpreted by the writer.

Current version

December 12, 2021

Written by

Linnea Zielinski

Fact checked by

Mike Bohl, MD, MPH, ALM

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About the medical reviewer

Mike Bohl, MD, MPH, ALM

Dr. Mike is a licensed physician and a former Director, Medical Content & Education at Ro.