CoQ10

CoQ10, also called ubiquinone, is a substance that is naturally produced by the body. It is most prevalent in the liver, kidney, heart, and pancreas but it can be produced by all cells and does not need to travel through the bloodstream. CoQ10 functions as an important part of cellular energy production and is necessary for the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the main energy molecule in cells. CoQ10 also has important antioxidant activity and may have a role in preventing damage to cells when oxygen levels are too low (1).

CoQ10 is sold as a supplement and has a number of purported health benefits. While many studies have been done on CoQ10, most of them have shown that supplementation likely does not have a significant effect. In other cases, there isn’t enough evidence to draw a definite conclusion. A few conditions for which CoQ10 has been studied include male infertility, migraines, and blood pressure (4). One study did find that supplementation with CoQ10 can improve muscle pain associated with taking statin medications (5) but other studies have had varied results, so there is not enough information to recommend CoQ10’s use for this purpose.

CoQ10 may have the following health benefits, which is why it was chosen to be an ingredient in the Roman Dailies:

Heart Health

A review of studies pointed out that CoQ10 may have a number of beneficial effects regarding heart health. CoQ10 has been shown to decrease the oxidation of cholesterol. CoQ10 also improves the function of the lining of the blood vessels, which is important for maintaining healthy blood pressure and cardiovascular health. And due to its antioxidant properties, CoQ10 lowers the levels of a certain inflammatory chemical called interleukin 6 (2).

Another study investigated the effects of CoQ10 supplementation in patients with chronic heart failure. The patients were given 100 mg three times per day for two years in addition to their usual treatment. Only 15% of the patients stayed in the study until the two-year time point. The study found that the patients who received supplementation had improved symptoms and a reduced number of major cardiovascular events (3).

Nutritional supplements, like CoQ10, are not reviewed by the FDA for safety and effectiveness. There is no established ideal dosage of CoQ10 and studies have tested a wide range of dosages. Standard dosages that are available for purchase range from 100–200 mg per day.

CoQ10 is commonly sold as a supplement in capsule or tablet form.

Ro obtains CoQ10 from a non-GMO source in China that makes it synthetically.

Ro offers CoQ10 in the following supplements:

Heart Health

CoQ10 is one of seven main ingredients in Ro’s Heart Health supplement. The supplement consists of four tablets and two fish oil softgels that should be taken with water. Each individual tablet contains 50 mg of CoQ10, for a total daily dose of 200 mg.

Other ingredients in the tablets include spirulina whole plant powder, deodorized garlic bulb powder, magnesium citrate, menaquinone-7, cholecalciferol, microcrystalline cellulose, dicalcium phosphate, stearic acid, croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate, silicon dioxide, and pharmaceutical glaze (shellac, povidone). Ingredients in the fish oil soft gels include marine lipid concentrate, gelatin, glycerin, purified water, and mixed tocopherols. The softgels contain fish and should not be consumed by anybody with a fish allergy.