Should I take coenzyme Q10?

Paul Saladino suggested that some studies on CoQ10 and statins may be flawed due to low doses, unmeasured CoQ10 levels, and short duration. He also noted that consuming a kilogram of soybean oil for CoQ10 is impractical and potentially harmful due to high linoleic acid content. Peter Attia does not object to patients taking Coenzyme Q10 or Vitamin D for statin-associated muscle symptoms if it improves adherence, but also stated that most antioxidants, including CoQ10, offer minimal benefit and minimal harm. Rhonda Patrick indicated that ubiquinol supplementation has not been shown in clinical trials to reduce statin-induced muscle soreness, though some patients report feeling better. Paul Saladino mentioned that vegan CoQ10 may not be comparable in form or bioavailability to animal-derived CoQ10. Peter Attia and Andrew Huberman both noted that Coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinol) is an antioxidant with poor bioavailability in most available preparations. Rhonda Patrick stated it is not clear if ubiquinol offsets mitochondrial dysfunction in patients taking statins. Andrew Huberman noted CoQ10 is generally stopped during pregnancy due to a lack of data.

New clinical trials demonstrating clear efficacy or lack thereof for specific conditions, or improved bioavailability formulations, would change the verdict. Further research clarifying the impact of CoQ10 on statin-induced muscle soreness and mitochondrial dysfunction would also be impactful.