You’ve probably heard of CoQ10 before; it is a common ingredient found in many anti-ageing skincare products. Also known by its official name, coenzyme Q10, it’s one of the most powerful antioxidants currently available. But what exactly is this ingredient that promises to slow down the hands of the clock? And, how can it benefit us?
To find out more about CoQ10, we asked an expert: pharmacist Shabir Daya, the creator and formulator behind the supplement brand DoSe and co-founder of wellness and beauty retailer, Victoria Health.
What is CoQ10?
CoenzymeQ10 (CoQ10) is an antioxidant compound found naturally in every cell of our body. “It is one of the compounds responsible for producing the energy needed for growth and maintenance of the body,” says Daya.
What is CoQ10 used for?
CoQ10 helps our cells respond. “It is used in our bodies, along with magnesium, for the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a molecule that provides our cells with the energy they need for chemical reactions, repair, growth and other processes,” explains Daya. It is also a powerful antioxidant as it protects cells from free radicals generated by these processes, which can damage our genes.
What are the benefits of CoQ10?
The highest concentrations of natural CoQ10 are found in the heart, liver, kidneys and pancreas — these glands have high metabolic and energy requirements, and therefore require higher amounts of CoQ10. CoenzymeQ10 also promotes proper muscle function, perhaps due to its mild blood-thinning properties that help to improve circulation and oxygenation of all the tissues in the body. Finally, CoQ10 is necessary for the body’s largest organ, the skin. As Daya points out, “It helps maintain healthy cell growth in the skin, may protect it from free radicals and also helps protect it from photoaging caused by UV rays.”
What does CoQ10 do?
- Protects cells throughout the body from oxidative stress
- Protects skin from photo-ageing and premature ageing, stimulates collagen production, and prevents wrinkles
- It could help ease migraines
- It could prevent heart disease by boosting the production of energy needed for cardiac activities
- It may protect against neurodegenerative diseases, due to its free-radical protective action on the nervous system and brain
- May be helpful to athletes as it helps fight fatigue and reduces muscle aches and pains
- May relieve gum disease
- May help fertility
- May help prevent certain types of cancer
Things you need to know about CoQ10 before taking
- At high dosages (more than 100 mg per day), it may cause nausea and diarrhoea
- Not recommended during pregnancy and lactation
- May interfere with some medications
Should I take a CoenzymeQ10 supplement?
Our bodies naturally produce CoQ10, but our ability to produce this nutrient, as with many other compounds, declines with age. And, although CoQ10 is naturally available in small amounts in foods like meat and fish, the amount in our body decreases dramatically with age, so much so that by the time you reach the age of 40, your body has, on average, half the levels it had when you were young.
Taking a CoQ10 supplement could be useful as we age — especially if we are prone to certain health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, certain cancers, and neurodegenerative diseases. “While it has no direct effect on cholesterol, I recommend ubiquinol supplementation for those taking statins, which deplete CoQ10 levels and often cause muscle pain,” explains Daya. “I also recommend it for anyone over 40, those with low energy levels, and anyone who wants to maintain healthy skin and protect it from premature ageing, as CoQ10 protects against oxidative damage.”
