Coenzyme Q10, which is frequently called CoQ10, is a nutrient that is found in high concentrations throughout the body. Many biochemical reactions in the body require CoQ10, particularly the reactions involved in producing energy. Deficiencies in CoQ10 have been linked to many health conditions, including fatigue syndromes, and supplementation with CoQ10 may decrease the symptoms associated with those conditions. Like any health supplement, consult your doctor before taking CoQ10.
CoQ10 Deficiency
Patients with a health condition known as myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, or ME/CFS, have significantly lower levels of CoQ10 in their blood, according to one small study of 58 patients reported in 2009 in the medical journal "Neuroendocrinology Letters." Furthermore, the patients with the lowest levels of CoQ10 tended to have most severe symptoms. These results suggest that deficiencies in CoQ10 may play a role in the fatigue symptoms resulting from ME/CFS.
Treatment with CoQ10
The results of the "Neuroendocrinology Letters" paper suggest that patients with ME/CFS might benefit from taking CoQ10 supplements. However, this use has not been tested in clinical trials. Similarly, additional research is need to determine whether treatment with CoQ10 might decrease symptoms of fatigue resulting from other health conditions, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, MedlinePlus reports.
Exercise Fatigue
CoQ10 has also been investigated as a performance enhancing agent for athletes, with mixed results. In one small study, men taking CoQ10 experienced less fatigue than men who did not receive any treatment. However, the benefit was not significantly different than when men received a placebo, according to a study published in the January 2010 issue of the "Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research." More research is required to determine if CoQ10 might have beneficial effects on athletic performance.
Mechanism
CoQ10 plays an important role in a process known as ATP synthesis. ATP is the molecule used as an energy source by all the cells in your body, including muscle cells, explains the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. A deficiency in CoQ10 might decrease the amount of ATP produced by your cells, meaning your muscles have less energy to fuel muscle contraction.
References
- "Neuroendocrinology Letters"; Coenzyme Q10 Deficiency in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is Related to Fatigue, Autonomic and Neurocognitive Symptoms and is Another Risk Factor Explaining the Early Mortality in ME/CFS Due to Cardiovascular Disorder; M. Maes et al.; 2009
- MedlinePlus: Coenzyme Q10; May 2011
- "Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research"; The effects of Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation on Performance During Repeated Bouts of Supramaximal Exercise in Sedentary Men; H. Gokbel et al.; January 2010
- Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University: Coenzyme Q10; Jane Higdon et al.; February 2007
