COQ10 & Bipolar

Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness that can wreak havoc on your life as well as the lives of your loved ones. While a number of treatments can offer relief from symptoms, there's no known cure for bipolar disorder. Dietary supplementation with coenzyme Q10, or CoQ10, may also offer benefits, although research confirming these benefits is limited. Consult your doctor before using dietary supplements.

About CoQ10

CoQ10 is a vitamin-like substance that occurs naturally in mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cell that produces ATP, or adenosine triphosphate. ATP is the currency your body uses as energy. Low levels of CoQ10 can adversely affect your energy levels and make you more susceptible to fatigue, mood disturbances and gum disease. The University of Maryland Medical Center points out that CoQ10 can be obtained naturally from dietary sources such as oily fish like salmon, organ meats like liver and whole grains or through nutritional supplementation. While specific research on CoQ10's benefits for bipolar disorder are still underway, some evidence has shown that CoQ10 may help with depression, one of the major symptoms of bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression.

Bipolar Disorder Facts

Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that is sometimes referred to as manic depression or manic depressive disorder. The main features of bipolar disorder are mood swings alternating from depression, causing extreme sadness and lowered mood, to mania, manifesting as an extremely elevated mood, often accompanied by feelings of invincibility and impulsiveness. There is no known cure for bipolar disorder. However, symptoms can often be dramatically improved with treatments such as medication, psychotherapy and lifestyle changes. Additionally, certain dietary supplements, like CoQ10, may offer some benefits, especially for improving symptoms of depression.

Clinical Evidence

While there's not much specific evidence about CoQ10's benefits for bipolar disorder, a limited amount of research indicates that it may help depression. A study published in 2009 in the journal "Neuroendocrinology Letters" found that people who suffer from depression often have lowered plasma levels of CoQ10 and indicate that this appears to play a role in the psychopathology of depression. The authors of this study suggest that CoQ10 supplementation may help improve symptoms of depression. However, no studies have yet shown any benefit of CoQ10 for symptoms of mania or related symptoms of bipolar disorder.

Considerations

The University of Maryland Medical Center points out that certain tricyclic antidepressants that are often used to treat bipolar disorder can cause lowered levels of CoQ10. If you are thinking about taking CoQ10, inform your doctor, especially if you take any medication. Do not attempt to use dietary supplements as a replacement for conventional medical advice or to self-treat your symptoms. If you think you might be bipolar, consult your doctor. Bipolar disorder can become worse if left untreated.