From the Guidelines
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) plays a crucial role in muscle health by facilitating cellular energy production and providing antioxidant protection, as evidenced by its fundamental role in mitochondrial bioenergetics and its function as a lipid-soluble antioxidant 1. CoQ10 is essential for the health of tissues with high energy requirements, such as skeletal muscles, where it helps convert food into ATP, the energy currency cells need for contraction and other activities.
- Its role in electron transport and proton carrier facilitates cellular energy production, making it crucial for muscle function and exercise performance.
- As an antioxidant, CoQ10 protects muscle cells from oxidative damage caused by free radicals produced during exercise and metabolism, which helps reduce muscle inflammation and soreness while supporting faster recovery. Key aspects of CoQ10's benefits for muscle health include:
- Enhancing energy production in muscles with high energy demands
- Providing antioxidant protection to reduce muscle damage and inflammation
- Potentially improving exercise performance and reducing fatigue
- Supporting muscle health in older adults or those with depleted CoQ10 levels due to medication use, such as statins. Given its importance in muscle health and the potential for declining levels with age or due to certain medications, supplementing with CoQ10 (typically 100-200 mg daily) may be beneficial for individuals experiencing muscle fatigue or weakness, or those at risk of CoQ10 depletion 1.
From the Research
CoQ10 and Muscle Health
- Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) has been studied for its potential to help with muscle health, particularly in relation to statin-induced myopathy [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ].
Mechanism of Action
- The exact mechanism by which CoQ10 helps with muscle health is not fully understood, but it is thought to be related to its role in mitochondrial energy production [ 2 , 3 ].
- Statins, which are commonly used to lower cholesterol, can reduce CoQ10 levels in the body, leading to muscle pain and weakness [ 5 ].
Studies on CoQ10 and Muscle Health
- A 2018 meta-analysis found that CoQ10 supplementation ameliorated statin-associated muscle symptoms, such as muscle pain and weakness [ 2 ].
- A 2015 study found that CoQ10 supplementation reduced muscle damage and improved muscle function in rats with statin-induced myopathy [ 3 ].
- However, a 2022 meta-analysis found that CoQ10 supplementation did not have a significant benefit in improving statin-induced myopathy [ 4 ].
- A 2007 study found that CoQ10 supplementation reduced muscle pain and improved quality of life in patients with statin-induced myopathy [ 6 ].