In the last few years, coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) has become a popular nutrient for couples struggling with fertility. If you are working with a fertility specialist, you may be aware of the potential benefits CoQ10 has on fertility.
Much of the research looking at CoQ10 and fertility is relatively new, and therefore there are many myths about this powerful nutrient. In this article, we hope to dispel many of the myths surrounding CoQ10 and fertility.
Myth 1: There is no link between CoQ10 and fertility.
Fact: CoQ10 and fertility go hand-in-hand.
Ovulation is an energy-intense process. A woman’s eggs (oocytes) are cells, and the mitochondria are responsible for energy production within the cell. The human egg contains more mitochondria than any other cell.
CoQ10 plays a crucial role in energy production inside the mitochondria. As men and women people age, production of CoQ10 decreases. CoQ10 levels are highest during the first 20 years of life, after which they begin to decline.
For this reason, an older women’s eggs become less efficient at producing energy with age.
Studies indicate that CoQ10 may help support fertility and a healthy pregnancy. CoQ10 promotes egg quality in older women.
Myth 2: CoQ10 only helps female fertility.
Fact: There’s a connection between CoQ10 and male fertility, too.
Several factors contribute to male fertility. Perhaps one of the most damaging can be the presence of free radicals.
It takes approximately three months for fully mature sperm to form. During that time, free radicals can cause damage to the sperm by attacking and destroying the membrane that surrounds sperm cells. They can also severely damage DNA, causing errors in the genetic information carried by the sperm.
CoQ10 is a powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants like CoQ10 work by protecting cells from damaging oxidative reactions caused by free radicals. Studies have shown that CoQ10 may support healthy sperm motility (the ability for sperm to swim), sperm density, and morphology.
Myth 3. CoQ10 is only good for heart health.
Fact: CoQ10 works for all cells in your body.
The benefits of CoQ10 for supporting heart health are well-documented. However, if you know how CoQ10 works in general, you can see that it may be beneficial for almost every cell in your body.
Cells are the building blocks of life, and CoQ10 plays a significant role in cell function. When we eat food, those nutrients must be converted into a form of energy that cells can use. This conversion process is called cellular respiration. A majority of cellular respiration happens within the mitochondria, an organelle often called the “powerhouse” of the cell.
Cellular respiration involves several different complex processes to extract energy from nutrients. One of these processes is called the electron transport chain (ETC). The ETC relies heavily on CoQ10 to help carry electrons through its different stages. If CoQ10 levels are low, cells produce energy less efficiently.
In addition to helping in the ETC, CoQ10 is a powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants are substances that protect cells from damaging reactions. Highly reactive molecules, or free radicals, can cause lots of damage to the cell.
As an antioxidant, CoQ10 can help neutralize free radicals and support the health of all cells in your body.
Myth 4: The best form of CoQ10 for fertility is ubiquinol.
Fact: It’s not the form of CoQ10 that matters, it’s the way it’s prepared.
Because there is a lot of conflicting information available, many people want to know which is the preferred form of CoQ10 for fertility – ubiquinone or ubiquinol?
Ubiquinone is the oxidized form of Coenzyme Q10, while ubiquinol is the reduced form. Both forms exist within our bodies, and we can convert between the two depending on our body’s needs.
CoQ10 supplements are available in many forms, including softgels, capsules, tablets, and oral sprays. However, most CoQ10 supplements (standard ubiquinone or ubiquinol) are not very well absorbed in the body, even when taken with food.
Enhanced Absorption Technology
Fortunately, there are some CoQ10 supplements available that use an enhanced absorption delivery system. This type of formulation improves the bioavailability of CoQ10 by up to 600%.
In a 2009 study conducted by Liu, et al., participants received a single dose of 125 mg of ubiquinone formulated with VESIsorb® (an enhanced absorption delivery system). These participants demonstrated CoQ10 blood levels that were 3-6 times higher than those taking the same dose of other oil-based ubiquinone products.
Those taking ubiquinone with VESIsorb achieved peak CoQ10 blood levels of 7.0 mcg/mL. Participants taking other oil-based/solubilized products only reached peak blood levels of roughly 2 – 3.5 mcg/mL.
Ubiquinol Research
In a 2014 study, standard oil-based ubiquinol was compared to standard oil-based ubiqinone. Participants who took the standard ubiquinol had an average total CoQ10 blood level of 4.3 mcg/mL after four weeks of 200 mg per day, compared to 2.5 mcg/mL in the oil-based ubiquinone group.
So, the absorption and bioavailability of oil-based ubiquinol is higher than that of oil-based ubiquinone.
Proponents of ubiquinol often cite this 2002 study comparing standard ubiquinol softgels to other standard ubiquinone preparations. This study showed lower peak CoQ10 blood levels for both forms (1.8 mcg/mL for ubiquinol versus 1.5 mcg/mL for ubiquinone).
Key Takeaway
The controversy between the two forms exists because there are no “apples to apples” comparisons. There have been no studies looking at enhanced absorption ubiquinone to either standard or enhanced absorption ubiquinol.
The key takeaway here is that the highest peak blood levels of CoQ10 have been seen in those taking enhanced absorption ubiquinone (7.0 mcg/mL). Ubiquinone with VESIsorb has been shown to be more bioavailable than standard, oil-based ubiquinol (4.3 mcg/mL) or ubiquinone (2.5 mcg/mL).
Myth 5: The CoQ10 fertility dosage is 600 mg for women.
Fact: Dosing varies depending on the type of CoQ10 you take and what you’re taking it for.
There is little human research looking at CoQ10 for egg quality. Therefore, the medical community has yet to reach a consensus about the recommended dosage for women. However, one study used a dose of 600 mg, taken once a day for two months. Therefore, most fertility specialists will recommend this dose for their female patients.
However, this study used standard oil-based ubiquinone. Remember the pesky problem of CoQ10 being hard to absorb? That comes into play when calculating the amount you should take to support healthy egg quality in women.
If you are taking a product formulated with enhanced absorption technology you can take a lower dose since it results in a 3-6 times higher “absorbed dose.”
Dr. Richard Sherbahn of the Advanced Fertility Center of Chicago writes that the recommended dose of CoQ10 varies between 50 mg and 600 mg a day, divided into multiple doses. He further explains that CoQ10 is most often recommended at doses of 100 to 300 mg a day and that up to 1,200 mg a day is considered safe.
Myth 6: CoQ10 is a vitamin.
Fact: CoQ10 is “vitamin-like.”
CoQ10 is a member of the ubiquinone family of compounds. It is a fat-soluble, vitamin-like compound that is naturally produced by the human body.
It is referred to as a “vitamin-like” compound because the body can make it on its own. Vitamins, by definition, cannot be made by the body. They must be obtained through diet or nutritional supplements.
The name ubiquinone refers to the fact that ubiquinones, including CoQ10, have a “ubiquitous” presence in living organisms. In other words, virtually all cells in the human body contain CoQ10. Because it is so abundant in the body, CoQ10 is an essential compound for cell function.
Coenzyme Q10 concentrations are highest in organs with high rates of metabolism, such as the heart, kidneys, and liver.
Myth 7: You can get all the CoQ10 you need through your diet.
Fact: You could, but you’d have to eat a lot of organ meat.
While our bodies naturally make CoQ10, you can also get it by eating certain foods. Food sources of coenzyme Q10 include fatty fish, organ meats such as liver, and whole grains.
Because CoQ10 concentrations are highest in the heart, kidneys, and liver, the best dietary sources of CoQ10 are organ meats. For example, pork heart contains approximately 127 micrograms of CoQ10 per gram of meat. Coming in second, beef heart contains about 113 micrograms of CoQ10 per gram of meat.
To compare that to other dietary sources of CoQ10, canned tuna contains only 16 micrograms of CoQ10 per gram of tuna. Wheat germ has a mere six micrograms of CoQ10 per gram of wheat germ. Be aware, cooking coenzyme Q10 containing foods reduces the amount of CoQ10 by 14-32%.
Myth 8: I should continue taking CoQ10 throughout my pregnancy.
Fact: For most women, CoQ10 will not have additional benefits during pregnancy.
As explained earlier in this article, CoQ10 may support healthy egg quality and fertility. Although there is no reason to think that CoQ10 is unsafe during pregnancy, most women do not need to continue it once pregnant.
While research is still emerging, the association between CoQ10 and fertility is becoming more apparent. Please discuss CoQ10 and fertility with your healthcare provider to see if it may benefit you or your partner.
For more information, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @Theralogix!
Don’t miss an article! Sign up for our newsletter below and we’ll let you know when our next article comes out.