CoQ10 and Cholesterol: What the Research Says

High cholesterol affects millions of people worldwide. Many turn to prescription medications, but these often come with unwanted side effects. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a naturally produced compound in the human body that research suggests has a valuable role in managing the oxidative stress load that can come with raised cholesterol, even with some success in normalising elevated lipid profiles, specifically in lowering "Low Density Lipoprotein" (LDL) cholesterol.

Your body makes CoQ10 naturally, but production decreases with age and certain health conditions. When cholesterol levels are high, your body often has lower CoQ10 levels too. This creates a problem because if unmanaged, cholesterol can act as a carrier transporting oxidative particles throughout the body. We need CoQ10 as it plays two important roles in keeping your heart healthy — antioxidant protection and energy production. Without adequate function of both, LDL cholesterol levels will further rise, resulting in an unhealthy positive feedback loop.

Quick Facts

• Main benefit: May help support healthy antioxidant levels and cellular energy production.
  
  
• Depth of Research: CoQ10 has been a focus of cardiovascular health research since the 1980s, throughout this time investigating its use in thousands of persons with demonstrated success.
  
  
• Priority for: People with high cholesterol, statin users, those with compromised heart ejection fraction, or those over 40 years of age.
  
  
• Dosage: For raw crystalline form, as low as 200mg ubiquinone daily based on successful research studies.
  
  
• Timeline: 4–6 weeks for full benefits to develop.
  
  
• Safety: Generally well-tolerated in clinical studies and a very wide margin of safe dosing up to multiple grams.
  
  

The Science of How CoQ10 Works

Energy Production

CoQ10 is essential for the mitochondrial electron transport chain — this is the process your cells use to make ATP, which is basically your body's energy currency. Think of mitochondria as tiny power plants in every cell, and CoQ10 as a critical component that keeps these power plants running smoothly. This is especially important for your heart, which needs constant energy to pump blood.

Antioxidant Protection

CoQ10 acts as a powerful antioxidant, directly scavenging free radicals that can damage your cells. It also helps regenerate other antioxidants like Vitamin E, creating a protective network against oxidative stress. This protection is crucial because damaged cholesterol is much more likely to stick to artery walls and cause problems.

Three Quick Research Findings

1. Q-Symbio Study (2014)
A total of 420 patients with moderate to severe heart failure were randomly assigned in a 2-year prospective trial to either CoQ10 (100mg 3 times daily) or placebo, in addition to standard therapy. Long-term CoQ10 supplementation was shown to be safe, reduce all-cause mortality (10% vs 18%), and reduce hospital stays. [1]

2. KiSel-10 Study (2013–2025)
443 volunteers aged 70–88 in Sweden were randomly assigned to take 200 mcg selenium yeast and 200 mg CoQ10 daily, or a placebo. After five years, cardiovascular mortality was more than twice as high in the placebo group. Benefits continued at the 10- and 12-year follow-ups. [2][3]

3. Meta-Analysis (2022)
A review of 50 randomized trials with 2,794 participants showed CoQ10 had strong effects on total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides. [4]

What is CoQ10?

• A naturally occurring compound similar to vitamin K, but made within your own body

• Found in every cell in every plant and animal, with highest concentrations in the heart and liver

• Comes in two forms: ubiquinone (oxidized form) and ubiquinol (reduced form), like a discharged vs charged battery

• Your body converts between these forms as needed

The Ubiquinone Advantage

Most studies use ubiquinone, which is stable, well-researched, and effectively converted into ubiquinol. While ubiquinol is often marketed as superior, this is misleading — both forms are active, and ubiquinol is oxidized during digestion anyway. Conversion happens in the lymph before entering the bloodstream.

Dosage Misconception: Kaneka-funded research overstated ubiquinol’s bioavailability. Independent groups have shown that formulation (particle size, fat delivery) affects absorption far more than the form itself. [5][6][7] Crystalline ubiquinone still offers the best cost per effective dose today.

Why CoQ10 Levels Drop

• Natural aging (production peaks around 20)

• High cholesterol and blood pressure

• Diabetes and metabolic syndrome

• Statin medications that block CoQ10 production

• Oxidative stress and inflammation

• Chronic fatigue or muscle pain

• Family history of cardiovascular disease

CoQ10 levels and heart function (e.g. ejection fraction) can be measured in clinic blood tests. Levels above 2.5 mg/L are associated with better outcomes. [Langsjoen & Folkers, 1988]

You Might Benefit from CoQ10 If You:

• Have elevated LDL or total cholesterol

• Take or have taken statin medications

• Experience low energy that doesn’t improve with rest

• Suffer from unexplained fatigue or muscle pain

• Have low heart ejection fraction percentage

• Are over 40 years of age

• Have chronic inflammation or oxidative stress burden

• Have a family history of heart issues

Optimal Usage, Lifestyle Tips & Timeline

Best Use

• Take with meals containing healthy fats for better absorption

• Split daily dosage across 2–3 meals

• Use for 8–12 weeks to assess cholesterol results

Lifestyle Enhancement

• Combine with a heart-healthy diet and exercise

• Sleep supports natural production

• Stress management preserves CoQ10 levels

• Antioxidant-rich foods work synergistically

Timeline Expectations

• Weeks 1–2: Energy improvements

• Weeks 4–6: Better exercise performance

• Weeks 8–12: Lipid panel changes (blood test required)

Important Considerations

Safety Profile
CoQ10 is very well tolerated and safe at high doses. No serious side effects are consistently reported within normal dose ranges.

Realistic Expectations
It supports cardiovascular health as part of a wider lifestyle plan — not a standalone cure. For high LDL levels, stack with other interventions.

Quality Matters
Choose clearly labelled ubiquinone or ubiquinol supplements (≥100mg per serve) from brands that control raw material quality and supply chain.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long does it take to see results?
A: Energy gains may appear in 2–4 weeks. Cholesterol changes take 8–12 weeks and require testing.

Q: Is ubiquinol better than ubiquinone?
A: Not inherently. Both are effective. Ubiquinone is converted to ubiquinol internally. Bioavailability depends more on formulation than form.

Q: Can I take CoQ10 with statins?
A: Yes — many doctors recommend it. Statins lower CoQ10 levels by blocking the mevalonate pathway. CoQ10 may reduce muscle side effects, but check with your doctor.

Q: Can I get enough CoQ10 from food?
A: No. While organ meats and fatty fish contain some, it’s not enough to reach the 100–200mg shown in clinical studies.

Q: Why do statins reduce CoQ10?
A: They block HMG-CoA reductase — the same enzyme needed for CoQ10 production. Some natural products like red yeast rice also lower CoQ10 via the same mechanism.

Research References

[1] The Effect of Coenzyme Q10 on Morbidity and Mortality in Chronic Heart Failure [Q-Symbio] (Mortensen, 2014)
[2] KiSel-10: Selenium and CoQ10 Reduce Cardiovascular Mortality (Alehagen, 2013)
[3] 12-Year Mortality Follow-Up from KiSel-10 Study (Alehagen, 2018)
[4] Meta-Analysis of 50 RCTs on Lipid Profiles and CoQ10 (Liu, 2022)
[5] Plasma CoQ10 Levels: Ubiquinone vs Ubiquinol (Langsjoen, 2013)
[6] Overview of CoQ10 Absorption and Metabolism (Mantle, 2020)
[7] Bioavailability of CoQ10 Formulations (Judy, 2022)

This content is for educational purposes only and does not intend to cure or diagnose disease, nor make any health claims. There is no intent to slander in any way, but rather produce an informed and accurate third party perspective on the product. Always consult your accredited medical professional before introducing a new supplement. This content is not to be copied or repurposed in any form without express permission from the author.

This article was written for and first published to stromsports.co.nz on 15.07.2025