When it comes to our heart’s health, being informed and proactive is essential. A holistic approach helps us address the full picture and achieve the best results — and you’re never too young to start taking care of your heart!

Dr. Duncan learned this lesson firsthand when her father suffered a heart attack at just 40 years old. After taking statin prescriptions for years after his heart attack, he began experiencing unexplained falls — a potential side effect of statins. After adding a CoQ10 supplement to his regimen, his issues resolved almost immediately. 

CoQ10, or Coenzyme Q10, is an essential nutrient that powers your heart’s energy production and protects it from damaging oxidative stress. In this post, we’ll explore how CoQ10 supports your heart and why it’s a crucial component of a heart-healthy lifestyle.

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Table of Contents:

• What Is CoQ10?
• Why Your CoQ10 Levels May Be Low
• CoQ10 for Heart Health
• How Much CoQ10 Do You Need?
• The Best Way to Take CoQ10 for Heart Health
• Fueling Your Body from the Inside Out
• References

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What is CoQ10?

CoQ10 is a naturally occurring nutrient, powerful antioxidant, and a key compound your body needs to produce energy. Without it, tissues like your heart and muscles wouldn’t have the fuel they need to function at their best.

Think of CoQ10 as a charging cable. Electronic devices like your smartphone or tablet run on power and need to be charged to continue running smoothly. CoQ10 acts like a charger that connects to a power source — ATP (more on that later). Without a well-functioning charger, your battery level drops. Systems run slower, and can eventually shut down. This is what happens to your heart and muscles when your CoQ10 levels are low — your cells struggle to produce energy, leading to fatigue, weakness, and even potential heart issues.

Since CoQ10 is vital for cellular energy and cardiovascular function, keeping your levels optimized can help you feel more energetic, protect your heart, and improve overall wellness.

How CoQ10 Works:

• Creates energy: CoQ10 lives inside your mitochondria (your cells’ power plants) and helps convert food into fuel.
• Powers your heart: Since your heart needs constant energy, CoQ10 helps it keep beating strong.
• Fights cell damage: As an antioxidant, it protects your heart and other organs from harmful free radicals.

Why Your CoQ10 Levels May Be Low

There are several reasons why your CoQ10 levels may be low:

• Aging: Your body’s production of CoQ10 peaks in your 20’s and then slowly starts to decline. Once you’re in your 40’s it’s important to add CoQ10 on a regular basis to support your body’s ability to create energy.
• Statin medications: One side effect of these cholesterol-lowering drugs is that they can also reduce CoQ10 levels — which is not great news for your energy-loving heart! If you’re on a statin then you can definitely benefit from taking CoQ10. 
• Chronic stress: Stress depletes essential nutrients, including CoQ10. Replenishing these levels can help maintain energy and overall wellness.

If your body is producing insufficient levels of CoQ10 your heart may struggle to generate enough energy and fight off damage, leading to fatigue, high blood pressure, and heart concerns.

A Quick Self-Assessment: Do You Need More CoQ10?

Wondering if your body could benefit from taking CoQ10? Take this quick self-check:

✔️ Do you take a statin medication?
✔️ Do you have high blood pressure or heart concerns?
✔️ Do you deal with chronic stress or inflammation?
✔️ Are you over 40 years old?

If you checked even one of these, adding CoQ10 to your routine could be a great way to support your health — and is worth discussing with your healthcare provider.

CoQ10 for Heart Health 

Your heart is a beautiful and amazing machine that works tirelessly day and night to keep you alive. This energy-hungry powerhouse beats 100,000 times a day, every day — that’s a lot of work! Your heart requires a constant supply of energy and CoQ10 helps fuel, protect, and support your heart so it can keep up with life’s busy and unrelenting demands. Let’s look at some key ways CoQ10 helps your heart health.

Powers Your Heart’s Energy Production

Your cells create energy using ATP (aka adenosine triphosphate). Think of it as your body’s “power currency” or fuel. CoQ10 plays a key role in that process, working inside your mitochondria (aka your body’s power plants) to keep them running at full speed.

Protects Against Free Radical Damage

Your heart is under constant attack from oxidative stress, which can lead to inflammation and disease. CoQ10 acts as an antioxidant shield, protecting your cells from damage and keeping your heart healthy and strong.

Helps Maintain Healthy Blood Pressure

Studies suggest that CoQ10 may help relax blood vessels, improving blood flow and supporting normal blood pressure levels. It’s especially beneficial for those with hypertension or circulatory issues.

Supports Those with Heart Conditions

Research shows that CoQ10 supplementation may improve symptoms of heart failure and support better cardiovascular function. It may also help those recovering from heart-related procedures by boosting energy and repair mechanisms.

CoQ10 is a must-have nutrient for heart health — it keeps your heart energized, protected, and performing at its best.

How Much CoQ10 Do You Need?

The right amount of CoQ10 depends on factors like age, health, lifestyle, medications, and any medical conditions—such as a history of heart disease.

While a typical range for heart health might be around 100 to 300 mg a day, it’s important to tailor the dose to your individual needs. Talk with a medical professional to discuss which dose works for you.

The Best Way to Take CoQ10 for Heart Health

Dosing may vary, but here are some best practices to maximize absorption:

• Take it with food: CoQ10 is fat-soluble, so it absorbs best with a meal containing healthy fats.
• Liquid is better: Studies show that liquid CoQ10 is more bioavailable, meaning your body absorbs and uses it it more effectively. 

Did you know we offer a liquid version of CoQ10? Feel free to ask about it at your next visit — we’re happy to chat and share recommendations!

Are There Any Side Effects?

CoQ10 is generally very safe, but some people may experience mild side effects, including:

• Digestive issues like nausea or an upset stomach
• Headaches or dizziness, especially at higher doses
• Trouble sleeping if taken too late in the day (since it boosts energy)

If you take blood thinners or statins, check with your healthcare provider before adding CoQ10, as it may affect how your medication works. That said, most people tolerate CoQ10 well, especially when taken with food and at the right dose.

The Best Food Sources for CoQ10

Several foods are natural sources of CoQ10, including:

• Beef & chicken — especially organ meats like liver (nature’s CoQ10 powerhouse!)
• Fatty fish like salmon, tuna, and sardines
• Nuts & seeds 
• Leafy greens 
• Eggs 

While these foods are great, most people would need pounds of them daily to match the amounts used in studies. That’s why it’s best to take a high-quality supplement to make sure you’re receiving optimal levels.

Why You Need CoQ10 with Chiropractic Care

At Simply Southern Chiropractic Center, our rule is if a patient is taking a statin prescription, they must take CoQ10 while they are under chiropractic care, especially when in the initial active treatment phase of care. 

We recommend this because patients will often have stiffness and sore muscles with their initial treatment. If they are on a statin, these effects are often more pronounced. This causes many people to give up on treatment prematurely, even if they are making progress. We are able to align their spine, but the aches and pains they have from statin side effects make them feel like chiropractic care didn’t work.

Fortunately, CoQ10 mitigates these effects, and patients taking statins are able to continue with their chiropractic care. 

Fueling Your Body from the Inside Out

At our clinic, we take a whole-body approach to health because everything is connected. CoQ10 isn’t just for your heart — it helps fuel every cell in your body. If you’d like to learn more about how chiropractic care can support your energy and overall well-being, we invite you to give our office a call.

Interested in a consultation at Simply Southern Chiropractic Center? Call us anytime! We’re happy to help.

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References

Zozina, V. I., Covantev, S., Goroshko, O. A., Krasnykh, L. M., & Kukes, V. G. (2018). Coenzyme Q10 in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases: Current State of the Problem. Current Cardiology Reviews, 14(3), 164. https://doi.org/10.2174/1573403X14666180416115428

Saadi, T. A., Assaf, Y., Farwati, M., Turkmani, K., Al-Mouakeh, A., Shebli, B., Khoja, M., Essali, A., & Madmani, M. E. (2021). Coenzyme Q10 for heart failure. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2021(2), CD008684. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD008684.pub3

Rabanal-Ruiz, Y., Llanos-González, E., & Alcain, F. J. (2021). The Use of Coenzyme Q10 in Cardiovascular Diseases. Antioxidants, 10(5), 755. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10050755