History
In 1957 Frederick Crane at the University of Wisconsin isolated a yellow substance from beef-heart mitochondria, and Karl Folkers at Merck determined its structure the following year. Because it is found everywhere in the body, it was dubbed "ubiquinone." Its importance became clear when Britain's Peter Mitchell won the 1978 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the chemiosmotic theory explaining how such carriers shuttle electrons to make ATP; Japan first used it as a heart drug in the 1970s.
What the evidence says
In the 2014 Q-SYMBIO trial, people with chronic heart failure taking 300 mg daily for two years had fewer major cardiac events, but the study was small and did not change standard care. Statins also lower the body's CoQ10 production, so it is tried for statin muscle aches, with mixed results. Evidence for migraine prevention and blood pressure is modest; claims about skin aging, athletic performance and fatigue are weak. Like omega-3, it is sold as a supplement although true deficiency is uncommon.
How to take it
Being fat-soluble, it is absorbed best after a meal containing fat. Meat, oily fish and nuts contain small amounts, but food alone rarely reaches supplement doses of 100–300 mg a day. Side effects are usually mild, such as heartburn or insomnia, but it can weaken warfarin, so check with a doctor if you take anticoagulants, are pregnant or have surgery planned.
This article is general health information and is not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment. If symptoms persist, see a doctor.
FAQ
- Is ubiquinol better than ubiquinone?
- Ubiquinol may be absorbed somewhat better, but a difference in health outcomes is not proven.
- When should I take it?
- Right after a meal with fat; take it in the morning or at lunch if it disturbs sleep.
Sources reviewed: 2026-10-26
References
- Crane, F. L., et al. (1957). Isolation of a quinone from beef heart mitochondria. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 25, 220–221.
- Mortensen, S. A., et al. (2014). The effect of coenzyme Q10 on morbidity and mortality in chronic heart failure (Q-SYMBIO). JACC: Heart Failure, 2(6), 641–649.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (2023). Coenzyme Q10.