Coenzyme Q10 – or ubiquinone/ubiquinol – is one of the most important energy-producing and antioxidant molecules in the human body. It is found in every cell of the body, but in the highest concentrations in those where the energy load is greatest: in the heart, liver, kidneys, muscles and brain. When Q10 levels decrease, the whole body feels it – in the form of fatigue, loss of energy, slowing metabolism, deteriorating physical performance and, over time, even cardiovascular problems.
Q10 plays a key role in the functioning of mitochondria, in the production of ATP, i.e. in the cell's ability to produce energy. In addition, Q10 is one of our most powerful endogenous antioxidants. It protects cells from oxidative stress, stabilizes membranes and prevents lipid peroxidation - thereby contributing to longer life, better performance and healthier functioning of cells.
The body can produce Q10, and it does so in abundance when we are young. Our Q10 levels peak in our 20s. The problem is that this is where a slow but steady decline begins . Q10 biosynthesis occurs via the same pathway as cholesterol synthesis – and this pathway becomes less active as we age. The decline is further accelerated by chronic stress, inflammation, low selenium levels, and certain medications, such as statins.
The good news is that Q10 can be supplemented – and can have a noticeable impact on energy levels, physical performance, heart function, concentration and general vitality within the first few weeks. The bad news is that only a minimal amount is supplied by the diet: the average daily intake is 3-6 mg, while most clinical trials use amounts between 100-300 mg. This explains why we see such spectacular effects with Q10 supplementation.
Scientific research clearly shows that Q10 levels are age-dependent: high in youth, decreasing after age 40, and a fraction of the youthful value in old age. A large European study measured the serum Q10 levels of more than 800 adults between the ages of 18 and 82. It turned out that young adults have the highest Q10 values, while a significant decline is seen in the 60+ age group , and the proportion of oxidized Q10 also increases - meaning that not only is less Q10 left, but it is also present in a lower quality, less effective form.
Another classic study examined the organ distribution of Q10. In this study, the amount of ubiquinone was measured in various organs from 1-day-old infants to 81 years of age: heart, liver, kidney, pancreas. The study yielded a startling result: in most organs, Q10 levels are highest at age 20, and then continuously decrease from there. In the heart and pancreas, a decline of up to 40–60% was measured by age 80. This also means that the cells' ability to produce energy also weakens significantly.
Several studies on Q10 supplementation in older people have also yielded extremely convincing results. The best known of these is the KiSel-10 study, which examined the effect of taking 200 µg of selenium and 200 mg of Q10 daily in elderly people aged 70–88. The research lasted several years, and the results are almost unprecedented: in the group receiving the supplement, cardiovascular mortality was reduced by approximately 50%. The value of NT-proBNP, a biomarker of heart function, also improved significantly. What is truly special: the researchers followed up the participants 10–12 years later, and the protective effect was still detectable. In other words, taking Q10 and selenium for four years was still able to significantly reduce cardiac mortality a decade later.
Q10 has also shown significant efficacy in heart failure. The Q-SYMBIO study examined the effects of 300 mg of Q10 daily in 420 patients with chronic heart failure for two years. The group taking Q10 had fewer serious cardiovascular events, better survival, and improved quality of life. This study made it clear that Q10 is not a simple dietary supplement: it has a clinically significant effect in certain populations .
It’s not just those with heart disease who are seeing benefits. In older adults taking statins, Q10 supplementation has also been shown to be highly effective. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, taking 300 mg of Q10 phytosomes daily significantly reduced fatigue scores, improved muscle strength, walking tests, and overall vitality. This is especially important because statins reduce the body’s production of Q10, so the fatigue that many statin users experience is often actually a result of a Q10 deficiency.
Q10 therefore simultaneously supports energy production, antioxidant protection of cells, heart function, and contributes to vitality. It is especially worth paying special attention to it over the age of 35–40, because at this time the body's own production begins to decline drastically, while oxidative stress and the need for cell regeneration increase.
Q10 is perfectly complemented by grape seed extract (OPC / GSE), one of the most powerful natural sources of polyphenols. Grape seed extract is extremely rich in oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPC), which have an antioxidant effect many times that of vitamin E. Research shows that it improves the elasticity of blood vessel walls, supports microcirculation, reduces inflammation, and may also have an effective blood pressure-lowering effect.
Of particular interest is a study that found that 12 weeks of 200–400 mg of grape seed extract daily in prehypertensive adults aged 40–64 years significantly reduced blood pressure and improved endothelial function. A meta-analysis of several studies also found that long-term use of grape seed extract may reduce blood pressure and improve vascular function. Another 16-week study of 300 mg of grape seed extract daily also showed significant improvements in blood pressure, heart rate, and biomarkers of vascular elasticity.
The combination of the two active ingredients – Q10 and OPC – is a very logical and mutually reinforcing solution. Q10 supports mitochondrial energy production and antioxidant protection of cells, while grape seed extract supports the elasticity of blood vessel walls, microcirculation and inflammation reduction. Together, they contribute to cells receiving more energy, the heart functioning more efficiently and the body becoming more resistant to oxidative stress. Especially after the age of 35-40, when Q10 levels decrease and supporting the mitochondrial and circulatory system becomes increasingly important, this combination offers a scientifically proven, strong quality of life-improving effect.
Resources
Niklowitz, P., Menke, T., Andler, W., Okun, JG, Hübner, C., and others. (2016). Coenzyme Q10 serum concentration and redox status in European adults: Influence of age, sex, and lipoprotein concentration. Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition, 58(3), 240–245.
Kalén, A., Appelkvist, E.-L., & Dallner, G. (1989). Age-related changes in the lipid compositions of rat and human tissues. Lipids, 24, 579–584.
Alehagen, U., Johansson, P., Björnstedt, M., Rosén, A., & Dahlström, U. (2013). Cardiovascular mortality and N-terminal pro-BNP reduced after combined selenium and coenzyme Q10 supplementation: A 5-year prospective randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial among elderly Swedish citizens. International Journal of Cardiology, 167(5), 1860–1866.
Alehagen, U., Aaseth, J., Alexander, J., & Johansson, P. (2015). Still reduced cardiovascular mortality 10 years after supplementation with selenium and coenzyme Q10 for four years in elderly Swedish citizens. PLOS ONE, 10(12), e0141641.
Alehagen, U., Aaseth, J., Alexander, J., & Johansson, P. (2018). Reduced cardiovascular mortality 12 years after supplementation with selenium and coenzyme Q10 for four years: A long-term follow-up of a randomized clinical trial. PLOS ONE, 13(4), e0193120.
Mortensen, SA, Rosenfeldt, F., Kumar, A., Dolliner, P., Filipiak, KJ, and others. (2014). The effect of coenzyme Q10 on morbidity and mortality in chronic heart failure: Results from Q-SYMBIO. Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Heart Failure, 2(6), 641–649.
Belcaro, G., Cornelli, U., Luzzi, R., Cesarone, MR, Dugall, M., and others. (2020). Improvement of fatigue and physical performance with coenzyme Q10 phytosome in subjects with statin-associated asthenia: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study. (Note: listed on multiple publication platforms; human RCT.)
Frontiers in Physiology. (2018). Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation in Aging and Disease. (Review article summarizing aging-related CoQ10 decline and clinical benefits.)
Littarru, GP, & Tiano, L. (2007). Bioenergetic and antioxidant properties of coenzyme Q10: Recent developments. Molecular Biotechnology, 37(1), 31–37. (Aging + CoQ10 mechanisms summary review.)
Belcaro, G., Ledda, A., Hu, S., Feragalli, B., Dugall, M., & other authors. (2016). Grape seed extract positively modulates blood pressure and vascular function in healthy volunteers. Minerva Cardioangiologica, 64(2), 173–180.
Nishioka, K., Hidaka, T., Nakamura, S., Sato, S., Nishida, K., & others. (2007). Effects of grape seed proanthocyanidin extract on blood pressure and vascular endothelial function in middle-aged Japanese adults with prehypertension: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. (The oft-cited Japanese GSE-prehypertension RCT.)
Zhu, S., Sun, L., & Zhang, Y. (2011). Effect of grape seed extract supplementation on blood pressure: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition.
Terra, X., Valls, J., Vitrac, X., Mérrillon, J.-M., & Lamuela-Raventós, RM, and others. (2009). Grape-seed procyanidins act as anti-inflammatory agents in human endothelial cells. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
