Coenzyme Q10
Powers your cells' energy production. Levels fall with age, and statins lower them further.
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a fat-soluble compound essential to the mitochondrial process that produces cellular energy, and the body's own production of it declines with age. Statin medications are well documented to lower CoQ10 levels as a side effect of the same pathway they target for cholesterol, which is why CoQ10 supplements are commonly recommended alongside statin therapy. Ubiquinol, the reduced, active form, absorbs better than ubiquinone, the oxidised form most older products used, though both remain available and studied. CoQ10 needs dietary fat to absorb and is best taken with a meal.
Reference values
Daily reference values from official nutrition authorities. These are population reference figures, not personal recommendations.
| RDA | Upper limit | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 100 mg | 1200 mg | UK |
Forms and bioavailability
Not all forms are absorbed equally. The form on your supplement label affects how much your body can actually use.
| Form | Absorption | With food | Timing | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ubiquinol (reduced CoQ10) | Higher | With food | Morning | Likely |
| ubiquinone (oxidised CoQ10) | Typical | With food | Morning | Likely |
| MitoQ (mitoquinone) | Typical | With food | Morning | Possible |
Stack Almanac tracks which CoQ10 form you're taking and reminds you to pair it with food, since absorption drops without dietary fat alongside it.
Track your Coenzyme Q10 in Stack Almanac
Last reviewed: 2026-07-08. Reference values are adult-general RDAs from UK. Individual needs may vary. This page is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.