CoQ10 is a fat-soluble, vitamin-like antioxidant that is part of the body’s natural energy production process roulette. As a supplement, CoQ10 is also used to treat a variety of conditions where oxygen flow is decreased, such as heart failure and diabetes.
CoQ10 has been used for decades to help with many conditions related to lower oxygen levels, including coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy and migraines. More recently, CoQ10 has gained attention for its potential benefits in people with fibromyalgia (FM).
There have been some promising studies about how CoQ10 may help reduce symptoms associated with Fibromyalgia. Read on to learn more.
Fibromyalgia Is A Chronic Illness That Causes Widespread Pain And Fatigue
Fibromyalgia is a chronic illness that causes widespread pain and fatigue. It’s estimated that up to 5% of the population has FM. Because there is no test for fibromyalgia, doctors rely on your symptoms to make the diagnosis.
With fibromyalgia, you may experience:
• Widespread pain throughout your body
• Fatigue that makes it hard to get out of bed in the morning or do things like work or exercise
• Tingling, numbness or burning sensations in your hands and feet
Mitochondria And ATP Are Important In Fibromyalgia
Mitochondria are the “powerhouses” of our cells, essentially converting oxygen and nutrients into ATP (adenosine triphosphate) to power cell function. ATP is an energy-creating molecule found in every cell throughout the body. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been associated with a number of symptoms seen in FM, including fatigue, depression and pain.
While there isn’t much research on how CoQ10 affects mitochondrial function in people with fibromyalgia, it’s clear that mitochondrial health plays a role in this condition by affecting energy production within cells.
Some People With Fibromyalgia Have Low Levels Of Coq10
Some people with fibromyalgia have low levels of CoQ10. This is also the case for some people who have Parkinson’s disease. However, it’s unclear whether their low levels are a cause or effect of their conditions because low levels of CoQ10 aren’t typically found in people with other chronic pain conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Coq10 Helps With ATP Production In People With Fibromyalgia
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a vitamin-like substance found in every cell of the body. In simple terms, it helps to produce energy for your cells. It also protects against damage from free radicals that cause inflammation and pain in the body’s cells and tissues. This makes it an important supplement for people dealing with fibromyalgia symptoms such as muscle aches, fatigue, headaches and nerve pain.
Research suggests that taking CoQ10 supplements may help reduce symptoms of fibromyalgia (FM), including fatigue and muscle pain.
More and more research is showing that CoQ10 can help reduce fibromyalgia symptoms:
• In one study, the effects of CoQ10 on fatigue were examined in subjects with fibromyalgia, statin-related fatigue, multiple sclerosis and heart failure. The study concluded that CoQ10 exhibited the most therapeutic effects on subjects with fibromyalgia.
• In a small randomized (participants are randomly assigned to a group), double-blind (neither the participant nor researcher knows which group the participants are assigned to), placebo-controlled (one groups receives a treatment that doesn’t contain any medicinal ingredients or benefits) trial, fibromyalgia sufferers who took 300 mg of CoQ10 daily for 40 days showed a marked decrease in fatigue, morning tiredness and pain.
• In another small double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial, FM sufferers were treated with pregabalin and CoQ10. The researchers concluded that while pregabalin, when used on its own, reduced FM pain and anxiety by decreasing brain activity, it did not address mitochondrial oxidative stress and inflammation. The results of another study revealed that CoQ10 supplementation reduced greater pain, anxiety and brain activity, mitochondrial oxidative stress, and inflammation in fibromyalgia patients. These findings provide new evidence that Coenzyme Q10 supplementation provides further benefit for relieving pain sensation in pregabalin-treated fibromyalgia patients, possibly via improving mitochondrial function, reducing inflammation, and decreasing brain activity.
If you have fibromyalgia and want to take a natural approach to your treatment, there are certain nutrients that may help in addition to CoQ10. These include 5HTP, St. John’s Wort, Devil’s Claw, vitamin D and turmeric.
• 5-HTP helps to increase serotonin levels, which can be low in people with fibromyalgia. This supplement also helps with sleep and appetite control.
• St John’s Wort is another option for those who want mood elevation without the risk of side effects from antidepressants or other medications that affect serotonin levels and cause drowsiness or dizziness.
• Devil’s Claw has been shown in studies to reduce joint inflammation associated with fibromyalgia by inhibiting COX enzymes that contribute to pain and inflammation.
• Turmeric and vitamin D have also shown to be beneficial in treating symptoms of fibromyalgia.
While more research is needed to see if there’s a significant link between CoQ10 and Fibromyalgia, this is a promising start. As outlined, you can pair it with other natural health supplements to find a protocol that may help support overall symptoms related to this health condition. As with any supplement, you want to make sure you purchase one that’s of high-quality.
What CoQ10 is Best?
There are two main forms of coq10, ubiquinol and ubiquinone. When using this supplement for specific health concerns, ubiquinol is the more superior form because it doesn’t need to be converted in order for your body to absorb it. A trusted coq10 supplement is Ubiquinol QH Active CoQ10 by Natural Factors. It provides 200mg of bioavailable coq10 per dose. They use ubiquinol sourced from Kaneka QH, the world’s largest and more recognized and researched manufacturer of ubiquinol.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered as a substitute for medical advice. Please consult your practitioner prior to taking herbs or nutritional supplements.
