Coenzyme Q10 For Menopause Support
By Andrea Donsky | Fact Checked | Sources
If you are in perimenopause or menopause, you already know there are some changes taking place in your body, but not all of them are evident. Take the higher risk of heart disease, for example, or more fragile bones and osteoporosis. Some good news is that certain supplements can help make this transitional time of life safer and smoother, and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is one of those supplements.
What is coenzyme Q10?
Coenzyme Q10 is a compound produced naturally in the body and stored in the energy-producing organelles called mitochondria that are found in your cells. One of the main tasks of CoQ10 is to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is involved in generating and transferring energy within your cells. Mitochondria also protect cells from disease-causing viruses and bacteria as well as oxidative damage.
Coenzyme Q10 exists in two forms: ubiquinone and ubiquinol. Ubiquinol is the active antioxidant form and is produced in the body from ubiquinone. Levels of both forms can begin to decline as early as 20 years of age. This is joined by a declining ability of the body to make ubiquinol from ubiquinone. You can take a simple blood test to determine your CoQ10 levels.
The greatest concentrations of CoQ10 are in the heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys, all of which have high energy demands. However, levels of CoQ10 tend to decrease with age and with it the health benefits it provides. Research has associated low levels of CoQ10 with heart disease, fibromyalgia, diabetes, muscular diseases, and brain disorders.
How can coenzyme Q10 help women in menopause?
CoQ10 can help women in perimenopause, menopause, and beyond in a number of important ways.
Skin health. Declining levels of estrogen contribute to various skin problems, including dryness, itching, dullness, and wrinkles, and environmental stressors like ultraviolet rays, air pollution, and harsh chemicals in cosmetics pile on top of that over time.
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Here's where CoQ10 comes in: used topically, it can help reduce some of that environmental damage as well as the changes tied to shifting hormones. A study of topical CoQ10 found it works by promoting antioxidant protection, reducing free radicals, and enhancing mitochondrial activity in skin cells. Some experts even found that CoQ10 applied to the skin can reduce wrinkles.
Migraines. This painful symptom may show up for the first time in menopause, or get worse if you already dealt with it. Either way, some research suggests CoQ10 may help support fewer and less frequent headache days: a randomized controlled trial in Neurology found CoQ10 supplements outperformed placebo at reducing the number of migraines.
Other research has shown that some people with migraines have a CoQ10 deficiency, and treatment with CoQ10 supplements resulted in fewer and less severe migraines among individuals with low CoQ10 levels. Preliminary studies also indicate CoQ10 may help with migraine prevention, based on another study in which CoQ10 was shown to reduce the frequency and severity of migraine as well as shorten the duration.
Read about natural headache and migraine remedies
Heart disease. Your risk of heart disease and stroke does rise in menopause and postmenopause, even though menopause itself isn't the cause. Some research points to CoQ10 as a helpful ally here: the authors of a Cardiovascular Pharmacology: Open Access article described CoQ10 use as offering meaningful cardiovascular support.
CoQ10 supplements may also help support blood pressure levels already within a normal range. In a meta-analysis of 12 clinical trials, Rosenfeldt and colleagues found that CoQ10 was associated with reductions in systolic blood pressure of up to 17 mmHg and diastolic pressure of up to 10 mmHg, without significant adverse effects.
Diabetes. Many women in menopause deal with insulin resistance (and the weight gain that can come with it) and diabetes. CoQ10 supplementation may help support already-healthy blood sugar metabolism. In another study, individuals with type 2 diabetes who took CoQ10 supplements for 12 weeks saw two notable changes: lower fasting blood sugar levels and lower hemoglobin A1C.
Read about omega-3 fatty acids and brain health
Brain health. Brain fog, memory problems, depression, anxiety, mood swings, and stress are all part of the menopause years, and keeping those brain cells running well matters more than ever. CoQ10 helps fight the oxidative damage to the brain that can impact memory and cognitive function. Research suggests CoQ10 supplements may help support healthy brain aging and antioxidant protection for brain cells, an area researchers continue to study closely.
Using CoQ10 supplements
A typical dose of CoQ10 is 90 to 200 mg, but your actual dose may vary depending on your condition and needs. Among people with heart failure, for example, a dose of 100 mg has been used in research. For diabetes, doses of 100 mg to 300 mg are typical.
From the Morphus shop
Reading up on heart, brain, and antioxidant support?
We do not currently make a CoQ10 supplement, and we will not pretend otherwise. If cardiovascular, brain, and cellular antioxidant support is what brought you here, two Morphus formulas work in the same neighborhood: Omega 3-T (high-purity EPA and DHA for heart, brain, and skin support) and Toco-E (tocotrienol vitamin E with potent antioxidant activity).
Shop Omega 3-T → Shop Toco-E →These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Bottom line
Symptoms as well as serious health conditions that are associated with perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause may be alleviated by using CoQ10 supplements. Consult your healthcare provider before taking this supplement.
