Coq 10 worth it or not?

[Gfern]

Just had follow up with my EP after pacemaker install. He suggested that the supplement Coq 10 might be good for me. Now I am not a big believer in supplements but I am open minded enough to consider it. I can’t think of a better forum than here to ask the question and to learn from other peoples experience of using it.

[CDreamer]

So many cardiologists recommend it - a must if you take statins - strongly recommended if you are a more mature person. The body makes CoQ10 naturally but amount declines with age and quite a few drugs tend to decrease body’s ability to make. I started taking them alongside BComplex as recommended by a nutritionist some 10 years ago. I certainly notice the drop in energy after a few days without if I run out. I’m not going to say it will do too much for your AF directly but it will help you cope with fatigue as CoQ10 +B12 are required by mitochondria to produce energy within every cell of your body.

[Gfern in reply to CDreamer]

Thank you for your time in responding. I will try it, now on looking, there are so many brands and prices, can you help me with next decision, which one is best? Please

[CDreamer in reply to Gfern]

Any of the more reputable brands such as Hey, Natures Aid, Solgar, Viridan or Puralab are good - tried them all and not much to choose between any of them. Look for potency, source of ingredients such as - Ubiquinol or ubiquinone which is the oxidised form of CoQ10 with proven efficacy, tablet or soft gel (more easily absorbed), fat content - required for absorption and fillers - avoid - many own brands tend to have a lot of fillers.

Avoid judging by recommendations on Amazon.

I’ve often bought online from The Natural Dispensary, they tend to only stock better quality brands.

Hope that helps.

[Gfern in reply to CDreamer]

Thanks that’s a great help.

[BenHall1 in reply to CDreamer]

Hi CD,

Yep ..... I get my stuff from the Natural Dispensary too including my 'gut' stuff as well as CoQ10. ( .... and for those reading this other than CD, who I have known on this forum for many years, I am not endorsing a supplier or a product, just exchanging info with CD ).

John

[Gfern in reply to BenHall1]

Thank you for your helpful input

[secondtry]

My Naturopath suggests take it to reach and maintain at the top or higher of the normal range. He also partnered it with a magnesium compound which includes taurine & other heart goodies. I have taken both for 11 years. My cardio gave it a nod of approval when I saw him this week.

I agree supplements can be like drugs if taken incorrectly and restraint/caution should be exercised.

[Gfern in reply to secondtry]

Thank you for your time in responding. I will try it, now on looking there are so many brands and prices, can you help me with next decision, which one is best? Please

[secondtry in reply to Gfern]

Can't say which one is best. The brands I use are Nutri MegaMag Muscleze & Lamberts Healthcare Co Q10. The blood tests to take to determine current levels are 'Red cell magnesium' and CoQ10.

[Gfern in reply to secondtry]

Thanks for your helpful input.

[OzJames]

Google where in the body is coq10 most abundant… the heart.. as we age especially over 50 we decline in levels of Coq10. I did a specific blood test to show I was low. It also showed my magnesium and Vitd3 was low so I’ve been on supps for nearly 12 months and cannot be sure whether drugs or supps are doing the job or combo of all. I had one episode of AF in 2023 and one in January this year. Get your levels checked it will be extra $ to do

[Silvasava]

The BHF are funding a trial of CoQ10. I volunteered but wasn't suitable but I've been taking it for years. I've upped the dosage in the last couple of years due to !rfd and age.

[Gfern in reply to Silvasava]

Thank you for your time in responding. I will try it, now on looking there are so many brands and prices, can you help me with next decision, which one is best? Please

[Silvasava in reply to Gfern]

I buy mine from Nature's Best, and use 200mg. Other people source from different providers. They're not cheap but sometimes have offers HTH

[Desanthony]

Reading the answers on here I am about to go out and buy some myself - what make would all you people recommend? I already take B12 as had a blood test last year which showed I was low.

Remember to mention what supplements you are on when asked by any medical professionals to list your medications as they can have other effects when having some procedures and should be stopped before hand - my neighbour had to stop taking cod liver oil tablets before a particular scan as the consultant told her it could mask the results in some ways. Also ask your pharmacist whether any of the supplements you consider taking could effect the other medication you are taking. Off to amend my shopping list now.

All the best.

[Gfern]

Thank you all for your time in responding. I will try it, now on looking there are so many brands and prices, can you help me with next decision, which one is best?

[Blearyeyed]

It actually depends whether you are on prescribed medications or not.If you take an anticoagulant or antiplatelet it's not advisable to take CoQ10 because it increases the bleeding time and bruising you can experience on those medications.

CoQ10, much like high dose Magnesium, also contributes to lowering your heart rate , so if you are on required medications to lower heart rate or blood pressure CoQ10 can cause you to have periods of Bradycardia ( low heart rate) especially at night or at rest and Hypotension.

If you have a naturally low heart rate or low/ normal blood pressure or your medications keep them down it's not advisable to take the above high dose supplements because it can cause rates to fall too low , which can contribute to dizziness and can trigger aFib in itself.

Even if you don't take medication, if you have a naturally low heart rate or blood pressure it's better not to take these supplements in the four hours before going to bed because they could still cause dips into bradycardia or hypotension during rest which wake you up and cause waking night time symptoms of breathlessness, dizziness on waking and rebound palpitations.

It's why choosing certain supplements must be done with care when you have health issues , they may be sold without prescription but that doesn't mean they can't cause problems. If you choose to take CoQ10 or Magnesium whilst taking medications you also need to ensure you don't take them at the same time as this makes the risk of dips in heart rate more likely, it's generally advised to take the supplements 4 hours after a dose or two hours before the next one.

You can choose to increase foods in your diet that improve your Magnesium and CoQ10 instead which can improve your cardiac management but without the potential side effects of high dose supplementation. Foods higher in CoQ10 include oil rich fish, chicken, offal meats, green vegetables like broccoli, spinach, kale, cauliflower, fruits like strawberry and orange, lentils , pulses and beans and nuts and seeds.

These are also helpful in maintaining your other nutrients, particularly B12 and Folate, which are often neglected in advice but actually have a far more severe effect on cardiovascular and general health if you have insufficiency or are deficient in them.

Supplements can be good, or essential in certain patients but it's extremely individual and must be used with proper guidance and blood testing to check if it appropriate. Unfortunately, in my experience, most GPs, Nurses and Pharmacists are not particularly knowledgeable about the effects, or potential requirement , of taking supplements and alternative medications and often read things much like any lay person and recommend them without doing vital research, assuming that if its sold it probably won't do any harm and might just be helpful. Sadly, that is not true so always check properly before taking them.

[Gfern in reply to Blearyeyed]

Thank you for responding and the useful information, will proceed with caution.

[Hearsehorse in reply to Blearyeyed]

Regarding: "If you take an anticoagulant or antiplatelet it's not advisable to take CoQ10 because it increases the bleeding time and bruising you can experience on those medications," that is not necessarily so with all anticoagulants, especially related to Xarelto. See: healthtap.com/questions/146...

Needed to explain text

[SkyBluePInk47 in reply to Blearyeyed]

Very good advice

[DawnTX]

I questioned my cardiologist after I got my pacemaker because I don’t take supplements without his approval when I mentioned CoQ10 he said not only does he not have a problem with it but he thinks it might make me feel better. I do not believe he is one that normally tells you to take all sorts of supplements so coming from him, I think that means it’s a good thing for you. He is a doctor that tends to tell you what he needs to tell you other than that he’s pretty quiet lol

[Gfern in reply to DawnTX]

Thanks for your response that sounds exactly like my guy and the conversation we had. Have you tried them ?

[DawnTX in reply to Gfern]

I was taking them and let up although I want to get back on them to be honest. I just forget because they are chewables not pills and I have all my pills together. I take about 14 a day. I have had some medication changes and I had decided to just clear anything not prescribed out of my system in case there were problems with the new meds, have you tried them yet? I don’t know how you’re supposed to fail one way or the other because I feel pretty normal. My problem these days is my back and hip. There’s a possibility of surgery. I will know more the end of the month it is making it difficult to know how I feel . I was supposed to have this dealt with two years ago, but then along came a fib and a typical flutter and a lot more without cardiac clearance nothing has been able to be done except medication for pain, but I have gotten progressively worse even this month. all this time it was thought that it was my back, but it’s actually my hip and pelvic area from when I was hit by a semi. I was stopped at a red light. i’m not thrilled at the thought of surgery. One thing I do like about this doctor is he tries to be less invasive than many right now, though my balance is constantly off anything can throw me off and I will fall. I don’t have whatever it takes that we normally can stop ourselves, the good thing is my pacemaker is amazing

[2learn]

Hi, isn't there a problem if you take it when on blood thinners which many of us are

[Gfern in reply to 2learn]

There are opinions on that but i haven’t found anything yet that clearly defines that this is a fact. Perhaps you could share the details and source if you have found something definitive. I don’t think my EP would suggest anything that would not be in my interest and I have faith in his knowledge on my heart problems and the many meds that I take.

[2learn in reply to Gfern]

Just loked on google, most recommendations seem to be from sponsored sellers.

Web MD and some other pages say following

Mild side effects might include digestive problems such as:

Upper abdominal pain

Loss of appetite

Nausea and vomiting

Diarrhea

Other possible side effects may include:

Headaches and dizziness

Insomnia

Fatigue

Skin itching or rashes

Irritability or agitation

The safety of use of CoQ10 during pregnancy and breast-feeding hasn't been established. Don't use CoQ10 if you're pregnant or breast-feeding without your doctor's approval.

Possible interactions include if you :

have heart failure

have liver problems

have diabetes

are pregnant

are breastfeeding

take thyroid medications

receive chemotherapy

Anticoagulants. CoQ10 might make blood-thinning drugs, such as warfarin (Jantoven), less effective. This could increase the risk of a blood clot.

[Gfern in reply to 2learn]

Yes that’s what I found as well, it seems to warn more about it in Warfarin users. There doesn’t appear to be contraindications with Eliquis on med check sites, it does advice to use only after consulting your medics. But i didn’t find anything definitive on the matter either. Thanks for your input.

[DawnTX in reply to 2learn]

my Cardiologist knows exactly exactly what I’m on for everything and he is very careful. His answer to me as I mentioned was I might even feel better. He is not the type to jump up and down excited about something but the fact that he even commented like that says that there must be something in them that is good for us. I have been on Xarelto from day one never had side effects or problems with any meds. If you take anything over the counter, especially supplements. Make sure you ask vitamin K and I was told even bananas can cause problems, that is for me because of my meds but always check if you ended up in the hospital and couldn’t speak, etc., and taking OTC it could actually cause a lot of problems if they don’t know about it. just because it’s over the counter doesn’t mean it’s harmless. This happens to be a good thing. In fact I’ve got the one with beets in it.

[Gfern in reply to DawnTX]

I started taking 100 mg Coq 10 about a month ago and have not experienced any issues so far. I am feeling ok at the moment but that might be due to the pacemaker I got in June. Although I am feeling marginally better from when they were suggested to me by my doctor in August when I was feeling tired, which is when he made the suggestion. I suppose it’s not possible to know any benefits until you cease taking them now. However I trust my doctor and if he suggested them then it’s worth trying.

I see you stopped taking them after your meds review, did you notice any difference when you stopped?

I will continue with them for 3 months and then see how I feel.