Can CoQ10 help treat mental health problems?
CoQ10, a cofactor enzyme otherwise known as ubiquinone, is present in every cell in the body and required in order for the body to convert food into energy. It is also an important antioxidant, and indeed many of its therapeutic uses relate directly to CoQ10’s powerful antioxidant properties. CoQ10 deficiency has been known to control the immune response in cases of sepsis (this isn’t a positive in this context since the immune system must act quickly and dramatically to fight this kind of issue), and also contributes to oxidative stress throughout all of the body’s tissues.
Besides the mental health related problems below, CoQ10 has also been used successfully in the treatment of the following conditions:
- Heart failure (patients with congestive heart failure are likely to have CoQ10 deficiency)
- Edema (of the legs and lungs)
- High blood pressure / Hypertension
- High cholesterol (patients with hypercholesterolemia often have low CoQ10 levels)
- Statin myopathy
- Diabetes (CoQ10 regulates blood sugar)
- Chemotherapy-induced heart damage
- Gum disease
- Male infertility
- Poor immunity / Poor immune function
- Parkinson’s disease
- Migraines
- Cancer
- Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
- Post-heart attack care
CoQ10 as a Treatment for Traumatic Brain Injury
One study done on rats observed that in rats with brain injury caused by physical trauma, the malondialdehyde levels in the rats’ brains were higher; higher malondialdehyde levels indicate a higher proportion of free radicals, which can cause additional damage to tissues. Free radicals can also damage lipids (fats) in the brain, leading to various types of dysfunction due to poor cellular communication.Administration of CoQ10 after traumatic brain injury was able to successfully lower malondialdehyde levels. In this study, a dose of 10mg/kg of CoQ10 was administered immediately following the injury (note that this dose of CoQ10 has also been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of ischemic injury and spinal cord trauma). The study concluded that CoQ10 may effectively protect neurons in the brain.
Another study observed a group of patients in intensive care who took 400mg of CoQ10 per day for 7 days. Researchers observed that CoQ10 supplementation reduced the levels of inflammatory cytokine IL-6. This study also confirmed that CoQ10 reduces malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Administration of CoQ10 was also able to significantly reduce the length of ICU stay in the patients participating in the study; decreased plasma levels of CoQ10 have also been correlated with increased mortality in other studies done previously.
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CoQ10 as a PTSD Treatment
Inflammation is notably increased in patients with PTSD, with specific inflammation markers like IFN-gamma, IL-6, and IL-1-beta (as well as TNF-alpha in PTSD patients who aren’t taking medication). As discussed above, CoQ10 has been shown to successfully reduce levels of IL-6 in patients with traumatic injury, and thus is likely to decrease the activity of this cytokine across various situations. Mitochondrial function and the gut microbiome are directly affected by this kind of inflammation that’s seen in patients with PTSD.By reducing inflammation and acting as an antioxidant, CoQ10 can ultimately help restore mitochondrial function (thus increasing energy levels throughout the body), as well as a healthy gut microbiome.
CoQ10: A Gulf War Syndrome Treatment
Since CoQ10 can help restore mitochondrial function, it’s a perfect candidate for the treatment of Gulf War Syndrome. Pesticides and “medicines” administered to soldiers during the Gulf War contain bromine, among other toxic substances, which damage the mitochondria. One study observed that Gulf War veterans who received 100mg/day of CoQ10 had improved physical functioning that was directly correlated with the amount of CoQ10 present in their blood. Headaches, excitation, irritability, fatigue, muscle pain, and memory problems all improved after administration of CoQ10.Read about Lugol's iodine as a cure for Gulf War Syndrome in this article.
CoQ10 for Anxiety and Depression
CoQ10 has been shown to help reduce the symptoms of both anxiety and depression. One 2016 study observed that, in a group of patients with multiple sclerosis, fatigue and depression symptoms decreased significantly, while the patients in the placebo group actually saw an increase in these symptoms. In this study, the patients received 500mg of CoQ10 each day for 12 weeks.Another study observed the effects of a daily dose of 200mg of CoQ10 on patients with bipolar disorder who were then experiencing a depressive episode. The patients in the group who received Co10 showed a greater reduction in depression symptoms over the course of the 8 week study than the patients who received a placebo.
CoQ10 is safe to take during pregnancy and lactation, and therefore may be a helpful natural treatment for women experiencing anxiety or depression while pregnant or breastfeeding. Click here to read about some other treatments for perinatal and postpartum anxiety/depression.
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How to Take CoQ10
CoQ10 should be taken at a dose of at least 200-400mg per day, ideally with a fatty meal (CoQ10 is fat soluble, so its absorption is best when it’s combined with fat). There are many different types of CoQ10 available on the market, but generally, soft gel CoQ10 capsules are better absorbed than others. You can also increase the number of CoQ10 rich foods that you eat, such as by eating oily fish (like salmon), organ meats (especially liver), and whole grains.If you take the following medications, you’re especially likely to be deficient in CoQ10:
- Statin drugs, including atorvastatin (Lipitor) and others.
- Fibric acid derivative drugs for high cholesterol levels, like gemfibrozil (Lopid)
- Beta-blockers, such as metoprolol (Lopressor or Toprol)
- Tricyclic antidepressants, like amitriptyline (Elavil)
Side Effects and Drug Interactions
CoQ10 has been shown to lower blood sugar, so diabetics should be aware of this before taking CoQ10 so as to avoid low blood sugar levels.Some research indicates that CoQ10 may interfere with some chemotherapy medications; by the same vein, CoQ10 can help damage caused by chemo and radiation treatments. CoQ10 specifically helps reduce the toxic effects on the heart of the chemotherapy drugs known as doxorubicin and daunorubicin.
CoQ10 supports the effects of blood pressure medications since CoQ10 also lowers blood pressure. This nutritional supplement may help people taking hypertension medicines to get off these drugs.
CoQ10 may reduce the effects of some blood thinning medications like warfarin.
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Resources:
• Beychok, Tina (2019). Don’t worry, be happy: CoQ10 for anxiety and depression. Retrieved October 8, 2023 from: https://www.chiroeco.com/coq10-for-anxiety/
• Kalayci, Murat (2011). Effect of Coenzyme Q10 on ischemia and neuronal damage in an experimental traumatic brain injury model in rats. Retrieved October 9, 2023 from: https://bmcneurosci.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2202-12-75
• Mount Sinai (n.d). Coenzyme Q10. Retrieved October 9, 2023 from:https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/supplement/coenzyme-q10#:~:text=Coenzyme%20Q10%20(CoQ10)%20is%20a,and%20even%20cause%20cell%20death.
• Wikipedia (2023). Coenzyme Q10. Retrieved October 9, 2023 from:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coenzyme_Q10
• Valizade Hasanloei, Mohammad Amin, et. al. (2021). Effect of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on oxidative stress and clinical outcomes in patients with low coenzyme Q10 admitted to the intensive care unit. Retrieved October 10, 2023 from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8278158/
• Brubaker, Michelle (2014). Coenzyme Q10 Helps Veterans Battle Gulf War Illness Symptoms. Retrieved October 10, 2023 from: https://today.ucsd.edu/story/coenzyme_q10_helps_veterans_battle_gulf_war_illness_symptoms
• Saverio Bersani, F., et. al. (2020). Novel Pharmacological Targets for Combat PTSD - Metabolism, Inflammation, The Gut Microbiome, and Mitochondrial Dysfunction. Retrieved October 10, 2023 from: https://academic.oup.com/milmed/article/185/Supplement_1/311/5740670
