CoQ10 for Mitochondrial Support in CFS/ME

CoQ10 may help people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) by:

• Boosting energy production in cells

• Reducing fatigue and brain fog

• Improving overall wellbeing

Key facts about CoQ10 for CFS/ME:

Aspect	Details
Recommended dose	200mg CoQ10 + 20mg NADH daily
Study duration	8-12 weeks
Main benefits	Less fatigue, better cognition, improved quality of life
How it works	Supports mitochondrial function and energy production
Safety	Generally safe, but talk to your doctor first

While CoQ10 shows promise, it’s not a cure. Use it as part of a broader CFS/ME management plan under medical supervision. More research is needed on long-term effects.

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What is CoQ10?

CoQ10 is a substance found in every cell of our body. It helps cells make energy and protects them from harm. There are two main types of CoQ10:

Type	Description	How well the body absorbs it
Ubiquinone	The oxidized form	Not as well
Ubiquinol	The reduced form	Better

As we get older, our bodies make less CoQ10. It’s most common in parts of the body that need lots of energy, like the heart and liver.

CoQ10 does two main jobs:

1. Helps make energy in cells

2. Protects cells from damage

These jobs make CoQ10 useful for people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME), who often have problems with cell energy.

You can get some CoQ10 from food:

• Fish like salmon and tuna

• Organ meats like liver

• Whole grains

• Vegetable oils

• Nuts and seeds

But it’s hard to get enough CoQ10 just from food. That’s why some people take CoQ10 supplements.

CoQ10 supplements come in different forms:

• Soft gel capsules

• Hard shell capsules

• Tablets

• Oral sprays

• Chewable wafers

It’s best to take CoQ10 with a meal that has some fat. This helps your body absorb it better. Before you start taking CoQ10, talk to your doctor. They can help you figure out how much to take and which type is best for you.

Mitochondrial Problems in CFS/ME

Mitochondria, the parts of cells that make energy, don’t work well in people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME). This might be why people with CFS/ME feel so tired. Let’s look at what goes wrong:

Not Enough ATP

ATP is the main energy source for cells. In CFS/ME:

• Cells make less ATP

• There’s less ATP in the blood

• Cells have trouble making ATP

This lack of ATP is likely why people with CFS/ME feel so tired.

Changes in Mitochondria Shape

Some studies found that mitochondria in CFS/ME patients look different:

• The folds inside mitochondria are shaped oddly

• The overall number of mitochondria stays the same

These shape changes might make it harder for mitochondria to make energy.

Problems with Energy-Making Parts

The parts that help make energy in mitochondria are different in CFS/ME:

Cell Type	What’s Different
Certain white blood cells	More energy-making parts
Other white blood cells	More energy-making parts

These changes might be the body’s way of trying to make more energy.

Issues with Energy Production

Studies show that mitochondria in CFS/ME don’t work as well:

• They have less electrical charge

• They use oxygen differently

• They make energy differently in various types of cells

These problems show that mitochondria aren’t working right in CFS/ME.

Changes in How the Body Uses Food

CFS/ME affects how the body turns food into energy:

• Changes in how sugar is used

• Different levels of amino acids in the blood

• Less CoQ10 in certain blood cells

These changes support the idea that CFS/ME affects how the body makes and uses energy.

While we’re learning more about how mitochondria problems affect CFS/ME, we still need more research to fully understand it. This information could help find new ways to treat CFS/ME.

Using CoQ10 for CFS/ME

CoQ10 might help people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME). Many CFS/ME patients have low levels of CoQ10 in their blood and muscles, which could be why they feel so tired.

Studies on CoQ10 for CFS/ME

Some studies have looked at how CoQ10 might help CFS/ME patients:

Study	What They Did	How Long	What They Found
Castro-Marrero et al. (2015)	Gave 200mg CoQ10 + 20mg NADH daily	8 weeks	Less tired, lower heart rate during exercise
Castro-Marrero et al. (2021)	Gave 200mg CoQ10 + 20mg NADH daily	12 weeks	Less tired, better sleep, felt better overall

These studies show that CoQ10, especially when taken with NADH, can help with CFS/ME symptoms.

How Much to Take and For How Long

Based on these studies:

• Amount: 200mg of CoQ10 each day, often with 20mg of NADH

• How Long: People felt better after 8-12 weeks of taking it every day

• What Kind: Look for CoQ10 that has been tested to work well in the body

Remember, everyone is different. Talk to your doctor before starting any new supplements.

What CoQ10 Might Do and Its Limits

CoQ10 might help CFS/ME patients by:

• Helping cells make more energy

• Protecting cells from damage

• Making mitochondria work better

• Making people feel less tired

But it’s important to know that CoQ10 is not a cure for CFS/ME. It might help some people more than others. It should be part of a bigger plan to manage CFS/ME.

Is It Safe?

CoQ10 is usually safe, but some people might have mild side effects like:

• Loose stools

• Upset stomach

• Burning feeling in the chest

People with heart problems, kidney or liver issues, or diabetes should be careful. CoQ10 can also affect how some medicines work, like blood thinners and cholesterol medicines. Always check with your doctor first.

1. CoQ10

CoQ10 (Coenzyme Q10) is a substance that helps cells make energy and protects them from harm. It might help people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) feel better.

How It Works

CoQ10 helps the parts of cells that make energy (mitochondria) work better. These parts often don’t work well in people with CFS/ME. CoQ10 helps turn food into energy that cells can use. This might help with the low energy that many CFS/ME patients feel.

How Well It Works

Studies show that CoQ10 might help CFS/ME patients:

Study	People in Study	How Long	What They Found
Castro-Marrero et al. (2016)	73 CFS/ME patients	8 weeks	Less tired, better heart rate during exercise
Castro-Marrero et al. (2021)	CFS/ME patients	12 weeks	Less tired, better sleep, felt better overall

These studies used CoQ10 with another substance called NADH. Together, they seemed to help CFS/ME symptoms.

How Much to Take

Based on these studies, here’s what worked:

• 200 mg of CoQ10 each day

• Often taken with 20 mg of NADH

• Taken for 8-12 weeks to see changes

Remember, everyone is different. Talk to your doctor before taking any new supplements.

Side Effects

CoQ10 is usually safe, but some people might have:

• Upset stomach

• Feeling sick

• Headaches

• Trouble sleeping

If you have health problems or take other medicines, ask your doctor if CoQ10 is safe for you.

CoQ10 might help with CFS/ME symptoms, but it’s not a cure. It should be part of a bigger plan to manage CFS/ME, guided by a doctor.

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2. NADH

NADH (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide + Hydrogen) is a supplement that might help people with CFS/ME by supporting their cell energy makers.

How It Works

NADH helps cells turn food into energy. It makes ATP, which is the main energy source for cells. People with CFS/ME often don’t have enough ATP, so NADH might help their cells make more energy.

How Well It Works

Some studies have looked at how NADH helps people with CFS/ME:

Study	People in Study	How Long	What They Found
Santaella et al. (2004)	26 CFS patients	4 weeks	31% felt better with NADH, 8% with fake pill
Castro-Marrero et al. (2021)	CFS/ME patients	12 weeks	Less tired, better sleep, felt better overall

These studies show that NADH, especially when taken with CoQ10, might help CFS/ME patients feel better.

How Much to Take

Based on these studies, here’s what worked:

• 20 mg of NADH each day

• Often taken with 200 mg of CoQ10

• Taken for 4-12 weeks

Remember, everyone is different. Talk to your doctor before taking any new supplements.

Side Effects

NADH is usually safe when taken by mouth in the right amount. But some people might have:

• Trouble sleeping

• Feeling worried

• Feeling sick

• Headaches

Always check with your doctor before taking NADH, especially if you take other medicines or have health problems.

3. L-carnitine

How It Works

L-carnitine helps cells make energy. It moves fatty acids into mitochondria, the parts of cells that make energy. For people with CFS/ME, taking L-carnitine might help their cells work better.

How Well It Works

Some studies have looked at how L-carnitine helps people with CFS/ME:

Year	Study	What They Found
1997	L-Carnitine Treatment	Patients felt better and had few side effects
2004	Study on similar substances	Might help CFS patients
2011	Study on fat burning	CFS patients might not burn fat well

These studies show that L-carnitine might help some people with CFS/ME feel better.

Side Effects

L-carnitine is usually safe when taken as told. But some people might have:

• Upset stomach

• Throwing up

• Loose stools

Some people should be careful:

• People with thyroid problems

• People taking thyroid medicine

• People taking blood thinners

• People who have had seizures

How Much to Take

Studies have used:

• 1-2 grams of L-carnitine each day

• Taken for 4 to 12 weeks

Always talk to your doctor before taking L-carnitine, especially if you have health problems or take other medicines.

4. D-ribose

How It Works

D-ribose is a simple sugar that helps cells make energy. It’s part of ATP, the main energy source for cells. For people with CFS/ME who have trouble making energy, taking D-ribose might help.

How Well It Works

There’s not much research on D-ribose for CFS/ME, but what we have looks good:

Study	What They Found
Small study in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine	People felt better: more energy, better sleep, clearer thinking, less pain

Some doctors suggest D-ribose for CFS/ME patients because it might help cells make more energy.

Side Effects

D-ribose is usually safe, but some people might have:

• Changes in blood sugar (watch out if you have diabetes)

• Upset stomach

If you have blood sugar problems, talk to your doctor before taking D-ribose.

How Much to Take

Here’s what studies and doctors suggest:

Amount	How Often	Notes
3-5 grams	Once a day	Start with this
5 grams	Three times a day	For bad cases
10-15 grams	Once a day	Most used in studies

Start with less and take more if needed. Take it every day to keep your energy up. Always ask your doctor before starting any new supplement.

Good and Bad Points

Let’s look at the ups and downs of CoQ10 and other supplements that help cell energy makers in CFS/ME patients:

Supplement	Good Points	Bad Points
CoQ10	– More energy – Better thinking – Less tired – Helps heart health	– Costs a lot – Might not mix well with some medicines – Might cause mild problems (not often)
NADH	– Makes more energy – Helps thinking – Makes mood better	– Not much known about long-term use – Might make sleep hard – Might make some people worry
L-carnitine	– Helps move fats in cells – Less acid buildup in muscles – Better energy use	– Might upset stomach – Might make body smell fishy – Might not mix well with some medicines
D-ribose	– Helps make cell energy – Makes exercise easier – Helps sleep better	– Might change blood sugar – Not much known about long-term safety – Might upset stomach

These supplements might help CFS/ME symptoms, but they work differently for each person. CoQ10 has shown good results in many studies, helping with tiredness, thinking, and overall life quality for CFS/ME patients.

But taking these supplements for a long time can cost a lot, especially good CoQ10. Also, while problems are usually small and rare, they can happen.

It’s very important for CFS/ME patients to talk to their doctors before taking any new supplements. This helps make sure:

• They take the right amount

• The supplements don’t cause problems with their other medicines

• Any side effects or changes in how they feel are watched

In the end, deciding to use these supplements should be based on:

• What each person needs for their health

• How much the supplements might help

• Thinking carefully about possible problems

A plan made just for each person, maybe using more than one of these supplements with a doctor’s help, might work best for dealing with CFS/ME symptoms.

Summary

CoQ10 might help people with CFS/ME feel better. Here’s what studies show:

1. Less tired, better life: People taking CoQ10 and NADH felt less tired and had a better life overall.

2. Low CoQ10 in blood: CFS/ME patients often have less CoQ10 in their blood than healthy people.

3. Link to symptoms: People with less CoQ10 often feel more tired and have more trouble thinking.

4. How it might work: CoQ10 might wake up sleeping parts of cells that make energy.

5. Works well with NADH: Taking CoQ10 (200mg) with NADH (20mg) every day for 8 weeks helped people feel better.

Things to remember:

• You might need to keep taking it to feel better

• It works differently for each person

• It might cause some side effects

• We need more studies to know if it’s safe to take for a long time

In short, CoQ10 with NADH might help with CFS/ME symptoms. But talk to your doctor before taking any new pills.

Pill	How much to take each day	How it helps	What to think about
CoQ10	200mg	Less tired, better thinking	Can be expensive, might not mix well with other pills
NADH	20mg	More energy, better mood	We don’t know much about taking it for a long time

CFS/ME is tricky. Your doctor might suggest taking more than one kind of pill to help you feel better.

FAQs

Can CoQ10 help chronic fatigue?

Studies show CoQ10 might help people with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS/ME):

What We Know	Details
Study results	Taking 200mg CoQ10 + 20mg NADH daily for 8 weeks helped with tiredness and overall well-being
CoQ10 levels	CFS/ME patients often have less CoQ10 in their blood and muscles than healthy people
How it might work	CoQ10 helps cell parts that make energy work better

Things to keep in mind:

• It might work differently for each person

• We need more studies to know if it’s safe to take for a long time

• Talk to your doctor before taking CoQ10, especially if you have CFS/ME

Taking CoQ10	What to Know
How much	200mg CoQ10 + 20mg NADH each day
How long	Studies lasted 8 weeks
What it helped with	Less tired, felt better overall

Remember: Always check with your doctor before starting any new pills or vitamins.

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