Coenzyme Q10 100 mg, 30 capsules

Coenzyme Q10 is a fat-soluble substance, also called ubiquinone in the literature. It is found in almost all human cells, in their mitochondria. That is why it is called a coenzyme: it is a helper substance that enzymes need in order to work.

A small part of coenzyme Q10 comes with food, but the body makes most of it itself. This own production tends to decline with age, and it is also influenced by diet and other everyday habits. In nature the substance is present in foods of both animal and plant origin, so there is nothing exotic about it. In supplements, coenzyme Q10 is usually added as a separate substance in a set dose in milligrams.

Coenzyme Q10 exists in two forms. Ubiquinone is the oxidised form, ubiquinol the reduced form. Both are present in the body and convert into one another. Supplements most often use ubiquinone, but some manufacturers offer ubiquinol in oil suspensions or softgel capsules.

This product contains ubiquinone, 100 mg per capsule. The capsule is hard, with a shell of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, so it contains no gelatine. The powder blend contains the bulking agents dicalcium phosphate and microcrystalline cellulose, and the anti-caking agents magnesium salts of fatty acids and silicon dioxide. Magnesium salts of fatty acids are a technological aid, not a dose of magnesium, so do not count them as an amount of mineral in this capsule.

Coenzyme Q10 occurs in foods of both animal and plant origin. The substance is fat-soluble, so it usually comes together with foods that contain fat.

• Meat, especially beef and chicken.
• Offal: heart, liver, kidneys.
• Oily fish: herring, sardines, mackerel, tuna, salmon.
• Eggs, mainly the yolk.
• Plant foods: soya, spinach, broccoli, nuts and seeds, vegetable oils.

Amounts differ between these foods.

The easiest way is to tie the capsule to something you already do. For example, put the jar next to the dishes or the glass you use every day at the same time. The label says: adults take one capsule a day, duration of use 30 days. This pack is exactly big enough for the course to run to the end.

Coenzyme Q10 is fat-soluble, so it is convenient to take with a meal that contains fat, for example lunch. If you take several products containing the same substance at once, add up the total amount and do not exceed the dose stated on the label. Not exceeding the recommended daily dose is a rule on the label, not a suggestion.

The label has a section on the content of one capsule, and it states one figure: coenzyme Q10 100 mg. There is no column with percentages of a reference value here, so go by the milligrams.

• Order of ingredients: first the bulking agents, then ubiquinone, then the capsule shell and the anti-caking agents. The order reflects quantity in descending order.
• Net weight is 15.6 g for 30 capsules, so one capsule weighs 520 mg on average, of which 100 mg is coenzyme Q10.
• Dose: 1 capsule a day, duration of use 30 days.
• Warnings: not recommended in case of individual intolerance to any ingredient, or for women during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Keep out of the reach of children, in the original pack, in a dry place at room temperature.
• A food supplement does not replace a complete and balanced diet.

The product is made in Latvia. Health claims apply in the context of a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.

The price per day is €0.13 for coenzyme Q10, €0.26 for astaxanthin and €0.18 for the omega-3 product. If you want a capsule with a single substance and a clear 100 mg dose, this product is a simple choice. Astaxanthin and omega-3 are for those who are looking for that particular substance rather than coenzyme Q10.

Are these capsules suitable for vegetarians?

The shell of the coenzyme Q10 capsules is made of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, a plant-based material, and there is no gelatine in the composition. The other excipients are common technological ingredients: dicalcium phosphate, microcrystalline cellulose, magnesium salts of fatty acids and silicon dioxide. Read the label before use, because the composition may change over time.

Where should I store coenzyme Q10 capsules?

Store coenzyme Q10 capsules in the original pack, in a dry place at room temperature, out of the reach of children. That means no fridge is needed. The bathroom is not the best place, because it is damp. A kitchen or bedroom drawer is better, away from direct sunlight.

Can I take the capsule with coffee?

For coenzyme Q10 capsules the label sets no restriction on coffee or tea. The advice not to take with tea or coffee applies to iron products. Here the only practical tip is to choose a meal that contains fat, because coenzyme Q10 is fat-soluble.

What should I do if I miss a dose?

Carry on taking the coenzyme Q10 capsules as usual and take the next capsule the next day. There is no reason to take two capsules in one day, because the label says not to exceed the recommended daily dose. If you forget regularly, it helps to put the jar in a visible place next to things you use every day.

Is the product suitable during pregnancy and breastfeeding?

Coenzyme Q10 is not recommended for women during pregnancy and breastfeeding, as stated on the label. The same rule applies in case of individual intolerance to any ingredient. If you take other supplements or medicines, talk to a doctor or pharmacist before adding this product.

Can I take two products with coenzyme Q10 at the same time?

This product contains 100 mg of coenzyme Q10 per capsule, and the label recommends one capsule a day. If you take another product with coenzyme Q10, add up the total amount and do not exceed the dose recommended on the label. It is simpler to stay with one product with a clear dose per capsule.