Coenzyme Q10 is a vitamin like substance found throughout the body.
For a general introduction Coenzyme Q10, check out our earlier blog here.
Previous studies reported benefits of coenzyme Q10 supplementation in:
- Fibromyalgia
- Long COVID
- Multiple sclerosis
- Coronary heart disease
- Obesity
- Athletes
- Healthy adults
But what about CFS?
To date, two studies measured coenzyme Q10 blood levels in people with CFS.
In a 2009 study researchers from Krakow in Poland and Antwerp in Belgium measured blood levels of coenzyme Q10 in people with CFS and compared these levels to people without CFS who were the same age and gender.
Further, the lower the blood coenzyme Q10 level the worse the fatigue, memory, concentration, heart rate, blood pressure.
The researchers suggests that low coenzyme Q10 levels are 'another risk factor explaining the early mortality in cFs due to cardiovascular disorders'.
A more recent 2016 study from Japan reported that 95% of the people with CFS patients had significantly lower total plasma coenzyme Q10 levels than would be expected.
But the key question is:
Is coenzyme Q10 an effective for the nutritional treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)?
To date, there are 5 studies which have studied the effects of coenzyme Q10 supplementation in people with CFS.
These 5 studies with coenzyme Q10 supplementation reported:
- decreased fatigue
- decreased inflammation
- decreased pain
- improved cognitive performance performance
- improvement in mood and decreases in depression scores
- improved sleep
- improved heart rate control
- decreased heart rate after exercise
- increased blood coenzyme Q10 levels
- increased blood biomarkers of energy production (including NADH)
- increased antioxidant capacity
- decreased oxidative stress
- improved quality of life
It is important to note that these studies used 150mg up to 400mg of coenzyme Q10. Many popular coenzyme Q10 supplements contain much lower levels than this. If you are looking for an anti-fatigue benefit with coenzyme Q10, seeking for a product with at least 150mg coenzyme Q10 seems wise!
In addition to coenzyme Q10, other supplements which are scientifically demonstrated to improve ME include:
- Cocoa, specific polyphenol-flavonoid rich cocoa
- Rhodiola rosea
- Magnesium
- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D3
Although, there is no scientific data for the following nutrients from research studies among individuals with ME, there is strong rationale that these dietary components could be beneficial:
Some supplements which have been tested in ME but failed to provide any benefit include:
