CoQ10 for the heart? The benefits I wasn’t aware of (but am banking, in perimenopause)
If you’ve spent any time researching fertility or wellbeing supplements, you’ve probably come across CoQ10 and its active, most bioavailable form – ubiquinol. It’s often talked about in relation to egg quality, mitochondrial health and energy production (something we’ve explored in our guide to the best CoQ10 for fertility).
But recently, while digging deeper into the science (and especially as someone entering the perimenopause years – I turned 40 last week) I’ve become increasingly aware of CoQ10 as one of the most researched nutrients for heart health.
Considering that cardiovascular disease remains the number one cause of death in women, it’s worth refocusing the spotlight. Particularly as we move through the hormonal transitions of midlife – did you know that the natural drop in estrogen as we move into menopause can have a profound effect on cardiovascular risk?
It hasn’t always been on my radar, but it really is now.
To help break down the science behind this increasingly popular cardio supplement, I pinged my questions to Risa Schulman, Ph.D., President of Tap~Root and Senior Science and Regulatory Advisor to Kaneka Nutrients, global leaders in the production of high-quality ubiquinol.
One for your radar: Kaneka Ubiquinol is the practitioner-recommended CoQ10 go-to supplement we’ve all got our eye on, backed by 50 years of research.
Back to our cardio supplement refresh – here’s what I’ve learned.
Pre or mid-menopause? Heart health deserves your attention
Many of us reach our 40s thinking about hormones, sleep, mood and metabolism, but heart health should also be firmly in focus during perimenopause and beyond. And here’s why.
Before menopause, estrogen provides several protective effects for the cardiovascular system. It helps support:
- healthy blood vessel function
- favourable cholesterol balance
- antioxidant protection within cells
But as estrogen levels begin to fluctuate and decline during perimenopause, these protective effects gradually lessen.
This partly explains why the risk of cardiovascular disease increases after menopause. And, why doctors increasingly emphasize preventative heart health strategies for women in midlife.
The encouraging news? The same lifestyle pillars we often talk about for hormone balance are also powerful for heart health:
- strength training and regular movement (something we explore in our guide to strength training in menopause)
- a nutrient-rich diet rich in fiber, healthy fats and antioxidants
- good sleep and stress management
- targeted supplementation where appropriate
That last point is where nutrients like CoQ10 are increasingly entering the conversation.
How does CoQ10 support the heart?
At a cellular level, CoQ10 plays a fundamental role in energy production.
As Dr. Schulman explains:
“CoQ10, and its antioxidant form ubiquinol, play a key role in the production of cellular energy, turning the food you eat into a usable form of energy for all of your cells, tissues and organs.”
This process happens inside structures called mitochondria, tiny organelles within cells often described as the body’s power plants.
And interestingly, the heart contains more mitochondria than any other organ in the body.
Remember – the heart is constantly working. Every beat requires energy and that energy depends on healthy mitochondrial function.
Ubiquinol, the active antioxidant form of CoQ10, supports this system in two key ways:
- fueling cellular energy production
- protecting mitochondria from oxidative stress
Together, these functions help maintain healthy cell function, circulation and overall cardiovascular health.
Why ubiquinol matters
Not all CoQ10 supplements are created equal.
In the body, CoQ10 exists in two forms:
- ubiquinone
- ubiquinol (the active antioxidant form)
While both forms are related, ubiquinol is the form that circulates in the bloodstream.
If you take regular CoQ10 (alarm bells should ring if the container doesn’t state which form you’re getting), the body first has to convert it into ubiquinol in order to transport it in the blood to the rest of your body. Crucially, this conversion becomes less efficient as we age.
According to Kaneka’s research, ubiquinol is also about twice as well absorbed as standard CoQ10, making it a popular choice for people specifically looking for supplements that support heart health and aging.
Who might benefit most, heart-wise?
One of the most interesting things about CoQ10 is how its levels change over time.
Dr. Schulman explains that natural CoQ10 levels begin to decline in our 30s, with the drop accelerating with age.
That’s one reason supplementation is often discussed as part of a healthy ageing protocol.
People who may particularly benefit include:
Adults over 40
As natural levels fall, supplementation can help maintain optimal mitochondrial function and cellular energy.
Women in perimenopause and menopause
Hormonal changes during these years can increase oxidative stress, something ubiquinol’s antioxidant properties can help counter.
People taking statins
Statin medications reduce cholesterol production, but they also reduce the body’s production of CoQ10 (more on that below).
CoQ10 and statins
There’s a key connection between these two, and it comes down to biology.
Statins work by blocking the body’s cholesterol production pathway. But that same pathway also produces CoQ10.
So while statins effectively lower cholesterol, they can also reduce the body’s natural CoQ10 levels.
As Dr. Schulman explains, “research has demonstrated that ubiquinol can effectively replenish depleted levels of CoQ10 from statin medication use.”
When is the best time to take CoQ10 with statins?
For people taking statins long-term, many clinicians recommend taking CoQ10 alongside the medication to support cellular energy production and overall heart health.
As for timing, CoQ10 supplements are typically taken with a meal containing fat to support absorption, and many people take them at the same time as their statin or earlier in the day, but it’s always best to follow the advice of your healthcare provider.
Does CoQ10 reduce cholesterol?
CoQ10 is not a cholesterol-lowering supplement.
Instead, it works in a different way by supporting cellular energy production, mitochondrial health and antioxidant protection.
That’s why CoQ10 is often described as a heart support supplement, rather than something designed to directly reduce cholesterol levels.
CoQ10 and menopause: why it’s on my radar
This is the part that really caught my attention.
Estrogen levels decline during the menopausal transition,and estrogen has natural antioxidant effects in the body.
Research shows that this hormonal shift is associated with increased oxidative stress, which can affect long-term cardiovascular health.
Dr. Schulman clarifies here that, “perimenopause is when hormone levels begin to fluctuate. Taking ubiquinol at this time and forward can help maintain healthy levels of antioxidants as estrogen begins to exert less of its antioxidant effects.”
So, supporting the body’s antioxidant systems during this transition may be beneficial for overall wellbeing and heart health.
The takeaway
For many of us, CoQ10 first appears on the radar through fertility or energy research.
But the more I look into it, the more I get that it’s also one of the most interesting nutrients for long-term heart health, particularly for women (like me) moving into their 40s and beyond.
To recap, CoQ10 (especially in its ubiquinol form) may support:
- cellular energy production
- mitochondrial function
- antioxidant protection
- circulation and cardiovascular health
- healthy ageing, including during perimenopause and menopause
As always, supplements work best as part of a broader wellbeing strategy, including diet, movement, sleep and stress management.
But if you’re building your midlife health toolkit, CoQ10 – and remember, we’re looking for that active ubiquinol form – is one nutrient that might deserve a place on the list.
