Coenzyme Q10 (or CoQ10 for short) is a fat-soluble compound produced by your body and stored in the mitochondria of your cells.
CoQ10 helps generate energy in your cells and protects against oxidative damage, though production decreases as you age, and many older people are deficient in CoQ10.
Because of its antioxidant effects, many people believe that the best CoQ10 supplements can protect against chronic diseases and promote fertility. In this article, we’ll explore the health benefits of Coenzyme Q10 and the link between CoQ10 and fertility to help you improve your chances of starting a family.
Coenzyme Q10 (also known as ubiquinone) can be found in various states, though the most common form is Ubiquinol, which is fully reduced, or not oxidised at all. Ubiquinol is mainly responsible for the antioxidant effects of CoQ10, but is more expensive to produce, making it much rarer in dietary supplements, though ubiquinone has very similar health benefits.
RELATED: Learn more about the different forms of CoQ10 in our article on the Differences Between Coq10 and Ubiquinol here.
Introduction
Research shows that CoQ10 plays several key roles in your body, helping produce ATP (which is involved with cellular energy transfer), and protecting against oxidative damage. Since ATP is used to carry out all the body’s functions and oxidative damage is linked to many chronic diseases, it’s not surprising that CoQ10 supplements have been recommended for infertility.
Furthermore, oxidative damage is believed to be a major factor in decreased fertility levels, as it affects the quality and quantity of sperm and egg cells. Multiple studies have found that supplementing with Coenzyme Q10 may help to improve fertility, so the best CoQ10 supplements may help you start a family.
Is Coq10 Supplement Good For Fertility?
Female fertility decreases with age – due to the declining quality and quantity of available egg cells – which is linked to CoQ10 as your body’s natural CoQ10 production also declines as you age. Similarly, male fertility tends to decrease with age due to oxidative damage and other age-related health issues, resulting in reduced sperm count, quality and motility.
RELATED: Learn more about the wider health benefits of Coenzyme Q10 in our article explaining what CoQ10 is used for.
Supplementing with CoQ10 may help or even reverse age-related declines in fertility by restoring levels of CoQ10 in your body and protecting against oxidative damage. Several studies show that CoQ10 supplements may help reduce declining egg levels in women and improve sperm quality in men. Therefore, the best CoQ10 supplements could help you conceive if you’ve been struggling with fertility.
How Quickly Does Coq10 Work?
CoQ10 supplements generally work quite fast, and studies show they can help with various ailments after a few weeks of supplementation. For example, studies show that supplementing with CoQ10 can improve symptoms of heart disease after 12 weeks, which may seem like a long while, but that’s the standard duration for similar small-scale studies.
RELATED: Figuring out how long to take supplements before you see the benefits is tough, and our blog on restoring your vitamin D levels has more tips for proper nutrition.
Contrastingly, most available studies on the link between CoQ10 and fertility do not specify a timeframe for the benefits to take effect. For this reason, we recommend taking the best CoQ10 supplements for your situation for at least 12 weeks (around 3 months) before deciding they don’t work for you.
