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What is IO Genix Coenzyme Q10 Ubiquinone?
IO Genix Coenzyme Q10 Ubiquinone is a supplement in softgel pearls. Each pearl provides 100 mg of coenzyme Q10 in the ubiquinone form, combined with 130 mg of linseed oil. The box contains 60 pearls, that is a two-month course at one intake a day.
Coenzyme Q10 is a molecule the body makes itself and which is found in high concentration in the most active tissues, notably the heart and the muscles. It is involved in the mitochondrial respiratory chain, that is at the very heart of the process by which the cell produces its energy. Its natural production declines with age, which explains the interest it attracts after fifty.
Three words circulate for the same family: coenzyme Q10, ubiquinone, ubiquinol. Ubiquinone is the oxidised form, ubiquinol the reduced form; the body moves from one to the other continuously. This product contains ubiquinone, the most common and the most stable form. The rest of the Spanish range can be found in our IO Genix section, and the other references in the category in our CoQ-10 section.
What does one Coenzyme Q10 pearl contain?
| Composition | Per pearl | % NRV |
|---|---|---|
| Coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinone) | 100 mg | Not established |
| Linseed oil (45% ALA) | 130 mg | Not established |
| of which alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) | 58.5 mg | Not established |
| Shell | Bovine gelatine pearl | |
| Packaging | 60 pearls, that is two months at one a day | |
100 mg per pearl is the reference dose for this molecule, the one found on the vast majority of serious products. You come across 30 mg formulas, which force you to swallow three of them, and 200 mg formulas, which have not been shown to do better. At 100 mg in a single pearl a day, there is nothing to calculate and nothing to split.
The linseed oil is not there by chance. Coenzyme Q10 dissolves in fat, not in water: without a fatty carrier, it crosses the digestive barrier very poorly. Encapsulating the molecule in an oily base is therefore a useful formulation decision, not a selling point. It is also what explains the instruction to take it with a meal: a meal containing fat does the same job as the oil in the pearl, only better.
One point of honesty about this linseed oil, however. Its 58.5 mg of alpha-linolenic acid is a marginal contribution: the amounts that matter for this fatty acid are counted in grams per day, not in tens of milligrams. So do not count this pearl as your omega-3 intake — for that, it is our omega 3 section you need to look at. The linseed oil here is a carrier, not a second active ingredient.
On the regulatory side, we have to be direct: no health claim is authorised in Europe for coenzyme Q10. Not on energy, not on oxidative stress, not on the heart, not on fatigue. The old version of this page claimed the opposite and also announced a manufacturing certification that we cannot verify, along with a mention of limited quantities intended to rush the purchase. All three have been removed.
Ingredients list
Pearl (bovine GELATINE, humectant: glycerine, colours: iron oxides and hydroxides E-172), linseed oil (Linum usitatissimum), ubiquinone (coenzyme Q10), emulsifier (sunflower lecithin E-322), thickeners (polyglycerol esters of fatty acids, white and yellow beeswax E-901).
May contain traces of NUTS, PEANUTS, EGGS, MILK, SULPHITES, FISH and SOYA.
How do you take IO Genix Coenzyme Q10?
Serving: 1 pearl. Liquid: a large glass of water. Timing: during a meal containing fat. Frequency: one intake a day, with no exceeding it. Duration: one box corresponds to a 60-day course.
The instruction about a fatty meal is not a formality, it is the condition that determines how effective the intake will be. Swallowed on an empty stomach with a glass of water, coenzyme Q10 is very poorly absorbed. Taken in the middle of a lunch that includes olive oil, fish, eggs or cheese, it is absorbed far better. Midday is generally the most convenient meal for this.
Regularity matters far more than the exact hour. Two months is what a box covers, and it is also a reasonable period over which to judge an active ingredient of this type. An irregular intake allows no conclusion, in either direction.
The manufacturer asks that you avoid taking it at the same time as an anticoagulant treatment, unless medical advice says otherwise. This precaution is a serious one and we come back to it below. It is not specific to this brand: it applies to every product based on coenzyme Q10.
For broader support, the pearl combines without redundancy with a multivitamin, a vitamin E or a standardised turmeric. If you introduce several products at the same time, space them out by a fortnight: it is the only way to know what is actually making a difference for you.
Who is coenzyme Q10 for, and who is it not for?
It is mainly of interest to adults over forty or fifty, in whom natural production is declining, and to the endurance athlete looking to add a baseline active ingredient to a routine already in place. It is a product with a very short formula — two active ingredients, one pearl a day — and that is a good criterion in a category where fifteen-component formulas are the norm.
It is not suitable for vegetarians or vegans: the shell is made of bovine gelatine. This is the most frequently overlooked piece of information on this type of product, and it settles the purchase for a share of customers. No plant-based version exists for this particular reference.
Nor is it suitable, without medical advice, for people on anticoagulant treatment. The reason deserves explaining rather than simply copying out: coenzyme Q10 is structurally close to vitamin K, and an interaction with vitamin K antagonists is documented. If you take an anticoagulant, the question is one for your doctor or your pharmacist before buying. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should also seek professional advice. The product is to be kept out of the reach of children.
What not to expect from it: this is not a stimulant, you will feel nothing when you take it, and that is perfectly normal for this type of molecule. It is not a product for immediate performance, it is not a fat burner, and it is not a treatment. Any question relating to the heart, to persistent fatigue or to ongoing medication is a matter for your doctor, never for a supplement bought on its own.
Coenzyme Q10 or omega 3, which should come first?
The two often end up in the same basket, and one of them is almost always more urgent than the other.
Omega 3 at a real dose — that is a fish oil providing several hundred milligrams of EPA and DHA per capsule — addresses a dietary shortfall that is common in France, in anyone who eats little oily fish. It has claims authorised in Europe and defined daily intake thresholds. If you take nothing today, that is where to start.
Coenzyme Q10 follows a different logic: it is not a nutrient that the diet supplies in significant amounts, and there is no deficiency in the classic sense. It has its place in someone whose dietary base is already sound and who wants to add a targeted active ingredient, particularly with age. It is no substitute for omega 3, and the 58.5 mg of ALA in this pearl in no way replaces them.
The two go together very well, at the same meal, one even acting as the fatty carrier for the other. And if your need is more about general vitamin and mineral coverage, a multivitamin will answer it better and for less. For a short-formula antioxidant from another family, the NAC section offers an alternative.
Frequently asked questions
Ubiquinone or ubiquinol, what is the difference?
They are the two states of the same molecule: ubiquinone is the oxidised form, ubiquinol the reduced form, and the body converts one into the other continuously. This product contains ubiquinone, the most stable and the most widespread form. Ubiquinol is generally more expensive, without its superiority being established for a healthy adult.
Why does it have to be taken with a meal?
Because coenzyme Q10 dissolves in fat and not in water. Taken on an empty stomach, it is very poorly absorbed. The linseed oil in the pearl helps, but a meal genuinely containing fat does far better. Lunch is the easiest moment to stick to.
Is this pearl suitable for vegetarians?
No. The shell is made of bovine gelatine, of animal origin. That is the point which rules this reference out for a vegetarian or vegan diet, regardless of the linseed oil, which for its part is of plant origin.
How long does a box last?
Two months, at one pearl a day for 60 pearls. That length matches what can reasonably be assessed with a baseline active ingredient: two weeks allow no conclusion at all, two months make for an honest first trial.
Can it be combined with omega 3?
Yes, and it is even a practical pairing: both are taken with a meal, the fish oil serving as additional fatty carrier. There is neither duplication nor competition between the two, since the 58.5 mg of ALA in the pearl does not constitute a significant omega 3 intake.
Is it compatible with heart medication?
This question is not settled on a product page. The manufacturer advises against taking it at the same time as an anticoagulant unless medical advice says otherwise, because of a structural kinship with vitamin K. If you are on cardiovascular medication of any kind, discuss it with your doctor or your pharmacist before buying.
Do you feel anything when you take it?
No, and you should not expect to. It is a molecule that acts at the cellular level, with no associated sensation. A product in this category that produced a noticeable effect within the hour ought in fact to arouse suspicion rather than satisfaction.
Where can you buy IO Genix Coenzyme Q10?
The box of 60 pearls can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, this is a product in front of which we ask two questions before selling: “are you taking an anticoagulant?” and “are you vegetarian?”. Both answers change the conversation, and it is better to ask them over the counter than after the box has been opened. The rest of the range can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.
What is IO Genix Stay Clean?
IO Genix Stay Clean is an antioxidant complex in gastro-resistant capsules. A two-capsule serving brings together ten active ingredients, including 500 mg of Setria L-glutathione, 300 mg of N-acetylcysteine, 200 mg of S-adenosyl-L-methionine, 150 mg of microencapsulated turmeric extract, 150 mg of milk thistle extract and 50 mg of coenzyme Q10. The 60-capsule bottle covers 30 days.
Three vitamins round out the formula — vitamin C, vitamin E and vitamin B2 — all three dosed at 50% of the nutrient reference value. As we shall see, they are the only ingredients in this product about which anything can be claimed.
Glutathione, the main ingredient, is a tripeptide the body makes from three amino acids, cysteine among them. The formula therefore works on two fronts at once: it supplies glutathione directly, and it also supplies N-acetylcysteine, the precursor of its synthesis. The rest of the Spanish range appears in our IO Genix section, and N-acetylcysteine sold on its own in our NAC section.
What does a serving of Stay Clean contain?
| Composition | Per 2 capsules (daily dose) | % NRV |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | 33 kJ / 8 kcal | — |
| Setria L-glutathione | 500 mg | Not established |
| N-acetylcysteine | 300 mg | Not established |
| S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe) | 200 mg | Not established |
| Curcushine (microencapsulated turmeric extract, 26% curcumin) | 150 mg | Not established |
| Milk thistle extract | 150 mg | Not established |
| Choline bitartrate | 100 mg | Not established |
| Coenzyme Q10 | 50 mg | Not established |
| Vitamin C | 40 mg | 50% |
| Vitamin E | 6 mg | 50% |
| Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) | 0.7 mg | 50% |
Only three ingredients allow a claim to be made, and they are the three vitamins. At 50% of the reference value each, the thresholds are comfortably cleared: vitamin C, vitamin E and riboflavin contribute to the protection of cells from oxidative stress; vitamin C and riboflavin also contribute to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. Those are the exact wordings, and they are the only ones we shall write.
For the other seven, no health claim is authorised in Europe: not for glutathione, not for N-acetylcysteine, not for S-adenosylmethionine, not for curcumin, not for milk thistle, not for coenzyme Q10. These are real ingredients, properly dosed, but their effect as supplements has no dossier approved at European level.
Two points of composition are worth spelling out, because they correct hasty readings. First, the turmeric: the 150 mg stated are of the microencapsulated extract, standardised to 26% curcumin. The amount of curcumin actually delivered is therefore in the region of 40 mg, not 150 mg. The distinction matters when comparing two products, and it deserves to be written down rather than left in the shade.
Second, the choline. It does have authorised claims, including one relating to the maintenance of normal liver function, but subject to a threshold of 82.5 mg of choline per portion. The 100 mg stated, however, refer to choline bitartrate, of which choline accounts for only about 41% by weight: that works out at roughly 41 mg of actual choline. The threshold is therefore not reached and the claim does not apply.
One technical point to finish with, and it is to the manufacturer's credit: the capsules are gastro-resistant. In a formula containing glutathione and S-adenosylmethionine, two molecules sensitive to stomach acid, that choice is not decorative.
Ingredients list
Setria L-glutathione, N-acetylcysteine, coating agent (GELATINE), S-adenosyl-L-methionine, Curcushine (Curcuma longa extract at 26% curcumin, maltodextrin, antioxidant: ascorbic acid, rosemary extract), milk thistle extract (Silybum marianum), bulking agent (microcrystalline cellulose), choline bitartrate, vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), coenzyme Q10, vitamin E (D,L-alpha-tocopheryl acetate), anti-caking agents (magnesium stearate, silicon dioxide), vitamin B2 (riboflavin).
May contain traces of GLUTEN, MILK, EGGS, SOYA and FISH. Made in a facility that handles these allergens.
How should you take Stay Clean?
Dose: 2 capsules. Liquid: a large glass of water, 300 ml. Timing: one capsule at breakfast, one at lunch, with meals. Frequency: two capsules a day, not to be exceeded. Duration: continuous use for 8 to 12 weeks.
Swallow the capsules whole, without opening or chewing them. This is not a comfort measure: the gastro-resistant coating is what allows the most fragile molecules in the formula to get past the stomach. An opened capsule loses part of its point.
Taking it with a meal follows a clear logic: the formula contains vitamin E and coenzyme Q10, two compounds that need fat to be properly absorbed. A meal containing a minimum of fat does the job.
The manufacturer puts the course at between 8 and 12 weeks. One bottle covers thirty days, so you need to allow for two or three to see it through. With this kind of active ingredient, nothing can be judged in two weeks, and it is better to know that before buying.
The product combines without overlap with an omega 3 or a B vitamin complex, as the manufacturer suggests. On the other hand, it does duplicate several products in this category: if you already take N-acetylcysteine on its own, coenzyme Q10 or a standardised turmeric, you will find them here. Check your labels before stacking.
Who is Stay Clean for, and who is it not for?
It is aimed at healthy adults who want to bring several actives from the antioxidant family into a single serving, rather than lining up four bottles on a shelf. That is its main selling point, and it is a genuine one: ten ingredients, all quantified, in two capsules.
The exclusions here are worded unusually firmly, and they need to be read. The product is not recommended for under-18s, and the manufacturer states in black and white that pregnant and breastfeeding women must not use this product — a more categorical wording than the usual “seek advice”. People on medical treatment or with liver disorders must consult a healthcare professional before use.
That last mention deserves to be understood: the formula contains milk thistle and S-adenosylmethionine, two ingredients whose place in someone with a liver condition is not something to improvise. This is not a product intended to address a liver problem — quite the opposite.
The capsules are made of gelatine: this product is suitable for neither vegetarians nor vegans. It may contain traces of gluten, milk, eggs, soya and fish.
What you should not expect from it: you will feel nothing when you take it, and that is normal for an antioxidant formula. It is not a treatment, not a performance product, and not an answer to entrenched tiredness. The word “detox”, which products of this kind attract, has no regulatory definition: the liver and kidneys do that work on their own, and no capsule improves on it in a healthy person.
Antioxidant complex or single active?
That is the only trade-off that matters with this kind of product, and it depends on exactly what you are looking for.
This complex has one obvious advantage: ten actives, one serving, one bottle. For someone who wanted glutathione, N-acetylcysteine and coenzyme Q10 anyway, it saves three purchases and three separate intakes. The three vitamins alongside them are, moreover, the only ingredients genuinely covered by regulation, and they are properly dosed.
A single active makes the opposite choice: markedly higher doses of one molecule. Our dedicated section offers N-acetylcysteine at twice what this formula contains; our coenzyme Q10 and turmeric sections do the same in their own registers. That is more precise, easier to compare, and often cheaper if you are after a single ingredient.
Our position across the counter: if you know which of these ten actives interests you, take it on its own and properly dosed. If you want broad coverage in one serving, this complex does the job. And if your need is simply for the best-regulated antioxidants, a vitamin C and a vitamin E cost a fraction of the price and do have authorised claims.
Frequently asked questions
How much curcumin is there really?
The 150 mg stated correspond to the microencapsulated extract, standardised to 26% curcumin: that represents about 40 mg of curcumin. The distinction is essential when comparing with another product, where the 150 mg might refer to the curcumin itself.
Why gastro-resistant capsules?
Because glutathione and S-adenosylmethionine are sensitive to stomach acid. The coating delays release. It is a genuine formulation choice, and it is also why you should never open or chew the capsules.
Is this product suitable for vegetarians?
No. The capsule shell is made of gelatine, which is of animal origin. It is a common limitation in this range, and there is no plant-based version of this product.
Does the choline allow a claim?
Not here. Choline does have authorised claims, but they require 82.5 mg of choline per portion. The 100 mg stated refer to choline bitartrate, of which choline accounts for only about 41%: the threshold is not reached.
How long does a bottle last?
Thirty days: 60 capsules, two a day. As the manufacturer recommends a course of 8 to 12 weeks, allow two to three bottles to see a full course through.
Can it be taken if you have a liver problem?
Not without medical advice, and the manufacturer asks for it explicitly. The formula contains milk thistle and S-adenosylmethionine: their place in someone with a liver condition is a matter for a doctor, not a personal choice.
Does it duplicate other supplements?
Very probably, if you already have a routine. N-acetylcysteine, coenzyme Q10, turmeric, milk thistle and vitamins C and E are among the most common supplements around. Read your labels again: stacking adds nothing and can push you over intake levels without your knowing.
Where can you buy IO Genix Stay Clean?
The 60-capsule bottle can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, we always ask to see what the customer is already taking before recommending this bottle: with a ten-ingredient complex, the risk is not a shortfall, it is repetition. The rest of the category can be browsed in our sports nutrition section.
What is coenzyme Q10?
Coenzyme Q10 is a fat-soluble molecule found in almost all the body's cells, and particularly concentrated in the inner membrane of the mitochondria. There, it performs a specific function: transporting electrons between the complexes of the respiratory chain. It is from this omnipresence that it gets its other name, ubiquinone.
Two things are worth knowing before going any further. The first: the body produces it itself, via the mevalonate pathway—the same metabolic pathway as cholesterol, which explains much of what follows. The second: it can be found in food, especially in offal, meats, fatty fish like sardines and mackerel, vegetable oils, and oilseeds, but in quantities much lower than those of supplements.
A third point should be added, which should appear on many more packages: no health claim is authorized in the European Union for coenzyme Q10. The EFSA reviewed a series of dossiers in 2010 concerning energy metabolism, maintenance of normal blood pressure, protection of cells from oxidative stress, cognitive function, maintenance of normal cholesterol levels, and endurance. All received an unfavorable opinion due to a lack of established cause-and-effect relationship. Therefore, you will not read any promises of effect here.
Ubiquinone or ubiquinol: what's the difference?
This is the most frequently asked question in this department, and it deserves a chemical answer before a commercial one.
Ubiquinone is the oxidized form of the molecule. Ubiquinol is its reduced form: it is the same molecule that has accepted two electrons and two protons. It is not an improved version; it is the other state of the same compound. And above all, the body constantly converts one into the other: this is even the principle of its function in the respiratory chain, where it is continuously reduced and then re-oxidized. Ingested in one form, the molecule therefore ends up in both.
The commercial argument for ubiquinol is based on absorption: already reduced form, therefore better assimilated. What can be said honestly is that the absorption of coenzyme Q10 is low and highly variable from person to person, regardless of the form, because it is a large fat-soluble molecule. Studies comparing the two forms are few, heterogeneous, and often conducted by industrial players; they do not allow for a clear decision in favor of one. Ubiquinol is also unstable in air, which requires careful encapsulation: if poorly formulated, it re-oxidizes.
What weighs most heavily on what you actually absorb is not the word on the label, but two concrete parameters: the galenic form—a softgel capsule with an oily base performs better than a dry powder in a hard capsule—and taking it with a meal containing fats. A Japanese producer, Kaneka, supplies a large part of the ubiquinol on the market, and its mention on a package indicates an identified raw material, which is already useful information, even if it is not proof of superior efficacy.
Practical conclusion: if the price difference is significant, ubiquinone in a softgel capsule taken with a fatty meal is a reasonable choice. If you prefer ubiquinol, choose it properly encapsulated and stored away from light.
How and when to take it?
The main rule derives from its fat-solubility: with a meal containing lipids, never on an empty stomach with a glass of water. A meal containing oil, fatty fish, oilseeds, or cheese is largely sufficient. This detail affects absorption much more than the choice between the two forms.
Regarding the quantity, let's state what is true: there is no reference intake for coenzyme Q10, since the body synthesizes it. Products on the market most often range between 30 and 200 mg per day, without a consensus threshold, and no claims frame these values. Beyond a certain dose, absorption plateaus: splitting into two daily doses is more logical than swallowing a high dose all at once.
Coenzyme Q10 combines easily with other fat-soluble supplements taken with the same meal, for example omega 3s or vitamin E. It is also observed that measured tissue concentrations decrease with age; this is an observation, not a justification for an effect, and does not constitute a recommendation to supplement.
Statins and anticoagulants: what precautions?
This is the most important part of this page, and the reason why it consistently ends with the same phrase: talk to your doctor.
Statins. These cholesterol-lowering drugs act by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme in the mevalonate pathway. However, this pathway not only produces cholesterol but also coenzyme Q10. The mechanism is established, and measured blood concentrations of coenzyme Q10 in treated individuals are lower. What is not established is that supplementation corrects anything, particularly the muscle pain sometimes attributed to statins: studies on this point are contradictory. It must be clear: coenzyme Q10 does not replace treatment, does not compensate for its effects, and in no case justifies changing the dose or interrupting it. This decision belongs to the prescribing physician, who must be informed of any supplementation. The same applies to red yeast rice, whose monacolin K acts via the same enzymatic pathway.
Anticoagulants. Coenzyme Q10 is a quinone, like vitamin K, sharing part of its structure. Interactions with vitamin K antagonists have been reported, which can alter the balance of anticoagulation. If you are on this type of treatment, supplementation is not a decision to be made alone.
Other situations. Pregnancy, breastfeeding, ongoing chemotherapy, antihypertensive treatment, diabetes treatment: in all these cases, medical advice is a prerequisite, due to insufficient data or possible interactions. Reported side effects at usual doses are generally mild and digestive—nausea, gastric discomfort—especially when taken on an empty stomach.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is coenzyme Q10?
A fat-soluble molecule present in almost all our cells, concentrated in the mitochondria, where it transports electrons in the respiratory chain. Its other name, ubiquinone, comes precisely from this omnipresence. Two points that change how we approach it: the body produces it itself, via the mevalonate pathway—the same as cholesterol—and therefore there is no reference intake, no defined deficiency. From a regulatory standpoint, it is a food supplement with no authorized health claims in Europe.
What is the role of Q10, and how does it act?
In the cell, its role is precise and well-described: within the inner membrane of the mitochondria, it transports electrons between the complexes of the respiratory chain, the step that leads to ATP production. It also acts as a fat-soluble antioxidant in membranes, where it participates in the regeneration of vitamin E. However, be careful with shortcuts: describing a biochemical role inside the cell says nothing about what a capsule would produce in a person. This is exactly the distinction EFSA made when rejecting claims about energy metabolism and oxidative stress.
What are the benefits of coenzyme Q10?
We will not announce any, and this is intentional: all dossiers submitted to EFSA received an unfavorable opinion, including those concerning energy, blood pressure, and protection against oxidative stress. Research is ongoing in several areas, which is different from a proven effect. A seller who promises you a specific result is selling you a prohibited claim.
What foods contain coenzyme Q10?
The richest sources are offal (heart, liver, kidneys), fatty fish—sardines, mackerel, herring—meats, vegetable oils (soy, rapeseed), oilseeds, and, in smaller quantities, eggs, spinach, and broccoli. Two honest caveats. The quantities provided by food are much lower than those of a supplement, on the order of a few milligrams per day. And above all, most of the coenzyme Q10 in your body is not eaten: it is produced by your cells. Therefore, no diet is "Q10 deficient" in the sense it is understood for a vitamin.
Ubiquinone or ubiquinol: which to choose?
These are two states of the same molecule—oxidized and reduced—which the body constantly converts from one to the other. Ubiquinol is marketed as better absorbed; comparative data are scarce, heterogeneous, and often from industrial sources, and do not allow for a clear decision. What has a greater impact on what you absorb: the galenic form (oily softgel capsule rather than dry powder) and taking it with a fatty meal. If the price difference is clear, ubiquinone in a softgel capsule taken with a meal is a reasonable choice; if you prefer ubiquinol, take it well-encapsulated and protected from light, as it re-oxidizes in air.
What is the best coenzyme Q10, and how to choose it?
No efficacy ranking is possible, as no efficacy is recognized. What you can compare are four concrete things: the galenic form (softgel capsule with an oily base, rather than a powder capsule), the actual dosage per serving, the mention of an identified raw material—serious suppliers are named on the label—and the packaging, preferably opaque. Be wary of complexes where coenzyme Q10 is one of twelve ingredients: check its specific dosage, which is often negligible.
When to take coenzyme Q10?
With a meal containing fats, never on an empty stomach with a glass of water: it is a fat-soluble molecule, and this detail changes absorption much more than the choice of form. A meal with oil, fatty fish, oilseeds, or cheese is sufficient. The time of day has no established importance; if your dose is high, split it over two meals rather than taking it all at once, as absorption quickly plateaus. On an empty stomach, the only documented effect is gastric discomfort.
How many milligrams per day, 100 or 200?
No consensus threshold exists, and there is no reference intake. Market dosages most often range from 30 to 200 mg. Increasing the dose does not provide much once absorption is saturated: the galenic form and taking it with a fatty meal matter more than the number on the box.
Does coenzyme Q10 pose any danger?
At usual doses and in healthy adults, reported effects are mostly digestive and benign. The real issue is not the molecule's toxicity but drug interactions: vitamin K antagonists, and more broadly any long-term treatment. The risk also lies in supplementing instead of consulting, or self-modifying ongoing treatment. Neither of these decisions should be made without a doctor.
What are the contraindications?
There is no official list, as no claims are authorized in Europe. Caution is advised in cases of anticoagulant treatment with vitamin K antagonists, during pregnancy and breastfeeding, in children, and for any long-term treatment. Always inform your doctor about supplementation, especially before surgery.
Coenzyme Q10 and cholesterol: what is the connection?
An indirect and often misunderstood connection. Coenzyme Q10 does not alter cholesterol: EFSA specifically rejected the claim regarding the maintenance of normal cholesterol levels. The link comes from statins, which lower cholesterol by blocking an enzymatic pathway also used to produce coenzyme Q10. It is this shared mechanism, and nothing else, that links the two subjects.
Does coenzyme Q10 help with weight loss?
No. The claim regarding energy metabolism was rejected, and "energy" in the biochemical sense—ATP production in the mitochondria—has nothing to do with increased caloric expenditure. No supplement causes weight loss; diet and physical activity are what matter, as explained in our weight loss section.
Coenzyme Q10, hypertension, and beta-blockers: what should we think?
The claim related to maintaining normal blood pressure was examined and rejected. High blood pressure is a medical matter, monitored and treated as such. If you are taking a beta-blocker or any other antihypertensive, mention the supplementation to your doctor rather than starting it based on a forum.
Is the Q10 in cosmetic creams the same thing?
It is the same molecule, but cutaneous application and oral intake fall under different regulations and rationales. Cosmetic products are not part of our catalog: this section only deals with food supplements.
Where to buy coenzyme Q10?
On this page, with shipping throughout France and Europe, or in our store in Vendargues, about ten minutes from Montpellier: collection within 2 hours and orders placed before 2 pm shipped the same day. It can also be found in pharmacies and specialized stores; the circuit does not change the four selection criteria listed above. For this product, visiting the store serves another purpose: we will ask if you are on medication, and this question carries more weight than the price.
What can you find in our CoQ-10 section?
Formulations with clear composition, where the form—ubiquinone or ubiquinol—and dosage are clearly displayed, signed IO Genix, alongside antioxidant complexes in which coenzyme Q10 is one of several active ingredients. Always check the actual grammage in this type of complex. Nearby, our omega 3, vitamin E, NAC, and turmeric sections each fall under a distinct regulatory framework, dealt with on their own pages, as do our multivitamins, magnesium, and vitamin D. Brands Now Foods, Swanson, and Nutriting complete the offer of sports nutrition and daily supplements.
Where to discuss it near Montpellier?
In our store in Vendargues, about ten minutes from Montpellier, the conversation always begins with the same question: are you taking any medication? For coenzyme Q10, this determines the answer, long before the choice between ubiquinone and ubiquinol. If you are on statins or anticoagulants, we will refer you to your doctor, and that's not just a courtesy. We ship everywhere in France and Europe.
Sources: EFSA for opinions on health claims, ANSES for work on food supplements. This information does not replace medical advice.
To learn more: possible interactions of coenzyme Q10.
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What is coenzyme Q10?
Coenzyme Q10 is a fat-soluble molecule found in almost all the body's cells, and particularly concentrated in the inner membrane of the mitochondria. There, it performs a specific function: transporting electrons between the complexes of the respiratory chain. It is from this omnipresence that it gets its other name, ubiquinone.
Two things are worth knowing before going any further. The first: the body produces it itself, via the mevalonate pathway—the same metabolic pathway as cholesterol, which explains much of what follows. The second: it can be found in food, especially in offal, meats, fatty fish like sardines and mackerel, vegetable oils, and oilseeds, but in quantities much lower than those of supplements.
A third point should be added, which should appear on many more packages: no health claim is authorized in the European Union for coenzyme Q10. The EFSA reviewed a series of dossiers in 2010 concerning energy metabolism, maintenance of normal blood pressure, protection of cells from oxidative stress, cognitive function, maintenance of normal cholesterol levels, and endurance. All received an unfavorable opinion due to a lack of established cause-and-effect relationship. Therefore, you will not read any promises of effect here.
Ubiquinone or ubiquinol: what's the difference?
This is the most frequently asked question in this department, and it deserves a chemical answer before a commercial one.
Ubiquinone is the oxidized form of the molecule. Ubiquinol is its reduced form: it is the same molecule that has accepted two electrons and two protons. It is not an improved version; it is the other state of the same compound. And above all, the body constantly converts one into the other: this is even the principle of its function in the respiratory chain, where it is continuously reduced and then re-oxidized. Ingested in one form, the molecule therefore ends up in both.
The commercial argument for ubiquinol is based on absorption: already reduced form, therefore better assimilated. What can be said honestly is that the absorption of coenzyme Q10 is low and highly variable from person to person, regardless of the form, because it is a large fat-soluble molecule. Studies comparing the two forms are few, heterogeneous, and often conducted by industrial players; they do not allow for a clear decision in favor of one. Ubiquinol is also unstable in air, which requires careful encapsulation: if poorly formulated, it re-oxidizes.
What weighs most heavily on what you actually absorb is not the word on the label, but two concrete parameters: the galenic form—a softgel capsule with an oily base performs better than a dry powder in a hard capsule—and taking it with a meal containing fats. A Japanese producer, Kaneka, supplies a large part of the ubiquinol on the market, and its mention on a package indicates an identified raw material, which is already useful information, even if it is not proof of superior efficacy.
Practical conclusion: if the price difference is significant, ubiquinone in a softgel capsule taken with a fatty meal is a reasonable choice. If you prefer ubiquinol, choose it properly encapsulated and stored away from light.
How and when to take it?
The main rule derives from its fat-solubility: with a meal containing lipids, never on an empty stomach with a glass of water. A meal containing oil, fatty fish, oilseeds, or cheese is largely sufficient. This detail affects absorption much more than the choice between the two forms.
Regarding the quantity, let's state what is true: there is no reference intake for coenzyme Q10, since the body synthesizes it. Products on the market most often range between 30 and 200 mg per day, without a consensus threshold, and no claims frame these values. Beyond a certain dose, absorption plateaus: splitting into two daily doses is more logical than swallowing a high dose all at once.
Coenzyme Q10 combines easily with other fat-soluble supplements taken with the same meal, for example omega 3s or vitamin E. It is also observed that measured tissue concentrations decrease with age; this is an observation, not a justification for an effect, and does not constitute a recommendation to supplement.
Statins and anticoagulants: what precautions?
This is the most important part of this page, and the reason why it consistently ends with the same phrase: talk to your doctor.
Statins. These cholesterol-lowering drugs act by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme in the mevalonate pathway. However, this pathway not only produces cholesterol but also coenzyme Q10. The mechanism is established, and measured blood concentrations of coenzyme Q10 in treated individuals are lower. What is not established is that supplementation corrects anything, particularly the muscle pain sometimes attributed to statins: studies on this point are contradictory. It must be clear: coenzyme Q10 does not replace treatment, does not compensate for its effects, and in no case justifies changing the dose or interrupting it. This decision belongs to the prescribing physician, who must be informed of any supplementation. The same applies to red yeast rice, whose monacolin K acts via the same enzymatic pathway.
Anticoagulants. Coenzyme Q10 is a quinone, like vitamin K, sharing part of its structure. Interactions with vitamin K antagonists have been reported, which can alter the balance of anticoagulation. If you are on this type of treatment, supplementation is not a decision to be made alone.
Other situations. Pregnancy, breastfeeding, ongoing chemotherapy, antihypertensive treatment, diabetes treatment: in all these cases, medical advice is a prerequisite, due to insufficient data or possible interactions. Reported side effects at usual doses are generally mild and digestive—nausea, gastric discomfort—especially when taken on an empty stomach.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is coenzyme Q10?
A fat-soluble molecule present in almost all our cells, concentrated in the mitochondria, where it transports electrons in the respiratory chain. Its other name, ubiquinone, comes precisely from this omnipresence. Two points that change how we approach it: the body produces it itself, via the mevalonate pathway—the same as cholesterol—and therefore there is no reference intake, no defined deficiency. From a regulatory standpoint, it is a food supplement with no authorized health claims in Europe.
What is the role of Q10, and how does it act?
In the cell, its role is precise and well-described: within the inner membrane of the mitochondria, it transports electrons between the complexes of the respiratory chain, the step that leads to ATP production. It also acts as a fat-soluble antioxidant in membranes, where it participates in the regeneration of vitamin E. However, be careful with shortcuts: describing a biochemical role inside the cell says nothing about what a capsule would produce in a person. This is exactly the distinction EFSA made when rejecting claims about energy metabolism and oxidative stress.
What are the benefits of coenzyme Q10?
We will not announce any, and this is intentional: all dossiers submitted to EFSA received an unfavorable opinion, including those concerning energy, blood pressure, and protection against oxidative stress. Research is ongoing in several areas, which is different from a proven effect. A seller who promises you a specific result is selling you a prohibited claim.
What foods contain coenzyme Q10?
The richest sources are offal (heart, liver, kidneys), fatty fish—sardines, mackerel, herring—meats, vegetable oils (soy, rapeseed), oilseeds, and, in smaller quantities, eggs, spinach, and broccoli. Two honest caveats. The quantities provided by food are much lower than those of a supplement, on the order of a few milligrams per day. And above all, most of the coenzyme Q10 in your body is not eaten: it is produced by your cells. Therefore, no diet is "Q10 deficient" in the sense it is understood for a vitamin.
Ubiquinone or ubiquinol: which to choose?
These are two states of the same molecule—oxidized and reduced—which the body constantly converts from one to the other. Ubiquinol is marketed as better absorbed; comparative data are scarce, heterogeneous, and often from industrial sources, and do not allow for a clear decision. What has a greater impact on what you absorb: the galenic form (oily softgel capsule rather than dry powder) and taking it with a fatty meal. If the price difference is clear, ubiquinone in a softgel capsule taken with a meal is a reasonable choice; if you prefer ubiquinol, take it well-encapsulated and protected from light, as it re-oxidizes in air.
What is the best coenzyme Q10, and how to choose it?
No efficacy ranking is possible, as no efficacy is recognized. What you can compare are four concrete things: the galenic form (softgel capsule with an oily base, rather than a powder capsule), the actual dosage per serving, the mention of an identified raw material—serious suppliers are named on the label—and the packaging, preferably opaque. Be wary of complexes where coenzyme Q10 is one of twelve ingredients: check its specific dosage, which is often negligible.
When to take coenzyme Q10?
With a meal containing fats, never on an empty stomach with a glass of water: it is a fat-soluble molecule, and this detail changes absorption much more than the choice of form. A meal with oil, fatty fish, oilseeds, or cheese is sufficient. The time of day has no established importance; if your dose is high, split it over two meals rather than taking it all at once, as absorption quickly plateaus. On an empty stomach, the only documented effect is gastric discomfort.
How many milligrams per day, 100 or 200?
No consensus threshold exists, and there is no reference intake. Market dosages most often range from 30 to 200 mg. Increasing the dose does not provide much once absorption is saturated: the galenic form and taking it with a fatty meal matter more than the number on the box.
Does coenzyme Q10 pose any danger?
At usual doses and in healthy adults, reported effects are mostly digestive and benign. The real issue is not the molecule's toxicity but drug interactions: vitamin K antagonists, and more broadly any long-term treatment. The risk also lies in supplementing instead of consulting, or self-modifying ongoing treatment. Neither of these decisions should be made without a doctor.
What are the contraindications?
There is no official list, as no claims are authorized in Europe. Caution is advised in cases of anticoagulant treatment with vitamin K antagonists, during pregnancy and breastfeeding, in children, and for any long-term treatment. Always inform your doctor about supplementation, especially before surgery.
Coenzyme Q10 and cholesterol: what is the connection?
An indirect and often misunderstood connection. Coenzyme Q10 does not alter cholesterol: EFSA specifically rejected the claim regarding the maintenance of normal cholesterol levels. The link comes from statins, which lower cholesterol by blocking an enzymatic pathway also used to produce coenzyme Q10. It is this shared mechanism, and nothing else, that links the two subjects.
Does coenzyme Q10 help with weight loss?
No. The claim regarding energy metabolism was rejected, and "energy" in the biochemical sense—ATP production in the mitochondria—has nothing to do with increased caloric expenditure. No supplement causes weight loss; diet and physical activity are what matter, as explained in our weight loss section.
Coenzyme Q10, hypertension, and beta-blockers: what should we think?
The claim related to maintaining normal blood pressure was examined and rejected. High blood pressure is a medical matter, monitored and treated as such. If you are taking a beta-blocker or any other antihypertensive, mention the supplementation to your doctor rather than starting it based on a forum.
Is the Q10 in cosmetic creams the same thing?
It is the same molecule, but cutaneous application and oral intake fall under different regulations and rationales. Cosmetic products are not part of our catalog: this section only deals with food supplements.
Where to buy coenzyme Q10?
On this page, with shipping throughout France and Europe, or in our store in Vendargues, about ten minutes from Montpellier: collection within 2 hours and orders placed before 2 pm shipped the same day. It can also be found in pharmacies and specialized stores; the circuit does not change the four selection criteria listed above. For this product, visiting the store serves another purpose: we will ask if you are on medication, and this question carries more weight than the price.
What can you find in our CoQ-10 section?
Formulations with clear composition, where the form—ubiquinone or ubiquinol—and dosage are clearly displayed, signed IO Genix, alongside antioxidant complexes in which coenzyme Q10 is one of several active ingredients. Always check the actual grammage in this type of complex. Nearby, our omega 3, vitamin E, NAC, and turmeric sections each fall under a distinct regulatory framework, dealt with on their own pages, as do our multivitamins, magnesium, and vitamin D. Brands Now Foods, Swanson, and Nutriting complete the offer of sports nutrition and daily supplements.
Where to discuss it near Montpellier?
In our store in Vendargues, about ten minutes from Montpellier, the conversation always begins with the same question: are you taking any medication? For coenzyme Q10, this determines the answer, long before the choice between ubiquinone and ubiquinol. If you are on statins or anticoagulants, we will refer you to your doctor, and that's not just a courtesy. We ship everywhere in France and Europe.
Sources: EFSA for opinions on health claims, ANSES for work on food supplements. This information does not replace medical advice.
To learn more: possible interactions of coenzyme Q10.
Questions fréquentes — CoQ-10
La coenzyme Q10, c'est quoi ?
Une molécule liposoluble présente dans presque toutes nos cellules, concentrée dans les mitochondries, où elle transporte les électrons de la chaîne respiratoire. Son autre nom, ubiquinone, vient précisément de cette omniprésence. Deux points qui changent la façon de l'aborder : l'organisme la fabrique lui-même, par la voie du mévalonate — la même que celle du cholestérol — et il n'existe donc aucun apport de référence, aucune carence définie. Sur le plan réglementaire, c'est un complément alimentaire sans aucune allégation de santé autorisée en Europe.
Quel est le rôle du Q10, et comment agit-il ?
Dans la cellule, son rôle est précis et bien décrit : au sein de la membrane interne des mitochondries, elle transporte les électrons entre les complexes de la chaîne respiratoire, l'étape qui aboutit à la production d'ATP. Elle intervient aussi comme antioxydant liposoluble des membranes, où elle participe à la régénération de la vitamine E. Attention toutefois au raccourci : décrire un rôle biochimique à l'intérieur de la cellule ne dit rien de ce qu'une gélule produirait chez une personne. C'est exactement la distinction que l'EFSA a faite en rejetant les allégations sur le métabolisme énergétique et le stress oxydatif.
Quels sont les bienfaits de la coenzyme Q10 ?
Nous n'en annoncerons aucun, et c'est volontaire : les dossiers déposés auprès de l'EFSA ont tous reçu un avis défavorable, y compris ceux portant sur l'énergie, la pression artérielle et la protection contre le stress oxydatif. Les travaux de recherche se poursuivent sur plusieurs terrains, ce qui est autre chose qu'un effet démontré. Un vendeur qui vous promet un résultat précis vous vend une allégation interdite.
Quels aliments contiennent de la coenzyme Q10 ?
Les plus riches sont les abats (cœur, foie, rognons), les poissons gras — sardine, maquereau, hareng — les viandes, les huiles végétales (soja, colza), les oléagineux et, en plus petite quantité, les œufs, les épinards et le brocoli. Deux nuances honnêtes. Les quantités apportées par l'alimentation sont très inférieures à celles d'un complément, de l'ordre de quelques milligrammes par jour. Et surtout, l'essentiel de la coenzyme Q10 de votre organisme n'est pas mangé : il est fabriqué par vos cellules. Aucun régime n'est donc « carencé en Q10 » au sens où on l'entend pour une vitamine.
Ubiquinone ou ubiquinol : lequel choisir ?
Ce sont deux états de la même molécule — oxydé et réduit — que l'organisme convertit en permanence de l'un vers l'autre. L'ubiquinol est vendu comme mieux absorbé ; les données comparatives sont peu nombreuses, hétérogènes et souvent d'origine industrielle, et ne permettent pas de trancher nettement. Ce qui pèse davantage sur ce que vous absorbez : la forme galénique (capsule molle huileuse plutôt que poudre sèche) et la prise au cours d'un repas gras. Si l'écart de prix est net, une ubiquinone en capsule molle prise au repas est un choix raisonnable ; si vous préférez l'ubiquinol, prenez-le bien encapsulé et à l'abri de la lumière, car il se réoxyde à l'air.
Quel est le meilleur coenzyme Q10, et comment le choisir ?
Aucun classement d'efficacité n'est possible, puisqu'aucune efficacité n'est reconnue. Ce que vous pouvez comparer, ce sont quatre choses concrètes : la forme galénique (capsule molle avec support huileux, plutôt que gélule de poudre), le dosage réel par prise, la mention d'une matière première identifiée — les fournisseurs sérieux sont nommés sur l'étiquette — et le conditionnement, opaque de préférence. Méfiez-vous des complexes où la coenzyme Q10 figure parmi douze ingrédients : vérifiez son grammage propre, souvent dérisoire.
Quand prendre la coenzyme Q10 ?
Au cours d'un repas contenant des matières grasses, jamais à jeun avec un verre d'eau : c'est une molécule liposoluble, et ce détail change l'absorption bien plus que le choix de la forme. Un repas avec de l'huile, un poisson gras, des oléagineux ou du fromage suffit. Le moment de la journée n'a pas d'importance établie ; si votre dose est élevée, fractionnez-la sur deux repas plutôt que de tout prendre en une fois, l'absorption plafonnant rapidement. À jeun, le seul effet documenté est la gêne gastrique.
Combien de milligrammes par jour, 100 ou 200 ?
Aucun seuil ne fait consensus et il n'existe pas d'apport de référence. Les dosages du marché s'échelonnent le plus souvent de 30 à 200 mg. Monter en dose n'apporte pas grand-chose une fois l'absorption saturée : la forme galénique et la prise au cours d'un repas gras comptent davantage que le chiffre inscrit sur la boîte.
La coenzyme Q10 présente-t-elle un danger ?
Aux doses usuelles et chez l'adulte en bonne santé, les effets rapportés sont surtout digestifs et bénins. Le vrai sujet n'est pas la toxicité de la molécule mais les interactions médicamenteuses : antivitamines K, et plus largement tout traitement au long cours. Le risque tient aussi au fait de se supplémenter au lieu de consulter, ou de modifier de soi-même un traitement en cours. Aucune de ces deux décisions ne devrait se prendre sans médecin.
Quelles sont les contre-indications ?
Il n'existe pas de liste officielle, aucune allégation n'étant autorisée en Europe. La prudence s'impose en cas de traitement anticoagulant par antivitamines K, pendant la grossesse et l'allaitement, chez l'enfant, et en cas de traitement au long cours quel qu'il soit. Signalez systématiquement la prise à votre médecin, notamment avant une intervention chirurgicale.
Coenzyme Q10 et cholestérol : quel rapport ?
Un rapport indirect et souvent mal compris. La coenzyme Q10 ne modifie pas le cholestérol : l'EFSA a précisément rejeté l'allégation portant sur le maintien d'une cholestérolémie normale. Le lien vient des statines, qui abaissent le cholestérol en bloquant une voie enzymatique servant aussi à produire la coenzyme Q10. C'est ce mécanisme partagé, et rien d'autre, qui associe les deux sujets.
La coenzyme Q10 fait-elle maigrir ?
Non. L'allégation portant sur le métabolisme énergétique a été rejetée, et « énergie » au sens biochimique — la production d'ATP dans la mitochondrie — n'a rien à voir avec une dépense calorique accrue. Aucun complément ne fait perdre de poids ; ce sont l'alimentation et l'activité physique qui décident, comme l'explique notre rayon perte de poids.
Coenzyme Q10, hypertension et bêta-bloquants : que faut-il en penser ?
L'allégation relative au maintien d'une pression artérielle normale a été examinée et rejetée. Une pression artérielle élevée est une affaire médicale, suivie et traitée comme telle. Si vous prenez un bêta-bloquant ou tout autre antihypertenseur, mentionnez la supplémentation à votre médecin plutôt que de la démarrer sur la foi d'un forum.
Le Q10 des crèmes cosmétiques, est-ce la même chose ?
C'est la même molécule, mais une application cutanée et une prise orale relèvent de réglementations et de logiques différentes. Les produits cosmétiques ne font pas partie de notre catalogue : ce rayon ne traite que des compléments alimentaires.
Où acheter de la coenzyme Q10 ?
Sur cette page, avec expédition partout en France et en Europe, ou dans notre boutique de Vendargues, à une dizaine de minutes de Montpellier : retrait sous 2 heures et commande passée avant 14 h expédiée le jour même. On en trouve aussi en pharmacie et en magasin spécialisé ; le circuit ne change rien aux quatre critères de choix énumérés plus haut. Sur ce produit, le passage en magasin sert surtout à autre chose : nous vous demanderons si vous prenez un traitement, et cette question pèse plus lourd que le prix.
