Menu
Dr. Weil Logo Dr. Weil Logo Weil™ Andrew Weil, M.D.
  • Health & Wellness
    Health & Wellness
    Body, Mind & Spirit
    • Addiction
    • Allergy & Asthma
    • Autoimmune Disorders
    • Back Pain
    • Bone & Joint
    • Cancer
    • Colds & Flu
    • Dental & Oral
    • Diabetes
    • Disease & Disorders
    • Ears, Nose, & Throat
    • Feet
    • Gastrointestinal
    • Hair, Skin, & Nails
    • Headache
    • Heart
    • Insects & Parasites
    • Liver & Kidney
    • Mental Health
    • Pregnancy & Fertility
    • Respiratory
    • Sexual Health
    • Sleep Issues
    • Stress & Anxiety
    • Vision
    Balanced Living
    • Exercise & Fitness
    • Gardening
    • Healthy Home
    • Healthy Living
    • Meditation & Inspiration
    • Meet Dr. Weil
    • Pets & Pet Care
    • Technology
    • Wellness Therapies
    Health Centers
    • Aging Gracefully
    • Children
    • Condition Care Guide
    • Men
    • Women
  • Diet & Nutrition
    Diet & Nutrition
    Anti-Inflammatory Diet & Pyramid
    Anti-Inflammatory Diet Pyramid
    Cooking & Cookware
    Healthy Cooking & Cookware
    Diets & Weight Loss
    Diets & Weight Loss
    Food Safety
    Diets & Nutrition - Food Safety
    Nutrition
    healthy nutrition
    Recipes
    healthy recipes
  • Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Herbs
    herbal remedies - herbs
    Supplements & Remedies
    suppliments & remedies
    Vitamins
    ask-dr-weil_vitamins-supplements-herbs_vitamins-topnav
  • Ask Dr. Weil
  • Blogs
    Blogs
    Bulletins
    The Legacy Of Living Yes | Spontaneous Happiness | Andrew Weil, M.D.
    Health Tips
    Healthy Drinks To Start Sipping | Andrew Weil, M.D.
    Spontaneous Happiness
    blog_spontaneous-happiness_topnav
  • COVID-19
  • Dr. Weil Origins Skin Care
  • Marketplace
  • Healthy Aging
  • Podcasts
  • Meet Dr. Weil
  • Accessibility
  • Subscribe
What's The Best CoQ10?
Subscribe
Press "Enter" to search
  1. Home
  2. Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
  3. Supplements & Remedies

What's The Best CoQ10?

Is it true that the supplement CoQ10 is made from tobacco leaves? If a person were on the nicotine patch, would taking CoQ10 impede the progress of quitting smoking or be otherwise harmful?

Andrew Weil, M.D. |April 7, 2017

vitamins-supplements-herbs_supplements-remedies_whats-the-best-coq10_490367012
2 min

Coenzyme Q10, more widely known as CoQ10, is a natural antioxidant made by the body and also found in most foods. Among its other effects, it improves use of oxygen at the cellular level, particularly in heart muscle cells. Some athletes believe it also increases aerobic capacity.

I recommend coenzyme Q10 to anyone concerned about heart health, and I take 120 mg daily myself. CoQ10 helps prevent the oxidation of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, maintains healthy blood vessels, reduces the risk of plaque rupture and supports optimal functioning of the heart muscle. Some evidence suggests that CoQ10 can help lower blood pressure. Anyone taking statins to lower cholesterol should take 60 to 90 mg of CoQ-10 daily because the drugs suppress production of CoQ10 as well as cholesterol. (Low CoQ10 levels in patients on statins can contribute to the common side effects of fatigue and aching joints and muscles.)

CoQ10 supplements have long been made in Japan by a yeast fermentation process. More recently, a compound called Solanesol, a precursor of CoQ10, has been extracted from tobacco leaves and converted to CoQ10. (Solanesol does not contain nicotine.) The conversion is accomplished via a fermentation process involving the bacteria Rhodospirillum rubrum.

If you’ve been taking CoQ10 produced this way, you don’t have to worry about any negative interaction with a nicotine patch or your effort to stop smoking.

I am most familiar with CoQ10 derived from the yeast fermentation method. It is regarded (and described) as “trans” or “natural” and is identical to the CoQ10 produced by the body. I’ve read – but have been unable to independently verify – that CoQ10 produced from tobacco stems is less expensive and also less effective. As a general rule, I would advise you to steer clear of CoQ10 supplements that are unusually inexpensive.

CoQ10 comes in two forms: ubiquinol, the active antioxidant form, and ubiquinone, the oxidized form, which the body partially converts to ubiquinol. Many multi-ingredient supplements contain both. When taking CoQ10 as a stand-alone supplement, I recommend seeking out ubiquinol IN softgel form. Because CoQ10 is fat-soluble, be sure to take your supplement with a meal containing fat. I continue to recommend at least 90-120 mg to anyone with a family history of heart problems or who is otherwise at risk for cardiovascular disease. Further, I see no reason why an otherwise healthy man, or woman, should not take CoQ10 preventively.

Andrew Weil, M.D.

Source:

Yuting Tian et al, “Tobacco biomass hydrolysate enhances coenzyme Q10 production using photosynthetic Rodospirillum rubrum.” Bioresource Technology, October 2010. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2010.05.020.

 

 

 

Read more tips, recipes, and insights on a wide variety of topics from Dr. Weil here.

CoQ10 And Heart Health
Health Tips

Is CoQ10 Effective In Promoting Heart Health?

coq10 - coenzyme q10
Vitamins

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)

Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging

Start Your 14-Day Free Trial

Free Newsletters

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil

Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Follow Dr. Weil’s Food Pyramid

Get Dr Weils Newsletter Updates

Exclusive Lifestyle, Nutrition & Health Advice

Dr. Weil's FREE health living advice delivered to you!

By clicking "Subscribe," you agree to the DrWeil.com Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive emails from DrWeil.com, and you may opt out of DrWeil.com subscriptions at any time.

Trending Now

Businessman hand typing on keyboard and working in office in vintage color filter
Supplements & Remedies

A New Kind of Calcium?

Hands Of Woman Deformed From Rheumatoid Arthritis holding pills
Supplements & Remedies

A Supplement to Prevent Alzheimer's

iodine deficient non dairy milk
Supplements & Remedies

Am I Iodine Deficient?

Glass of light beer on the glass bar counter.
Supplements & Remedies

An Antioxidant In Beer?

Get Dr Weils Newsletter Updates

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil - Get Free Newsletters Right In Your Inbox

Exclusive Lifestyle, Nutrition & Health Advice

Dr. Weil Logo Weil™ Andrew Weil, M.D.
Information
  • About Us
  • Press Information
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Manage Email Subscription
Trending Articles
Businessman hand typing on keyboard and working in office in vintage color filter
Supplements & Remedies

A New Kind of Calcium?

Hands Of Woman Deformed From Rheumatoid Arthritis holding pills
Supplements & Remedies

A Supplement to Prevent Alzheimer's

Daily Tips
Optimism & Gratitude: The Power Of Positive Thinking | Andrew Weil, M.D.
Health Tips

Optimism & Gratitude: The Power Of Positive Thinking

Start The Day With Grapefruit
Health Tips

3 Reasons To Eat Grapefruit

  • Flickr
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram

Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

Information on this website is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. You should not use the information on this website for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication or other treatment. Any third party offering or advertising on this website does not constitute an endorsement by Andrew Weil, M.D. or Healthy Lifestyle Brands.

©Copyright2023 Healthy Lifestyle Brands, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. www.drweil.com