3 brain health benefits from CoQ10 supplementation

CoQ10 is one of a number of different supplements and molecules that are thought to have brain-supporting properties. These brain-supporting molecules, or nootropics, are quite pervasive in the supplement world. While you can find these supplements anywhere, they aren’t all created equal.

It can be difficult to know which of these supplements may have benefits and which supplements pose little to no health benefits.

CoQ10 has garnered the attention of many health and wellness enthusiasts. But does the science support these claims? How does this molecule pose potential benefits to the brain?

Below is a closer look at the potential brain health benefits of CoQ10 as well as how CoQ10 works within the body.

Everything you should know about CoQ10

If you walk down the supplement section of your local grocery store, you will likely find CoQ10 supplements. Unlike more well-known supplements like vitamin C, CoQ10 supplements can feel like a mystery. What is CoQ10, and what does it do?

Below is a closer look at everything you need to know about CoQ10, including how it functions within the body, the best CoQ10 supplements, and why someone would choose to take CoQ10.

What is the purpose of CoQ10?

CoQ10 is an antioxidant molecule that plays an important role in the health of the cells within your body and helps to maintain oxidative balance. CoQ10 naturally occurs in a cellular structure known as the mitochondria, responsible for converting glucose into ATP.

ATP is extremely useful within your cells, acting as their primary energy source. The process of converting glucose into ATP is vital to supporting cells' function, but it also creates a potentially harmful byproducts. These byproducts are known as Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS).

ROS are unstable molecules that can steal electrons from nearby structures, which cause damage. In the case of the mitochondria, the mitochondrial membrane is an easy target for ROS; however, CoQ10 helps to protect the membrane by acting as an antioxidant.

With proper CoQ10 levels, the mitochondria can produce ATP efficiently while reducing damage from ROS.

Why take CoQ10 supplements?

Understanding the function of CoQ10 is important, but it doesn’t really touch on the reasoning behind taking CoQ10 supplements. After all, your body naturally produces CoQ10, so why do some people take CoQ10 supplements?

The main reason people choose supplemental CoQ10 is to help ensure their mitochondria are well-supported from an antioxidant perspective. There are a number of factors that can have an impact on endogenous CoQ10 levels.

Some notable factors that may contribute to a CoQ10 deficiency include age, certain medications, medical conditions, and lifestyle.

If your body lacks sufficient CoQ10, your mitochondria can become more susceptible to oxidative stress, which in turn can reduce their efficiency. Turning out ATP at a slower rate can have a number of impacts throughout the body.

Taking supplemental CoQ10 can help ensure support for bodily function.

Best supplement for mitochondria

There are countless CoQ10 supplements, but many of them fall victim to the same issue, low bioavailability. Bioavailability refers to how much of a medication or supplement is actually absorbed and utilized by the body.

The low bioavailability of standard CoQ10 supplements means that only a small portion of the CoQ10 consumed is implemented into the mitochondria to protect against oxidative stress.

MitoQ is a modified version of CoQ10 that enables it to be more readily absorbed and potentially used within the body. With a much higher bioavailability to the mitochondria, MitoQ supplement concentrations are much lower than standard CoQ10, yet they can be incorporated into the mitochondrial membrane more readily.

Brain health benefits from CoQ10

The brain is one of the most power-hungry organs within the body. The brain is about 2 percent of your body weight but utilizes nearly 20 percent of your body’s total energy consumption.

This high demand for ATP at a cellular level means that your mitochondria play a significant role in the brain’s optimal functioning.

Below is a closer look at some of the benefits that CoQ10 supplementation can have on your brain health if you have declined levels of CoQ10.

Helps maintain energy levels

One of the tell-tale signs of a CoQ10 decline is a drop in your energy levels throughout the day. This makes intuitive sense, as a decline in natural CoQ10 can lead to a decline in mitochondrial efficiency.

That decline can reduce the efficiency of your cells to function optimally. When your cells are running less efficiently, it cascades into a number of different issues, including increased levels of fatigue.

The sinister aspect of this is that many people experience increased fatigue but think of it as just an inherent part of aging rather than a potential decline in CoQ10 levels. Taking a CoQ10 supplement consistently can help restore oxidative balance within the mitochondria, restoring energy levels back to what it once was.

Supports circulatory function

Blood plays a vital role within your body. It is responsible for delivering oxygen to your tissues, transporting nutrients throughout the body, and transporting waste products away from tissues out of the body. All of these functions rely on having good blood flow.

If blood flow is less than ideal, it can pose a problem for tissues like the brain. Having optimal blood flow allows the cells in the brain to have a steady supply of nutrients and oxygen, which allows them to work as efficiently as they can.

A 2018 study in mice found that MitoQ was able to support vascular endothelial function. While this study dealt with mice and not people, it does show the potential for how CoQ10 plays a role in circulatory function.

Supports mental clarity

CoQ10 deficiency can affect your mental clarity. Mental clarity refers to your ability to focus, maintain a clear state of mind, and have an unclouded perception. Brain fog can pose a real problem to your overall quality of life.

Taking CoQ10 supplements could help maintain optimal CoQ10 levels within the body. That balance could help contribute to feelings of mental clarity.

CoQ10 could be a simple addition to your daily wellness regimen to help promote feelings of mental wellness when it comes to feeling your best and having a clear mind. Positive lifestyle changes and a healthy diet could help support those feelings of mental alertness too.

CoQ10 for your brain

The brain is an organ that is constantly working. Whether you are awake doing cognitively complicated tasks or dreaming during your sleep, neurons in the brain are constantly firing. It’s always busy.

The constant on-state of the brain means that it can use all the support it can get.

CoQ10 can be a powerful nootropic, but a whole host of other nootropics available can provide potential benefits to the body’s inboard control center.

MitoQ curcumin is a unique supplement that joins the powerful brain support of MitoQ with Longvida® Curcumin – a breakthrough ingredient that is 65-100 times more bioavailable than standard curcumin antioxidants.

It begins with the active ingredient Mitoquinol Mesylate, an antioxidant molecule crafted to boost energy for your brain and combat cell stress. Every capsule of MitoQ curcumin contains 5 mg of Mitoquinol Mesylate to encourage feelings of calm.

The careful combination of MitoQ with Longvida® Curcumin helps to create this unique brain health and cognition supplement. MitoQ has been scientifically shown to combat cell stress – which directly supports your brain’s energy and focus on a cellular level. Additionally, Longvida® Curcumin has been scientifically shown to support memory, mood and cognition.

As a result, these ingredients help provide your brain with a healthy punch of support.

The Bottom Line

Maintaining the health of your brain is a worthwhile pursuit, as this one organ can have such a profound impact on your overall well-being. The brain controls nearly everything in your body, including your thoughts, motivation, and your body movements.

Ensuring your brain is in tip-top condition through the right wellness routine is an easy step you can take to improve your overall health.

Mitochondrial support can help provide your brain with cellular support to facilitate better energy levels and mental clarity when included in a healthy diet with positive lifestyle changes.