CoQ10 Supplement Ireland | Coenzyme Q10 Evidence Guide
CoQ10 is one of the most-searched supplements in Ireland, mostly by people on statins, people over 40 and couples trying to conceive. Here is what the trials actually show, ubiquinol vs ubiquinone, how much to take, and which one to buy.
What it is. CoQ10 (coenzyme Q10) is a fat-soluble compound the body makes to produce cellular energy. It is sold in Ireland as a food supplement under FSAI rules, not a medicine, and no EU health claim is authorised for CoQ10.
What the evidence shows. Research is mixed. A 2018 meta-analysis of 12 trials and 575 patients found fewer statin muscle symptoms with CoQ10 (Qu et al., J Am Heart Assoc, PMID 30371340); a 2015 meta-analysis found no significant benefit (Banach et al., Mayo Clin Proc, PMID 25440725). In men, CoQ10 improved sperm concentration and motility but not pregnancy rates (Lafuente et al., 2013).
What to buy. 100 mg a day in an oil-based softgel, taken with food. Ubiquinone has the most trial data; ubiquinol is the reduced form and is not proven better. Probiotic.ie stocks both, shipped from Dublin with no customs charges.
CoQ10 (coenzyme Q10, ubiquinone) definition: CoQ10 is a vitamin-like, fat-soluble quinone made by the body, found in the mitochondria of almost every cell, and sold as a supplement in two forms, ubiquinone (oxidised) and ubiquinol (reduced), usually as 100 mg softgels.
- What it is: a fat-soluble compound used in mitochondrial energy production
- Made by the body? Yes; production is thought to fall with age
- Two forms: ubiquinone (oxidised) and ubiquinol (reduced)
- Standard dose: 100 mg a day, with a meal containing fat
- Statins: lower the body's own CoQ10 production
- Is it a stimulant? No
- EU health claim for CoQ10: none authorised
- Vegan? No; all three softgels we stock use gelatine
- Irish regulatory status: food supplement under FSAI rules, not a medicine
- Irish VAT on supplements: 13.5%
- CoQ10 is not a medicine and is not sold to treat, prevent or cure any condition.
- CoQ10 is not a replacement for a statin or any heart medication.
- CoQ10 is not proven to raise pregnancy or live birth rates.
- Ubiquinol is not proven to work better than ubiquinone.
- CoQ10 is not an energy stimulant; it does not work like caffeine.
What is reasonably supported: statins lower CoQ10 production; CoQ10 improved sperm concentration and motility in 3 RCTs; it was an add-on in heart failure trials under specialist care.
What is mixed or not proven: relief of statin muscle aches (meta-analyses disagree), higher pregnancy rates, more energy in healthy adults, and ubiquinol being better than ubiquinone.
Standard dose: 100 mg a day with food. Trials have used 100 to 600 mg.
Key safety note: check with your GP or pharmacist first if you take warfarin, blood pressure medication, or are pregnant or breastfeeding.
The research discussed in this article relates to coenzyme Q10 as a studied compound. It should not be read as a claim that Doctor's Best CoQ10, Healthy Origins CoQ10, Healthy Origins Natural Ubiquinol, or any other product sold by Probiotic.ie, produces these effects. These products are food supplements, not medicines. No authorised EU health claim is made for CoQ10 or ubiquinol on this page or on any product.
Doctor's Best CoQ10 100mg with BioPerine
100 mg ubiquinone per softgel in olive oil, with 5 mg BioPerine black pepper extract. One softgel a day with food. 120 softgels, about four months' supply.
Current price on the product page, including Irish VAT at 13.5%. Food supplement, not a medicine. No customs charges. Free DPD delivery on Republic of Ireland orders over €75.
What is CoQ10 (coenzyme Q10)?
Coenzyme Q10, also called CoQ10, Q10 or ubiquinone, is a fat-soluble compound the body makes itself. It sits in the inner membrane of the mitochondria, the part of the cell that makes energy.
Levels are highest in organs with high energy demand, such as the heart, liver and kidneys. Food supplies only small amounts, mainly from oily fish, meat and whole grains.
Carries electrons in the mitochondrial chain that makes ATP.
Evidence: established biochemistryUbiquinol, the reduced form, protects cell membranes from oxidation.
Evidence: established biochemistryThe body converts between ubiquinone and ubiquinol as needed.
Evidence: established biochemistryMade via the mevalonate pathway, the same route statins block.
Evidence: established biochemistryA 2018 review notes that CoQ10 production has been proposed to fall during ageing, which is the main reason people over 40 take it (Hernández-Camacho et al., Front Physiol, 2018, PMID 29459830).[1]
What is CoQ10 good for? The evidence
CoQ10 has been studied in many areas. The evidence is strongest in specific clinical groups and weakest for general "energy" in healthy people. No EU health claim is authorised for CoQ10, so what follows is research, not product claims.
Q-SYMBIO: heart failure, 2 years
420 people with moderate to severe heart failure took 300 mg CoQ10 a day or placebo on top of their usual medication. Major cardiovascular events were lower with CoQ10 (15% vs 26%).[10] This was a specialist-supervised patient group, not a reason to self-treat.
Mortensen SA et al. JACC Heart Fail. 2014;2(6):641-649. PMID 25282031.
Al Saadi et al.: "no convincing evidence"
A 2021 Cochrane review of 11 trials and 1,573 people found CoQ10 probably reduces mortality and hospital admission in heart failure (moderate-quality evidence), but concluded there is "currently no convincing evidence to support or refute" its use.[11]
Al Saadi T et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021;2:CD008684. PMC8092430.
- Statin users: mixed meta-analyses (see the statins section below).
- Male fertility: better sperm concentration and motility; no proven effect on pregnancy.
- IVF: one RCT found more eggs and better embryos, not more live births.
- General energy in healthy adults: not established.
CoQ10 and statins: what the evidence shows
Statins lower cholesterol by blocking the mevalonate pathway. CoQ10 is made on the same pathway, so statins also lower the body's own CoQ10 (Littarru and Langsjoen, Mitochondrion, 2007).[6]
Whether a supplement eases statin muscle aches is less clear. The two main meta-analyses disagree.
Skarlovnik et al.: 50 patients, 30 days
Statin users with muscle pain took 50 mg CoQ10 twice daily (100 mg a day) or placebo. Pain severity fell by 33% and pain interference by 40% versus placebo (both P<0.05).[3]
Skarlovnik A et al. Med Sci Monit. 2014;20:2183-2188. PMID 25391864.
Qu et al.: 12 RCTs, 575 patients
CoQ10 reduced muscle pain, weakness, cramps and tiredness versus placebo. It did not lower creatine kinase (CK), and heterogeneity between trials was high (I² 89.6% for pain).[4]
Qu H et al. J Am Heart Assoc. 2018;7(19):e009835. PMID 30371340.
Banach et al.: 6 RCTs, 302 patients
No significant effect on muscle pain (SMD −0.53, 95% CI −1.33 to 0.28, P=0.20). The authors found no significant benefit and called for larger trials.[5]
Banach M et al. Mayo Clin Proc. 2015;90(1):24-34. PMID 25440725.
CoQ10 is not licensed by the HPRA to treat statin side effects. It is a food supplement. Never stop or change a statin without your GP. If you have muscle aches on a statin, your GP can check them and may change the dose or the statin.
CoQ10 benefits for women: fertility and egg quality
Eggs need a lot of mitochondrial energy, which is why CoQ10 is widely discussed in IVF clinics. The human evidence is still limited.
Xu et al.: 169 women under 35
Women with low ovarian reserve took 600 mg CoQ10 a day (200 mg three times daily) for 60 days before IVF, or no pre-treatment. The CoQ10 group had more eggs retrieved and more high-quality embryos. Pregnancy and live birth rates tended to be higher but were not statistically significant.[8]
Xu Y et al. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2018;16:29.
Ben-Meir et al.: aged mice
CoQ10 restored mitochondrial function in eggs of older mice. This is the main mechanistic basis for its use, but mouse results do not prove an effect in women.[9]
Ben-Meir A et al. Aging Cell. 2015;14(5):887-895. PMID 26111777.
The 600 mg IVF dose was used under clinical supervision and is six times the label dose of the products we stock. Talk to your fertility clinic before starting. CoQ10 is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding without medical advice. Also researching fertility supplements? See our myo-inositol Ireland guide.
CoQ10 benefits for men: sperm and statins
Sperm rely on mitochondria to swim. That is why male fertility is the best-studied CoQ10 area after heart failure and statins.
Lafuente et al.: 3 RCTs, 296 men
CoQ10 improved sperm concentration and motility versus placebo. The authors found no evidence that CoQ10 increases pregnancy or live birth rates and called for larger trials.[7]
Lafuente R et al. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2013;30(9):1147-1156. PMID 23912751.
Better sperm tests are not babies
Sperm parameters are a lab measure. Couples should get a fertility assessment rather than rely on a supplement. Men over 40 on a statin are the other common CoQ10 group.
Men's health reading: our saw palmetto Ireland guide.
Ubiquinone vs ubiquinol: which form is better?
This is the most common CoQ10 buying question. The short answer: ubiquinol is not proven better, and the formulation matters more than the form.
| Feature | Ubiquinone | Ubiquinol |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Oxidised form of CoQ10 | Reduced (antioxidant) form |
| Used in trials | Most trials, including Q-SYMBIO and Skarlovnik | Fewer outcome trials |
| Absorption | Good in oil-based softgels | Some studies show higher blood levels |
| Proven better outcomes? | No head-to-head outcome trial for either | |
| Cost per day | Lower | Higher |
A 2020 review by Mantle and Dybring concluded that "the concept of the superior bioavailability of supplemental ubiquinol compared to ubiquinone would appear to be mistaken". They argue that how well the CoQ10 crystals are dispersed in oil matters more than the form.[2] Balance note: the authors work for a company that sells ubiquinone, so treat this as one side of a commercial debate.
Which CoQ10 should I buy? Our three 100 mg options compared
| Product | What's in it | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Doctor's Best CoQ10 100mg | Ubiquinone 100 mg + 5 mg BioPerine, olive oil · 1 daily · 120 softgels | Most days per bottle |
| Healthy Origins CoQ10 100mg | Ubiquinone 100 mg, cold-pressed olive oil · 1–2 daily · 60 softgels | Allergen-free; trying CoQ10 first |
| Healthy Origins Natural Ubiquinol 100mg | Kaneka ubiquinol 100 mg, MCT oil · 1–2 daily · 60 softgels | Preferring the reduced form |
All three are gelatine softgels, so none is vegan. Take with a meal.
- Want the simplest, longest-lasting option? Doctor's Best CoQ10 100mg, 120 softgels at 1 a day.
- Avoiding gluten, soy, dairy, egg, fish or nuts? Healthy Origins CoQ10 100mg.
- Prefer the ubiquinol form? Healthy Origins Natural Ubiquinol 100mg. Expect to pay more per day.
Prices change, so we do not list them here. Each product page shows the current price including 13.5% Irish VAT.
CoQ10 dosage: 100 mg, 200 mg or more?
There is no EU Reference Intake for CoQ10. Doses in trials depend on the group studied.
| Daily dose | Where it was used |
|---|---|
| 100 mg | Standard supplement dose; Skarlovnik statin trial (50 mg twice daily) |
| 200 mg | Two softgels a day, within the Healthy Origins label serving |
| 300 mg | Q-SYMBIO heart failure trial, under cardiology care |
| 600 mg | Xu IVF trial, under clinical supervision |
CoQ10 is fat-soluble. Take it with a meal that contains some fat. All three products we stock are oil-based softgels. If you take 200 mg, splitting it across two meals is a common approach.
How long does CoQ10 take to work?
There is no guaranteed result. These are the time points the trials used.
CoQ10 side effects and safety
- Generally well tolerated. A 2018 review describes CoQ10 as safe and well tolerated even at 1,200 to 2,400 mg a day in human studies.[1]
- Most common complaints: mild stomach upset, nausea or loose stools. Taking it with food helps.
- take warfarin or another blood thinner (CoQ10 may affect how it works)
- take blood pressure medication
- take a statin and have muscle symptoms
- are pregnant or breastfeeding
- are having cancer treatment or other medical treatment
Buying CoQ10 in Ireland: rules, VAT and delivery
- Legal to buy. CoQ10 is sold in Ireland as a food supplement under FSAI rules and the EU Food Supplements Directive 2002/46/EC.[12] It is not a medicine and needs no prescription.
- No authorised health claim. No EU health claim is authorised for CoQ10 under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, so no product can lawfully claim heart, energy or fertility benefits.
- FSAI notification is not approval. The FSAI states notification is not an approval or authorisation process.[13]
- 13.5% VAT. Food supplements carry Ireland's reduced VAT rate.[14]
- No customs from us. Stock ships from Dublin. Orders from outside the EU can attract VAT and customs charges (see customs charges Ireland).
- What to check on any label: form (ubiquinone or ubiquinol), mg per softgel, an oil base, and the serving size.
Product details were checked by Probiotic.ie on 14 October 2026 against our live product pages: Doctor's Best CoQ10 100mg (100 mg ubiquinone and 5 mg BioPerine black pepper extract per softgel, olive oil, gelatine softgel, 120 softgels, 1 daily with food); Healthy Origins CoQ10 100mg (100 mg ubiquinone in cold-pressed olive oil, Kosher gelatine and beeswax, 60 softgels, 1 to 2 daily with a meal); Healthy Origins Natural Ubiquinol 100mg (100 mg Kaneka ubiquinol, MCT oil, gelatine softgel, 60 softgels, 1 to 2 daily with food). Always check the label on the pack you receive.
The research discussed in this article relates to coenzyme Q10 as a studied compound and should not be read as a claim that any product sold by Probiotic.ie produces these effects. These products are food supplements, not medicines. No authorised EU health claim is made for CoQ10 or ubiquinol.
Ready to order? Pick your CoQ10
100 mg oil-based softgels, shipped from Dublin. Ubiquinone for the most trial data and most days per bottle, or ubiquinol if you prefer the reduced form.
Current price on the product page, including Irish VAT at 13.5%. Food supplement, not a medicine. Prefer ubiquinol? View Healthy Origins Natural Ubiquinol 100mg.
Frequently asked questions
What is CoQ10 and what is it used for?
CoQ10 (coenzyme Q10) is a fat-soluble compound the body makes in almost every cell. It carries electrons in the mitochondria, where cells produce energy (ATP), and in its reduced form (ubiquinol) it acts as an antioxidant. As a supplement it is most researched in people taking statins, in heart failure under specialist care, and in fertility. In Ireland it is sold as a food supplement, and no EU health claim is authorised for CoQ10.
What is CoQ10 good for?
The strongest research areas are statin-associated muscle symptoms, heart failure (as an add-on under cardiology care) and sperm parameters. Results are mixed: a 2018 meta-analysis of 12 trials found reduced statin muscle symptoms (Qu et al., J Am Heart Assoc, PMID 30371340), while a 2015 meta-analysis found no significant benefit (Banach et al., Mayo Clin Proc, PMID 25440725). No EU health claim is authorised for CoQ10, and it is not a treatment for any condition.
What is the difference between ubiquinol and ubiquinone?
They are two forms of the same molecule. Ubiquinone is the oxidised form and the one used in most clinical trials. Ubiquinol is the reduced, antioxidant form. The body converts between the two. Probiotic.ie stocks both at 100 mg per softgel: Doctor's Best CoQ10 and Healthy Origins CoQ10 (ubiquinone) and Healthy Origins Natural Ubiquinol (Kaneka ubiquinol).
Is ubiquinol better than CoQ10 (ubiquinone)?
Not proven. Some studies report higher blood CoQ10 levels with ubiquinol, but a 2020 review by Mantle and Dybring concluded that the idea of superior ubiquinol bioavailability "would appear to be mistaken" once formulation is accounted for (Antioxidants, PMID 32380795). The authors work for a ubiquinone manufacturer. No outcome trial shows ubiquinol works better. Ubiquinone has more trial data and usually costs less per day.
How much CoQ10 should I take?
There is no EU Reference Intake for CoQ10. 100 mg a day is the standard supplement dose and the daily dose used in the Skarlovnik statin trial. Higher doses, such as 300 mg in the Q-SYMBIO heart failure trial or 600 mg in an IVF trial, were used under medical supervision. Take it with a meal containing fat and do not exceed the label dose without advice from your GP or pharmacist.
Should I take CoQ10 with statins?
Statins lower the body's own CoQ10 production because both share the mevalonate pathway. Whether supplementing helps muscle symptoms is debated: Qu et al. (2018, 12 trials, 575 patients) found less muscle pain, weakness and cramps, but Banach et al. (2015, 6 trials) found no significant benefit (PMID 25440725). CoQ10 is not a substitute for your statin. If you have muscle aches on a statin, speak to your GP first.
What are the benefits of CoQ10 for women?
The main research area is egg quality during IVF. In a randomised trial of 169 women under 35 with low ovarian reserve, 600 mg CoQ10 a day for 60 days before IVF gave more eggs retrieved and better-quality embryos, but pregnancy and live birth rates were not significantly higher (Xu et al., Reprod Biol Endocrinol, 2018). Much of the egg-quality evidence is from animal studies. Speak to your fertility clinic before use; CoQ10 is not recommended in pregnancy without medical advice.
What are the benefits of CoQ10 for men?
The main research is on sperm. A 2013 meta-analysis of 3 randomised trials (296 men) by Lafuente et al. found CoQ10 improved sperm concentration and motility, but found no evidence that it increases pregnancy or live birth rates (J Assist Reprod Genet, PMID 23912751). Men taking statins are the other common group (see the statins question above).
What are the side effects of CoQ10?
CoQ10 is generally well tolerated. A 2018 review reported it as safe and well tolerated even at 1,200 to 2,400 mg a day in human studies (Hernández-Camacho et al., Front Physiol, PMID 29459830). Mild stomach upset, nausea and loose stools are the most common complaints. Taking it with food helps. It may affect warfarin and may add to the effect of blood pressure medication, so check with your GP or pharmacist first if you take either.
How long does CoQ10 take to work?
It depends on why you are taking it, and there is no guaranteed result. The Skarlovnik statin trial measured muscle pain after 30 days. The Xu IVF trial used 60 days before egg collection. Heart failure and sperm studies ran for months, and Q-SYMBIO ran for 2 years. A fair personal review point is 8 to 12 weeks of daily use with food.
Is CoQ10 a medicine in Ireland?
No. CoQ10 is sold in Ireland as a food supplement under FSAI rules and the EU Food Supplements Directive 2002/46/EC (FSAI). It is not licensed by the HPRA as a medicine, needs no prescription, and no product can lawfully claim to treat, prevent or cure any disease. Food supplements carry 13.5% VAT in Ireland.
Where can I buy CoQ10 in Ireland?
Probiotic.ie stocks three 100 mg CoQ10 softgels and ships from Dublin with tracked delivery: Doctor's Best CoQ10 100mg with BioPerine (120 softgels, ubiquinone), Healthy Origins CoQ10 100mg (60 softgels, ubiquinone) and Healthy Origins Natural Ubiquinol 100mg (60 softgels, Kaneka ubiquinol). There are no customs charges, and DPD delivery is free on Republic of Ireland orders over €75.
Can I take CoQ10 with NAC or glutathione?
They are often stacked as antioxidant supplements and there is no known interaction between them, but no trial has tested the combination for a health outcome. CoQ10 works in the mitochondrial membrane; NAC and glutathione work through the glutathione system. Our glutathione Ireland guide compares glutathione and NAC.
- CoQ10 (coenzyme Q10) is a fat-soluble compound the body makes for mitochondrial energy production.
- No EU health claim is authorised for CoQ10 under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
- Statins lower the body's own CoQ10 production because both use the mevalonate pathway.
- For statin muscle symptoms, a 2018 meta-analysis of 12 RCTs found benefit (Qu et al., J Am Heart Assoc, PMID 30371340); a 2015 meta-analysis of 6 RCTs did not (Banach et al., Mayo Clin Proc, PMID 25440725).
- In 3 RCTs (296 men), CoQ10 improved sperm concentration and motility but not pregnancy rates (Lafuente et al., 2013, PMID 23912751).
- Ubiquinol is not proven better than ubiquinone; formulation affects absorption (Mantle and Dybring, Antioxidants, 2020, PMID 32380795).
- In Ireland, CoQ10 is sold as a food supplement under FSAI rules, not a medicine; 13.5% VAT applies.
- Probiotic.ie stocks Doctor's Best CoQ10 100mg, Healthy Origins CoQ10 100mg and Healthy Origins Natural Ubiquinol 100mg, shipped from Dublin with no customs charges.
More evidence guides from Probiotic.ie
This guide was first published on 27 April 2026 and reviewed by Probiotic.ie on 14 October 2026. In the review we:
- Re-checked every citation against PubMed or publisher records. We removed a review that could not be matched to its PubMed record, corrected a misattributed statin meta-analysis (now Qu et al., 2018), corrected the size of the Lafuente meta-analysis, and removed body-level statistics we could not trace to the cited source.
- Added conflicting evidence (Banach 2015, Cochrane 2021) and human IVF data (Xu 2018).
- Corrected the forms section: Probiotic.ie stocks ubiquinol as well as ubiquinone.
- Removed prices from the article and checked product details against our live product pages.
- Checked FSAI food supplement rules and confirmed no EU health claim is authorised for CoQ10.
- Made no disease-treatment claims and no health claims for CoQ10.
This guide has not been reviewed by a clinician. It is not medical advice.
Sources
- [1] Hernández-Camacho JD, Bernier M, López-Lluch G, Navas P. Coenzyme Q10 supplementation in aging and disease. Front Physiol. 2018;9:44. PMID 29459830. — pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29459830
- [2] Mantle D, Dybring A. Bioavailability of coenzyme Q10: an overview of the absorption process and subsequent metabolism. Antioxidants (Basel). 2020;9(5):386. PMID 32380795. — pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32380795
- [3] Skarlovnik A et al. Coenzyme Q10 supplementation decreases statin-related mild-to-moderate muscle symptoms: a randomized clinical study. Med Sci Monit. 2014;20:2183-2188. PMID 25391864. — pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25391864
- [4] Qu H et al. Effects of coenzyme Q10 on statin-induced myopathy: an updated meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Am Heart Assoc. 2018;7(19):e009835. PMID 30371340. — pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30371340
- [5] Banach M et al. Effects of coenzyme Q10 on statin-induced myopathy: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Mayo Clin Proc. 2015;90(1):24-34. PMID 25440725. — pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25440725
- [6] Littarru GP, Langsjoen P. Coenzyme Q10 and statins: biochemical and clinical implications. Mitochondrion. 2007;7 Suppl:S168-S174. PMID 17482884. — pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17482884
- [7] Lafuente R et al. Coenzyme Q10 and male infertility: a meta-analysis. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2013;30(9):1147-1156. PMID 23912751. — pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23912751
- [8] Xu Y et al. Pretreatment with coenzyme Q10 improves ovarian response and embryo quality in low-prognosis young women with decreased ovarian reserve: a randomized controlled trial. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2018;16:29. — doi.org/10.1186/s12958-018-0343-0
- [9] Ben-Meir A et al. Coenzyme Q10 restores oocyte mitochondrial function and fertility during reproductive aging. Aging Cell. 2015;14(5):887-895. PMID 26111777. — pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26111777
- [10] Mortensen SA et al. The effect of coenzyme Q10 on morbidity and mortality in chronic heart failure: results from Q-SYMBIO, a randomized double-blind trial. JACC Heart Fail. 2014;2(6):641-649. PMID 25282031. — pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25282031
- [11] Al Saadi T et al. Coenzyme Q10 for heart failure. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021;2:CD008684. PMC8092430. — pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8092430
- [12] Food Safety Authority of Ireland. Food Supplements: legislation and guidance. — fsai.ie/legislation/food-legislation/food-supplements
- [13] Food Safety Authority of Ireland. Food Supplements – Legislative Requirements. 2024. — fsai.ie (PDF)
- [14] Revenue Commissioners. Tax and Duty Manual: VAT treatment of food supplement products. — revenue.ie (PDF)