Coenzyme Q10

Guidelines

Risk

Dosing

Key Points

This page is under construction.
Before using this therapy, consult your oncology team about interactions with other treatments and therapies. Also make sure this therapy is safe for use with any other medical conditions you may have.
CoQ10 improved markers of heart function in patients receiving doxorubicin without reducing doxorubicin's effectiveness.
CoQ10 may reduce the effectiveness of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
CoQ10 is used in a few integrative programs and protocols.

BCCT plans to write a summary on Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). While our summary is in development, you can visit these sites:

About Herbs: Coenzyme Q10
CAM-Cancer: Coenzyme Q10

Before using this therapy, consult your oncology team about interactions with other treatments and therapies. Also make sure this therapy is safe for use with any other medical conditions you may have.

Clinical Practice Guidelines

According to the Society for Integrative Oncology’s 2017 clinical practice guidelines for breast cancer, insufficient information exists to recommend using coenzyme Q10 for relieving depression/mood or fatigue or improving quality of life.¹

Managing Side Effects and Promoting Wellness

Managing or relieving side effects or symptoms, reducing treatment toxicity, supporting quality of life or promoting general well-being

Some of CoQ10's effects:

Improved markers of heart function in patients receiving doxorubicin without reducing doxorubicin's effectiveness²
Insufficient evidence for relieving fatigue or improving quality of life alone,³ but reduced some indications of fatigue in a small clinical trial of breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy when combined with L-carnitine⁴

Reducing Risk

Reducing the risk of developing cancer or the risk of recurrence

Clinical Evidence

No significant reduced risk of prostate cancer was found in a large cohort.⁵

Cautions

According to About Herbs and CAM-Cancer, only minor side effects have been reported. About Herbs cautions that Co Q10 may reduce effectiveness of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Some integrative oncologists also list cautions:

Don't use with radiation therapy, as it may reduce effectiveness⁶ (but note evidence of no reduced effectiveness of doxorubicin as described above).
High doses for long periods may elevate liver enzymes and can interact with blood thinners.⁷

BCCT advises using this supplement under medical supervision of a clinician knowledgeable in using this supplement in cancer care.

Dosing

BCCT does not recommend therapies or doses, but only provides information for patients and providers to consider as part of a complete treatment plan. Patients should discuss therapies with their physicians, as contraindications, interactions and side effects must be evaluated.

Dosage recommendations are available from these sources:

Solutions 4 Health: Lymphoma Wellness Plan
Alschuler LN, Gazella KA. The Definitive Guide to Cancer, 3rd Edition: An Integrative Approach to Prevention, Treatment, and Healing. Berkeley, California: Celestial Arts. 2010.
Alschuler LN, Gazella KA. The Definitive Guide to Thriving after Cancer: A Five-Step Integrative Plan to Reduce the Risk of Recurrence and Build Lifelong Health. Berkeley, California: Ten Speed Press. 2013.
Block KI. Life over Cancer: The Block Center Program for Integrative Cancer Care. New York: Bantam Dell. 2009.
Chang R. Beyond the Magic Bullet: The Anti-Cancer Cocktail. New York: Square One Publishers. 2012.
McKinney N. Naturopathic Oncology, 3rd Edition. Victoria, BC, Canada: Liaison Press. 2016.
Moss Reports (purchase required): Select from the list of cancers down the left side of the page for a report describing uses of conventional, complementary, alternative and integrative therapies related to that cancer. Ralph Moss is among the most knowledgeable and balanced researchers of integrative cancer therapies. The cost of his Moss Reports is not negligible, but many patients find them of considerable value. Moss is also available for consultations.
Natural Medicines Database (requires purchase)

Integrative Programs, Protocols and Medical Systems

For more information about programs and protocols, see our Integrative Programs and Protocols page.

Programs and protocols

Alschuler & Gazella complementary approaches⁸
- Breast cancer
- Cervical cancer
- Melanoma
- Ovarian cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Thyroid cancer
- Immune-enhancing approach
- Anti-inflammatory approach
- Insulin resistance reversal approach
- Supporting thyroid and adrenal function
- Decreasing risk of breast and thyroid cancer and melanoma
Block program:⁹
- Antioxidant support
- Immune surveillance support
- Cardioprotectant during Adriamycin® therapy
- Use with off-label statins to protect muscle cells¹⁰
MacDonald breast cancer program¹¹
McKinney protocols¹²
- Treating organ failure triggered by chemotherapy toxicity
- Breast cancer: improving heart function before Herceptin® treatment
- Melanoma
- Myelodysplastic syndrome: prevent liver, kidney and bone marrow toxicity
- Repairing sun and other UV damage to skin