There is a conversation that happens far too rarely in doctors’ offices — and it is one I make a point of having with every client I work with who is managing their health with medication.
If you are taking a statin, a beta blocker, a blood pressure medication, metformin, or certain antidepressants, your body may be quietly depleted of one of its most essential nutrients. A nutrient your cells cannot produce energy without. A nutrient that declines naturally with age and is made even more scarce by some of the most commonly prescribed medications in the world.
That nutrient is CoQ10. And understanding it could meaningfully change how you feel every day.
What Is CoQ10?
CoQ10 — Coenzyme Q10 — is a naturally occurring compound present in virtually every cell in the human body. It resides primarily in the mitochondria, the cellular structures responsible for generating energy, and it plays two indispensable roles.
First, CoQ10 is essential for energy production. It is a critical participant in the biochemical process that converts the food we eat into ATP — the usable energy currency of the cell. Without adequate CoQ10, this process is compromised, and cells throughout the body — including those in the heart, brain, and muscles — cannot function at their best.
Second, CoQ10 is a potent antioxidant. It protects cells from the oxidative damage caused by free radicals, which contributes to accelerated aging, inflammation, and the development of chronic disease.
This is not a peripheral nutrient. It is foundational to how the body functions at the most fundamental level.
CoQ10 Naturally Declines With Age
Beginning around age 40, the body’s ability to produce CoQ10 starts to diminish — and this decline continues progressively from there. By the time most people reach their 50s and 60s, their CoQ10 levels may be considerably lower than they were in earlier decades, even in the absence of any medication or health condition.
This natural depletion is one of the reasons energy levels, cardiovascular resilience, and recovery capacity tend to shift with age. It is also why CoQ10 supplementation is worth considering for virtually any adult over 40 — not as a response to a specific problem, but as foundational support for the body’s ongoing energy and cellular health needs.
Medications That Deplete CoQ10
For anyone already experiencing the natural age-related decline in CoQ10, certain commonly prescribed medications can compound the problem significantly.
Statins are the most widely recognized CoQ10 depleters. These cholesterol-lowering medications work by inhibiting an enzyme called HMG-CoA reductase — the same enzyme involved in the synthesis of CoQ10. The result is that while statins reduce cholesterol production, they simultaneously reduce the body’s ability to produce CoQ10. This is believed to be a primary contributor to the muscle pain, weakness, and fatigue that many statin users experience — symptoms that are frequently underreported or attributed to other causes.
Beyond statins, other common medications associated with CoQ10 depletion include beta blockers, used for heart conditions and blood pressure management; other antihypertensive medications including certain calcium channel blockers and diuretics; metformin, one of the most widely prescribed medications for type 2 diabetes and prediabetes; and certain antidepressant and antipsychotic medications.
If you are taking any of these and have been experiencing unexplained fatigue, muscle discomfort, cognitive fog, or a persistent sense of diminished energy, CoQ10 depletion is a conversation worth having with your healthcare provider.
Food Sources of CoQ10
CoQ10 is present in a number of foods, and optimizing dietary intake is always a meaningful first step. The richest sources are organ meats — particularly heart and liver — which contain significantly higher concentrations than most other foods. Fatty fish including salmon, tuna, sardines, and mackerel are excellent sources, as are beef and chicken. Among plant-based options, peanuts, sesame seeds, pistachios, broccoli, and cauliflower provide CoQ10 in smaller but meaningful amounts.
A diet built around whole, minimally processed foods that includes these sources regularly will contribute to CoQ10 status. However, dietary intake alone is unlikely to fully compensate for the natural decline that occurs with aging — and it cannot meaningfully offset the depletion caused by medications. For most adults over 40, and for anyone on a medication known to deplete CoQ10, supplementation is a necessary and important addition to diet.
Understanding the Forms: Ubiquinol vs. Ubiquinone
Not all CoQ10 supplements are equivalent, and this distinction is important. CoQ10 exists in two primary forms: ubiquinone and ubiquinol.
Ubiquinone is the oxidized, inactive form found in most standard CoQ10 supplements. Before the body can use it, it must be converted into ubiquinol — a conversion step that becomes less efficient as we age. Ubiquinol is the active, reduced form that the body uses directly at the cellular level. It is significantly more bioavailable than ubiquinone, meaning it is available to the cells without requiring conversion.
For adults over 40 — and particularly for those on medications that are already stressing the body’s CoQ10 reserves — choosing ubiquinol rather than ubiquinone is the more effective and efficient choice.
The Supplement I Recommend
The CoQ10 product I trust and recommend is Nordic CoQ10 Ubiquinol by Nordic Naturals. This formula delivers 100mg of ubiquinol — the active, bioavailable form — in a mini softgel suspended in organic extra virgin olive oil, which supports optimal absorption. It is non-GMO, gluten-free, and third-party tested to meet the strictest standards for purity and potency.
Nordic Naturals is a brand I recommend with confidence across several nutrients for their rigorous quality standards and commitment to transparency. This product reflects everything I look for: the right form, meaningful potency, clean ingredients, and verified quality.
You can easily access it through my Fullscript dispensary here to ensure this foundational nutrient becomes a steady part of your daily wellness practice.
I also encourage you to speak with your healthcare provider about your CoQ10 status — particularly if you are on any of the medications discussed above. And if you would like to talk through what this means for your specific health picture, I would be glad to connect. Book a call with me here.
The Bottom Line
CoQ10 is not a supplement to take because it is popular. It is a molecule your body depends on for cellular energy, cardiovascular protection, and defense against oxidative damage — and one that most adults are not getting enough of, whether due to the natural process of aging, the effects of medication, or both.
If you are over 40, CoQ10 deserves a consistent place in your wellness routine. If you are on a statin, beta blocker, blood pressure medication, metformin, or antidepressant, it is not a nice-to-have. It is a priority.
Your energy, your heart, and your cells will thank you for paying attention to this one.
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