Guide
How to choose a good CoQ10
A checklist for reading any CoQ10 label, with our 200 mg capsule measured against it, including where it falls short.
A good CoQ10 supplement states its form (ubiquinone or ubiquinol), the milligrams per serving, what else is in the capsule, and a price per serving you can compare. No label can show which is best for you: the two small head-to-head trials of ubiquinone and ubiquinol we found disagree. Use the checklist below, ours included.
A checklist for any CoQ10 label
| Criterion | What to look for | Our label |
|---|---|---|
| Form | The panel names ubiquinone or ubiquinol, not just "CoQ10" | Ubiquinone, the oxidized form. Not ubiquinol. |
| Amount per serving | Milligrams of CoQ10 itself, and capsules per serving | 200 mg per capsule, one capsule a day, 30 capsules |
| Dose vs the trials | Compare to the doses studies used (60 to 300 mg a day in the ones we cite) | 200 mg sits between the 100 and 300 mg arms of one trial. Neither arm was our dose, and we make no benefit claim |
| Formulation | Powder in a capsule, or suspended in oil in a softgel; a solubilised form | Plain powder, no oil. We have no absorption data on this exact capsule |
| Other ingredients | What fills the rest of the capsule, and whether it names allergens | Rice flour, hypromellose (vegetable capsule) |
| Testing | A named third-party certificate you can look up | None. Our listing carries no third-party-tested badge, and we do not claim one |
| Price per serving | Bottle price divided by servings, for the dose you will take | As low as $16.31 a bottle on subscription, 30 servings: about $0.54 a serving |
| Claims | Whether the label's promises match a study at that dose | No benefit claim on our label |
Where we fall short
Our capsule is a powder with no oil, and the formulation studies we read found oil-based or solubilised products absorbed better in small tests. In a crossover of 10 healthy adults, a soybean-oil softgel had the highest bioavailability of four 100 mg formulations, with a powder capsule as a comparator (Weis 1994). In 54 adults taking 60 mg a day, a solubilised form raised blood levels more than crystalline or oily forms, although the main differences were not statistically significant (Schulz 2006). Neither tested our product. We also have no third-party certificate on file, and no study of our dose and form for any outcome.
Ubiquinone or ubiquinol?
Ubiquinone is the oxidized form and ubiquinol the reduced form. Two small trials compared them directly, on blood levels only, and they disagree. In 12 healthy adults, 4 weeks of 200 mg a day of ubiquinol raised plasma CoQ10 more than ubiquinone in the same softgel; the forms were taken one after the other, and the authors are from a CoQ10 laboratory (Langsjoen 2014). In 21 adults aged 65 to 74, a single 100 mg dose of ubiquinol capsules was not significantly different from ubiquinone capsules (Pravst 2020). Neither tested an outcome, and neither tested a powder capsule like ours, so we name no winner. The ubiquinol study we reviewed was run by its product's manufacturer, gave healthy volunteers 90 to 300 mg a day for 4 weeks, and found it was absorbed with no lab changes; it did not test ubiquinone (Hosoe 2007). Ubiquinol products often cost more; check the price per milligram, not just the bottle.
Questions people ask
How do I pick a CoQ10 supplement or brand?
We don't rank brands, and the evidence we have doesn't pick a winner. Apply the checklist to any label. Be wary of products sold for a particular goal: we found no trial that shows one product suits a goal better than another.
Which CoQ10 is absorbed most easily?
Formulation changes blood levels in small studies, as above. The two small ubiquinone-versus-ubiquinol trials measured blood levels only and disagree, so neither form is shown to be absorbed better. See when to take it.
Is there a CoQ10 made for seniors, skin, energy, anti-aging, heart health or egg quality?
We found no evidence that any product is made for any of those, and we make no such claim. What the studies at other doses tested is in the research review.
Where can I buy CoQ10, and where to buy it online?
Electric Tiger CoQ10 200 mg is sold on this site. Wherever you buy, check the form, milligrams per serving, other ingredients and price per serving first.
Does a CoQ10 need a lab certificate, and are ratings useful?
Look for a named certificate you can verify. Ours has none on file, so we make no testing claim. We don't repeat ratings or rankings: they aren't evidence about the product in the bottle.
Softgel, liquid, gummy or capsule?
Softgels and liquids are typically oil-based, and capsules like ours are powder. We have no trial that shows a format is better for any outcome. The absorption studies above are small.
What food is highest in CoQ10?
Meat, fish, nuts and some oils are richest; dairy, vegetables, fruit and cereals have much less. Average intake is 3-6 mg a day (Pravst 2010).
Which CoQ10 should I choose if I take a prescription medicine or red yeast rice?
We don't recommend any CoQ10 for use with a prescription. Ask your prescriber; see CoQ10 and medications. We have not reviewed red yeast rice products.
What dose should I look for, and how much should I take?
There is no established dose; see how much CoQ10 you should take a day.
Sources
- Bioavailability of four oral coenzyme Q10 formulations in healthy volunteers In 10 healthy adults, 100 mg CoQ10 in a soybean-oil softgel was absorbed best of four formulations; a powder capsule was one comparator.
- Comparison of the relative bioavailability of different coenzyme Q10 formulations with a novel solubilizate (Solu Q10) In 54 healthy adults taking 60 mg a day for 14 days, a solubilised CoQ10 raised blood levels more than crystalline or oily forms, though the main differences were not statistically significant.
- Study on safety and bioavailability of ubiquinol (Kaneka QH) after single and 4-week multiple oral administration to healthy volunteers In healthy volunteers, 90 to 300 mg a day of ubiquinol for 4 weeks raised blood levels without lab or ECG changes; it was not compared with ubiquinone.
- Coenzyme Q10 contents in foods and fortification strategies A food-composition review found meat, fish, nuts and some oils richest in CoQ10, with an average dietary intake of only 3-6 mg a day.
- Comparison study of plasma coenzyme Q10 levels in healthy subjects supplemented with ubiquinol versus ubiquinone In 12 healthy adults, 200 mg a day of ubiquinol for 4 weeks raised blood CoQ10 more than 200 mg of ubiquinone in the same softgel.
- Comparative Bioavailability of Different Coenzyme Q10 Formulations in Healthy Elderly Individuals In 21 healthy older adults, a single 100 mg dose of water-soluble CoQ10 syrup was absorbed 2.4 times as well as ubiquinone capsules; ubiquinol capsules were not significantly different.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
