Have you noticed feeling more tired or foggy as you get older? Or maybe you just don’t feel like yourself anymore.
It’s easy to associate a decline in vitality with normal aging, but feeling bad is not your natural state. Instead, you might be experiencing symptoms of a CoQ10 deficiency.
CoQ10 is an essential antioxidant that your body produces less of as you get older. Without enough of it, your cells can’t create energy efficiently, leaving you feeling tired, sluggish, or unwell. Levels of CoQ10 continue to decline every year, and a chronic deficiency can lead to serious problems with your heart, organs and ability to think clearly.
Luckily, supplementation with liposomal CoQ10 has shown promise in boosting levels and restoring your energy and focus.
Below, you’ll learn what CoQ10 is and the ten most common symptoms to look for.
What is CoQ10 and Why is it Important?
CoQ10, short for coenzyme Q10, is an antioxidant that your body makes. It’s different from other antioxidants (such as certain vitamins and minerals) that you need to get from food.
CoQ10 helps your cells produce energy by protecting and empowering the mitochondria (the power plants of your cells). CoQ10 is found in nearly every cell, but it’s especially important in organs that need a lot of power, like your heart, brain and muscles.
When you meet your CoQ10 needs, your cells function better and you enjoy more energy and vitality throughout your body. But when your levels decline, your cells struggle to produce energy, and this can affect nearly every system in your body.
You may experience mild symptoms at first, such as feeling tired or recovering more slowly after a workout. But over time, low CoQ10 can contribute to more serious problems, such as weakened heart function, reduced brain performance and faster aging [1,2].
Aging isn’t the only factor that can lower your CoQ10 levels. Certain medications—especially statins, which are commonly used for cholesterol—can have the same impact. Stress and poor diet are contributors too. It’s easy to imagine how these factors can accumulate and cause your CoQ10 levels to plummet, even if you’re under 40.
Recognizing the symptoms of CoQ10 deficiency is the first step to boosting your levels and improving your overall health.
10 Symptoms of Low CoQ10
A drop in CoQ10 affects nearly every cell in your body, so symptoms can show up in many different ways. These symptoms are often mistaken for signs of aging, stress, or other health issues. Here are some of the most common warning signs.
1. Chronic Fatigue
CoQ10 is responsible for supporting and protecting the power centers of your cells—the mitochondria. It helps turn food into energy at a cellular level. When your levels drop, your body can’t produce enough fuel to keep you properly energized. This can leave you dragging through the day, no matter how well you eat or how much you rest.
2. Muscle Weakness
Frequent soreness, cramping, or lack of strength during physical activity may be linked to low CoQ10. Muscles need a steady supply of energy to function properly, and without enough CoQ10, they can tire out quickly. This is especially common in people who take statin medications, which are known to lower CoQ10 levels and contribute to muscle discomfort. Luckily, CoQ10 supplements have been found to counter the muscle-weakening effects of statins and improve strength [3].
3. Brain Fog
CoQ10 supports healthy brain cells by fueling them with energy and protecting them from oxidative stress. Without enough CoQ10, your brainpower can crash, making it difficult to think clearly. Studies have shown that CoQ10 has strong neuroprotective effects [4]. Getting more of it may help improve mental sharpness and clarity in the short term and prevent cognitive decline later in life.
4. Shortness of Breath
If you find yourself winded after simple activities like walking up stairs or carrying groceries, you might need more CoQ10. Your heart and lungs rely on CoQ10 to meet your body’s energy demands. When your cells can’t generate enough energy, even light physical activity can feel more exhausting than it should.
5. Heart Health Concerns
Your heart is one of the most energy-demanding organs in your body, and it relies heavily on CoQ10 to function properly. If you experience symptoms like heart palpitations, chest tightness, or have a family history of heart disease, low CoQ10 may be a contributing factor. Low levels of CoQ10 are directly associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and heart failure [5]. The good news is that according to studies, taking more CoQ10 supports heart muscle strength, circulation and blood pressure regulation, protecting the heart as you get older [6].
6. Weakened Immunity
CoQ10 provides power to your immune cells, keeping them energized to fight the good fight and regulate inflammation. When levels are low, your body may not be as quick to defend against viruses and bacteria. Studies have found that CoQ10 may improve immune function and speed up recovery after falling ill, especially in the elderly [7]. If you get sick often, consider adding a liposomal CoQ10 supplement to your daily routine.
7. High Blood Pressure
If your blood pressure is high, your CoQ10 levels might be low. Research suggests that CoQ10 helps relax blood vessels and improve blood flow, both of which can support healthier blood pressure levels [8]. If you have blood pressure problems that won’t go away, especially with medication, adding CoQ10 may provide natural support alongside your current routine.
8. Poor Skin Health
Your skin needs energy too! Without CoQ10, it can lose its firmness and elasticity. Without enough CoQ10, skin cells may not repair as quickly or defend against damage from the sun and pollution. This can lead to dullness, fine lines and signs of early aging. Supplementing with CoQ10 has been found to improve skin texture and slow signs of aging [9].
9. Headaches or Migraines
If your headaches are getting worse as you age, a lack of cellular energy could be a hidden factor. Frequent headaches or migraines may be linked to low CoQ10, especially if they come with fatigue or brain fog. Studies have found that people with migraines often have lower CoQ10 levels, and supplementation may help reduce the frequency and severity of attacks [10].
10. Low Exercise Tolerance
Your cells and muscles need fuel if you want to achieve fulfilling workouts. Without it, exercising feels a lot harder. CoQ10 powers your muscles during movement and supports faster recovery afterward. When your levels are low, you may feel out of breath sooner, experience more soreness, or have trouble keeping up with your routine.
Who Should Consider CoQ10 Supplementation?
CoQ10 is naturally produced by the body, but people don’t realize how quickly levels can drop.
If you’re feeling tired, foggy, or experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above, your body may be telling you it needs more CoQ10. Supplementing with CoQ10 can help restore your natural levels and improve how you feel from head to toe.
Anyone experiencing symptoms of CoQ10 deficiency should consider taking a liposomal CoQ10 supplement, but some people are especially at risk of developing a deficiency.
Here’s who should seriously consider adding CoQ10 to their routine:
- Adults Over 40: An age-related decline in CoQ10 is inevitable, and it can lead to lower energy, slower recovery and reduced heart and brain performance. If you’re over 40 and starting to feel the effects of aging, CoQ10 may help restore your energy and support long-term wellness.
- People Taking Statin Medications: Statins are commonly prescribed to lower cholesterol, but they also lower your body’s CoQ10 levels as a side effect. If you’re taking a statin, CoQ10 supplementation is often recommended to help combat the fatigue, muscle soreness and weakness that can result.
- Active Individuals and Athletes: Your muscles rely on CoQ10 for energy and recovery. If you’re an athlete or just a gym-goer, supplementing with CoQ10 may help improve endurance and overall enjoyment of physical activity. When you’re bursting with energy, exercise is more satisfying!
- Vegetarians/Vegans: Most dietary sources of CoQ10 come from animal products such as organ meats and fatty fish. This leaves vegans and vegetarians with fewer options for topping off their natural levels. A vegan CoQ10 supplement provides all the necessary nutrition without animal products or cruelty.
Protect Your Heart and Restore Your Vitality with Liposomal CoQ10
CoQ10 is one of the most important nutrients for overall well-being. It keeps the lights on in all of your cells, and that affects the performance of all of your organs.
Energy levels, heart function, brain clarity, and even skin health are all connected to CoQ10. If you feel like you’re slowing down physically or mentally as you age, adding a CoQ10 supplement to your routine might make a big difference. However, CoQ10 won’t do any good unless your body can absorb it. That’s why it’s recommended to take liposomal CoQ10.
Liposomal delivery protects CoQ10 by wrapping it in tiny fat bubbles as it travels through your digestive system. These liposomes help carry CoQ10 directly into your bloodstream, where it can get to work quickly. This means better absorption, faster results and more noticeable benefits.
Manna Liposomal CoQ10 is designed to deliver up to 10x more CoQ10 absorption to support your heart, brain and energy levels. If you’re experiencing any of the warning signs in this article, it may be time to give your body the CoQ10 it’s been missing.
FAQ
CoQ10 (coenzyme Q10) is a vital antioxidant that your body produces to help generate cellular energy. It’s essential for heart, brain, and muscle health, especially as you age.
Common signs of a CoQ10 deficiency include fatigue, brain fog, shortness of breath, muscle weakness, headaches, and poor exercise tolerance. These symptoms are often mistaken for normal aging.
Adults over 40, people taking statin medications, vegans or vegetarians, and those under chronic stress are most at risk for developing low CoQ10 levels.
Liposomal CoQ10 is wrapped in tiny fat particles (liposomes) that protect it through digestion and allow for significantly better absorption and faster results compared to regular CoQ10.
Sources:
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6131403/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8773271/
- https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.118.009835
- https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnins.2023.1188839/full
- https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/circheartfailure.115.002639
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK531491/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8150987/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14695928/
- https://jcadonline.com/coenzyme-q10-in-skin-aging/
- https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/14/3/318
