In this episode you’ll discover how Coenzyme Q10, also known as CoQ10 can help to improve your egg quality and the do’s and don'ts when it comes to supplementing.
CoQ10 is something that your body makes naturally but your levels do fall as you age.
It’s also not possible to increase your body’s CoQ10 levels through diet.
Therefore CoQ10 is a supplement I recommend to nearly every woman who is trying to have a baby whether they are trying to conceive naturally or with the help of assisted reproductive technology.
And you’ll soon understand why…
But firstly I want to make a quick disclaimer and that is that the information I am sharing in this episode is for educational purposes only and does not replace the advice, treatment or diagnosis given to you by your healthcare provider. Please use your own discretion and due diligence.
So I want to start by sharing some really interesting research with you (and you’ll find the link to these studies in the show notes if you’d like to check them out for yourself).
One meta-analysis that included 449 infertile women undergoing assisted reproductive technology, showed that oral CoQ10 supplementation helped to increase pregnancy rates compared with placebo or no-treatment. PMID: 32767206
Another study that included 299 women undergoing IVF-ICSI for unexplained infertility found that a higher level of CoQ10 is associated with higher-quality eggs and higher pregnancy rates. DOI: 10.4236/ojog.2019.91001
Another study that included 169 women with poor ovarian response to IVF stimulation medication found that taking CoQ10 60 days prior to IVF can significantly improve egg quality. PMID: 29587861
Each egg cell typically houses more than 100,000 mitochondria.
Mitochondria act like little power plants within your egg cells and CoQ10 helps to provide these mitochondria with energy.
This energy is needed (and lots of it) to process chromosomes correctly and so that the egg cells can mature properly.
As you age, your mitochondria become less efficient energy producers.
The mitochondria’s inability to make energy is problematic for egg quality.
Poor mitochondrial function is seen in women with fertility issues such as age-related infertility, premature ovarian failure and poor response to IVF stimulation medication. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0042423
CoQ10 is a powerful mitochondrial antioxidant that helps to fight oxidative stress which can negatively impact the DNA within your egg cells.
It will be your mitochondria that is transferred to your future embryo.
Bottom line is that CoQ10 can help to support egg maturation, fertilisation, a viable pregnancy and the growth and development of your future baby. PMID: 25719756
So let’s discuss the best form, how much and when to start and stop taking it.
Over 99% of CoQ10 in circulation within the body is in the form of Ubiquinol.
A CoQ10 supplement in the form of ubiquinol is far more superior and effective at raising levels within the body as opposed to ubiquinone which is the oxidised form of CoQ10. PMID: 30302465
So be sure to choose a CoQ10 supplement that is in the form of ubiquinol and not ubiquinone.
How much should you take?
If you’ve just started trying for a baby a great place to start is with 200mg of Ubiquinol per day.
If you’re finding it difficult to get pregnant, stay pregnant or if you’re going down the assisted productive path, you may want to consider starting with 400mg per day divided into two doses. 200mg in the morning with breakfast and 200mg in the afternoon with lunch.
If you are going down the IVF path, it’s always a good idea to consult with your fertility specialist, they may want you on a higher dose depending on your individual needs.
Some women have reported that CoQ10 supplementation causes sleep disturbances, so I would suggest that you avoid taking it before bed.
When should you start taking it?
It takes approximately 3 months for eggs to mature so ideally it’s best to start taking CoQ10 3 months prior to trying naturally or via assisted reproductive technology. The next best time to start is now.
When to stop taking it?
Once pregnancy has been confirmed or advised by your fertility specialist as each clinic and specialist is different.
There are a couple of reasons why I advise women stop taking CoQ10 once pregnancy has been confirmed and the first reason is that although it’s likely safe, there is very limited research. We need more data.
The second reason is that it’s quite an expensive supplement.
And the third reason is that once pregnancy has been achieved, egg quality is no longer the focus.
So there you have it, everything you need to know about CoQ10 for improving your egg quality and chances of getting pregnant and staying pregnant.