CoQ10 is a compound made by your body and stored in the mitochondria of your cells (2Trusted Source).
The mitochondria are in charge of producing energy. They also protect cells from oxidative damage and disease-causing bacteria or viruses (3Trusted Source).
CoQ10 production decreases as you age. Thus, older people seem to be deficient in this compound.
Some other causes of CoQ10 deficiency include (2Trusted Source, 4Trusted Source):
Nutritional deficiencies, such as vitamin B6 deficiencyGenetic defects in CoQ10 synthesis or utilizationIncreased demands by tissues as a consequence of diseaseMitochondrial diseasesOxidative stress due to agingSide effects of statin treatmentsResearch has shown that CoQ10 plays several key roles in your body.
One of its primary functions is to help generate energy in your cells. It’s involved in making adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is involved in energy transfer within cells (2Trusted Source).
Its other crucial role is to serve as an antioxidant and protect cells from oxidative damage (2Trusted Source, 5Trusted Source).
Excessive amounts of free radicals lead to oxidative damage, which can interfere with regular cell functioning. This is known to cause many health conditions (6Trusted Source).
Given that ATP is used to carry out all the body’s functions and oxidative damage is destructive to cells, it is not surprising that some chronic diseases have been linked to low levels of CoQ10 (5Trusted Source).
CoQ10 is present in every cell of your body. However, the highest concentrations are found in organs with the greatest energy demands, such as the heart, kidneys, lungs and liver