Obesity and Coenzyme Q10. Two questions come to mind. 1) Does CoQ10 supplementation help to prevent or treat obesity? 2) Does obesity have a negative influence on the bio-synthesis of Coenzyme Q10?

Old man exercising

Overweight and obese individuals may benefit from CoQ10 supplements and regular exercise, both strength exercise and endurance exercise.

These are important questions given the importance of adequate CoQ10 status for ATP energy generation, antioxidant defense, and anti-inflammatory effects. It is not easy to find answers to these questions. The bio-medical literature does not show much biochemical and clinical research on these topics. Mantle et al have done an overview of the existing evidence from animal and human studies [Mantle 2025].

Coenzyme Q10 and Obesity Questions and Answers

The best answers that Mantle et al come to are as follows:

CoQ10 to prevent or treat obesity?

At present, there is no evidence that CoQ10 supplementation prevents or treats obesity directly. For example, in a 2019 meta-analysis of the pooled data from 17 RCTs, Saboori et al observed that CoQ10 does not significantly decrease body weight or BMI.

However, note that CoQ10 supplementation can indirectly benefit obese individuals. CoQ10 improves mitochondrial function and ATP energy generation. CoQ10 acts as an important antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent [Mantle 2025].

In their table 1, Mantle et al list preclinical studies that report beneficial effects of CoQ10 supplementation in animal models of obesity. The benefits include reduced levels of oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers and improved lipid metabolism. To date, there have been no randomized controlled clinical trials supplementing CoQ10 in obese individuals [Mantle 2025].

Obesity inhibiting CoQ10 bio-synthesis?

It is difficult to assert the question of how much obesity affects CoQ10 bio-synthesis. Simply put, we do not know as much as we need to know about the bio-synthesis of Coenzyme Q10.

Nevertheless, note that Grenier‑Larouche et al measured CoQ10 levels in subcutaneous and omental fat from women spanning a BMI range of roughly 21.5 to 53 kg/m squared. In obese individuals, the reduced form of Coenzyme Q10 in omental (visceral) fat was significantly lower.

This indicates that increasing adipocyte size and obesity are associated positively with CoQ10 depletion and with impaired biosynthesis of CoQ10 in adipose tissue.

Interestingly, the CoQ10 depletion in obese individuals correlated with elevated levels of lipid peroxidation, inflammation, and insulin resistance.

The Grenier-Larouche study shows that obesity and higher visceral fat levels most likely impair the fat tissue’s capacity to produce CoQ10. This, in turn, leads to a worsening of metabolic dysfunction and oxidative stress [Grenier-Larouche 2015].

Obesity-Associated Comorbidities And Coenzyme Q10

In a 2014 review of obesity and mitochondrial dysfunction, Alam & Rahman report evidence of a beneficial role of CoQ10 supplementation on metabolic and cardiovascular complications [Alam 2014].

Mantle et al note that CoQ10 supplementation may help obese individuals with the following comorbidities:

  • Chronic kidney disease
  • Heart failure
  • Loss of skeletal muscle mass
  • Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
  • Type 2 diabetes

CoQ10 in Combination with Other Micronutrients

Mantle et al suggest that combination with exercise and with other micronutrients may enhance the beneficial effects of CoQ10 supplementation for obese individuals:

  • alpha-lipoic acid
  • B vitamins
  • carnitine
  • selenium

Conclusion: Obesity and CoQ10 Supplementation

Animal and human studies show reduced levels of CoQ10 in the plasma and in adipose tissue.

There is preclinical evidence for a link between obesity and mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and inflammation.

CoQ10 plays a key role in maintaining normal mitochondrial function, in providing antioxidant protection, and in acting as an anti-inflammatory agent.

Accordingly, CoQ10 supplementation may help in the management of obesity.

Sources

Alam MA, Rahman MM. Mitochondrial dysfunction in obesity: potential benefit and mechanism of Co-enzyme Q10 supplementation in metabolic syndrome. J Diabetes Metab Disord. 2014 May 23;13:60.

Grenier-Larouche T et al. Omental adipocyte hypertrophy relates to coenzyme Q10 redox state and lipid peroxidation in obese women. J Lipid Res. 2015 Oct;56(10):1985-92.

Hargreaves I, Heaton RA, Mantle D. Disorders of human coenzyme Q10 metabolism: An overview. Int J Mol Sci. 2020;21(18):6695.

Mantle D. Coenzyme Q10 and obesity: an overview. 2025. Forthcoming article.

Saboori S et al. Effect of Q10 supplementation on body weight and body mass index: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials. Diabetes Metab Syndr. 2019 Mar-Apr;13(2):1179-1185.

The information presented in this review article is not intended as medical advice. It should not be used as such.