What coenzyme Q10 is
Coenzyme Q10 is a fat-soluble compound that the body makes itself. On labels it appears as coenzyme Q10, CoQ10, ubiquinone or ubidecarenone. The last two are names of the same form. Ubiquinol is a different form of the same molecule.
Ubiquinone or ubiquinol
Ubiquinone is the oxidised form of coenzyme Q10, and most products in this category contain it. Ubiquinol is the reduced form. In our range Swanson sells ubiquinol made by Kaneka, at 50 mg or 100 mg per softgel in flaxseed oil. Some labels say only "coenzyme Q10" and do not name the form. If the form matters to you, choose a product that states it, such as the OstroVit ubiquinone or the Swanson ubiquinol.
Products and amounts per daily dose
| Product | Form | Per daily dose |
|---|---|---|
| Swanson Coenzyme Q10, 30 mg | dry capsule | 30 mg |
| NOW Foods CoQ10 with Omega-3 | softgel with fish oil | 60 mg to 120 mg (1 to 2 softgels) |
| OstroVit Coenzyme Q10 | ubiquinone in soybean oil | 100 mg |
| OstroVit Coenzyme Q10 VEGE | ubiquinone, HPMC capsule | 100 mg |
| Swanson Coenzyme Q10, 100 mg | softgel in soybean oil | 100 mg |
| Swanson Coenzyme Q10 with tocotrienols | softgel, 10 mg tocotrienols | 100 mg |
| Swanson Coenzyme Q10, 200 mg | dry capsule | 200 mg |
| Swanson Ubiquinol | ubiquinol in flaxseed oil | 50 mg or 100 mg |
Softgel or dry capsule
CoQ10 dissolves in fat, so many products come as softgels where the CoQ10 is mixed with oil. Dry capsules contain powder with fillers such as rice flour or inulin. Several labels in our range, including Swanson 30 mg and 200 mg and OstroVit 100 mg, ask you to take the capsule with or after a meal. The NOW Foods product also contains fish oil with EPA and DHA, and vitamin E.
How to choose a CoQ10 product
Start with the form: if you want ubiquinone or ubiquinol specifically, pick a label that names it. Then compare milligrams per daily dose, because 30 mg and 200 mg products sit side by side on the same shelf. Decide between an oil-filled softgel and a dry capsule. Check the allergens: soy in many softgels, fish in the NOW Foods product. If you avoid gelatine, OstroVit VEGE has a plant-based shell. Last, compare the price per day rather than the price per pack.
Allergens and warnings
Several softgels contain soybean oil or soy lecithin, and the NOW Foods product contains fish. OstroVit VEGE uses a plant-based capsule shell. Labels say the products are for adults and are not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Swanson ubiquinol and Swanson 200 mg labels ask you to consult a doctor if you take prescription medication.
Coenzyme Q10 benefits: what the EU has decided
Coenzyme Q10 is often sold online with long lists of benefits. In the EU, only health claims authorised by the European Commission and listed in the EU Register of nutrition and health claims may be used for a food supplement. Several claims for coenzyme Q10 were submitted and assessed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which did not find the evidence sufficient. None was authorised. So no shop may tell you that CoQ10 does something for your body, and we do not. What you will find here is the form, the amount per dose, the oil or filler it comes with and the label warnings. The Mantle and Dybring review under Sources explains how CoQ10 is absorbed and why the way a product is made, for example whether the CoQ10 is dissolved in oil, makes a difference to how much of it is taken up.
Questions
When should I take coenzyme Q10?
With food. Several labels in our range, including Swanson 30 mg and 200 mg and OstroVit 100 mg, say to take the capsule with or after a meal. CoQ10 dissolves in fat, so a meal that contains some fat is a sensible choice.
Which is better, ubiquinone or ubiquinol?
We cannot say that one works better, as that would be an effect claim. They are two forms of the same molecule. Choose by the form named on the label, the amount per daily dose and the price per day.
Is 100 mg or 200 mg per day right for me?
Take the dose on the label of the product you choose. If you are unsure, or if you take medicines, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
How long does a pack last?
Most products here are one capsule a day, so 60 capsules last 60 days. With NOW Foods taken twice a day, 60 softgels last 30 days.
Sources
- NCCIH: Coenzyme Q10
- Mantle and Dybring: Bioavailability of coenzyme Q10, review (PubMed)
- EU Register of nutrition and health claims
- EUR-Lex: Regulation (EU) No 432/2012 (permitted health claims)
- EFSA: Health claims
Content reviewed by Inese Kalniņa, dietitian.
2026-08-07
