Gynaecology-Womens-Health-Sci Forschen

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RESEARCH ARTICLE
CoQ10: The Potential Role in Female and Male Subfertility. A Narrative Review of RCTs and Controlled Clinical Trials

  Emma Derbyshire*   

Independent Nutrition Consultant, Nutritional Insight, Surrey, United Kingdom

*Corresponding author: Emma Derbyshire, PhD, RPH Nutr, Independent Nutrition Consultant, Nutritional Insight, Surrey, United Kingdom, E-mail: emma@nutritional-insight.co.uk


Abstract

Rates of subfertility are on the uprise which can bring high medical costs and emotional afflictions. This narrative review explores the emerging roles of CoQ10 - including the ubiquinol form in subfertility. PubMed, Science Direct and reference lists were searched for RCTs, and Controlled Clinical Trials published between January 1, 2009, and June 30, 2024. The keywords CoQ10, ubiquinol, sub/fer/infertility, ovarian reserve, oocyte quality, ovulation, amenorrhea, polycystic ovary syndrome, sperm quality, seminal fluid, and IVF were used. A total of 17 publications were identified. CoQ10 appears to contribute to improvements in oocyte quality/fertilization, markers of sperm quality and more broadly PCOS symptoms and hormone levels which can impact on fertility. This is potentially underpinned by its role(s) in mitochondrial energetics, attenuating oxidative stress and modifications to DNA, proteins and lipids. The roles of the ubiquinol form look particularly promising, due to its bioavailability. Ongoing research is needed but there is scope to raise CoQ10 awareness amongst reproductive health experts.


Introduction

Subfertility can be used interchangeably with the term infertility and generally refers to any form of reduced fertility [1]. The World Health Organisation defines infertility as a disease of the reproductive system (female or male) defined by the failure to achieve a pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse [2]. Large and indeed increasing proportions of people are being affected by infertility with approximately 17.5% (around 1 in 6) experiencing infertility [2]. From a statistical stance infertility has been estimated to affect around 48 million couples and 186 million individuals worldwide [3]. In turn, infertility can contribute to stigma, financial hardship, significant distress, depression, anxiety and reduced life quality [2].

Causes of infertility can be multifaceted including genetic, environmental (such as xenobiotics; synthetic chemical compounds), immunological, and metabolic reasons, amongst others [4-6]. For females endocrine disruptors have been found to be associated with diseases linked to infertility such as irregular menstrual cycles, endometriosis, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) [3]. Amongst males ageing, testicular dysfunction, endocrinopathies, congenital anatomical factors and gonadotoxic exposures including endocrine disruptors are some potential explanations, amongst others [7]. Equally, both male and female germ lines are susceptible to oxidative stress which can impact on fertility [8]. Mitochondrial function is also viewed as a key marker of sperm and oocyte quality which has an important role in fertility [9].

Given present rates of infertility coupled with the fact that medical costs for a round of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) are often higher than the average annual income [10] the role of nutrition and lifestyle has become increasingly important. A range of nutritional factors including energy intake, vitamins B12, D and B6, biotin, methionine, choline, selenium, zinc, folic acid, resveratrol, and quercetin may influence fertility with epigenetic mechanisms being one explanation [11]. From a more generic sense the role(s) of foods, nutrients and their potential to impact male semen quality and female fertility is gaining interest [12]. Increasingly, the role of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in health and disease has been advancing over the last decade, with fertility being a major field of interest and this being referred to as a ‘miracle nutrient’ [13,14]. Given this, the present review focuses on latest evidence related to CoQ10, with particular interest in the ubiquinol form.

CoQ10 Foods Sources, Forms and Bioavailability

CoQ10 is a lipid-soluble vitamin-like coenzyme that occurs naturally in the body and has a ‘ubiquitous’ presence in living organisms, hence is often referred to as ‘ubiquinone’[15,16]. CoQ10 can be produced in vivo and obtained from the diet [6].

Within the diet CoQ10 can be derived from oily fish such as sardines and salmon, organ meats (such as liver), poultry, whole grains, and green vegetables such as broccoli and spinach being predominant sources [16-18]. As CoQ10 is lipid-soluble it is absorbed more effectively when ingested with a meal or food providing some lipids [18]. In instances where diets are balanced most individuals obtain sufficient amounts of CoQ10 [18]. However, it should be recognised that endogenous synthesis of CoQ10 requires tyrosine participation and eight vitamins, thus is a complex process affected by status of other micronutrients [19]. Subsequently, shortfalls in micronutrient intakes, as evidenced from dietary surveys [20-22] and which have been steadily declining since the end of World War II could contribute to nutritional shortfalls which hamper CoQ10 synthesis within the human body [14].

CoQ10 exists and alternates between two forms - ubiquinone which is the inactive oxidised form and ubiquinol which is the active reduced form [14]. When ubiquinone is taken orally, during absorption it is converted to ubiquinol and stays in its reduced form in the blood and lymph (Figure 1) [14,23,24]. Ubiquinol makes up approximately 95% of all CoQ10 circulating in the body [15].

Figure 1: CoQ10 pathway and ubiquinol production: Stomach to blood circulation.
Adapted/extracted from: (Mantle and Dybring 2020) (Pelton 2020) [23,14].

Bioavailability research comparing 200mg/day supplementation with ubiquinone and ubiquinol over 4 weeks found that ubiquinol had superior bioavailability and raised plasma CoQ10 levels from 0.9 to 4.3µg/mL [25]. In a double-blind trial with older men ubiquinol (200mg/d) compared with ubiquinone after 2 weeks was more effective at improving CoQ10 status [26]. One study found that there was significant absorption of ubiquinol from the gastrointestinal tract after 4 weeks of consuming 300mg ubiquinol daily, with no safety concerns reported at this level of intake [27]. Other research showed that CoQ10 can be tolerated in healthy adults at intake levels of up to 900mg/d [28].

As women age oocytes become increasingly susceptible to oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction [6]. Other factors, such as the use of Hydroxymethylglutaryl Coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors (statins) for hypercholesterolemia treatment, have also been associated with reduced CoQ10 bioavailability and secondary CoQ10 deficiency [29]. Consequently, oocytes become increasingly vulnerable to oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. CoQ10 administration is considered one potential strategy to counteract these effects, given its role as an antioxidant and a central component of the mitochondrial electron transport chain [30,31].

CoQ10 Roles

CoQ10 has vital roles in cell function, mitochondrial bioenergetics, scavenging of free radicals and reactive oxygen species, serving as an antioxidant [15]. It is a recognised lipid antioxidant, preventing free radical generation and modifications to DNA, proteins and lipids [18]. The human body contains around 500-1500mg CoQ10, an amount that can decline with maternal and paternal age [18].

CoQ10 is a natural component that is abundantly present in mitochondrial inner membranes [32]. In females mature oocytes (egg cells) house around 100,000 mitochondria [33] compared with about 1000-2500 mitochondria in other human cells [34]. Mitochondria are an energy supply centre within oocytes, with CoQ10 acting as a cofactor for adenosine triphosphate production [32]. Subsequently, CoQ10 is increasingly being linked to fertility and embryonic development [35,32].

In around 50% of cases, infertility can arise from the male [36]. In the case of human sperm, mitochondria are wrapped helically around the centre of the tail, providing the energy that drives the force of motility [37]. Oxidative stress is one factor that can underpin idiopathic male infertility and CoQ10 is thought to reduce this [38,39]. Metaanalytical evidence also indicates that sperm motility; morphology and sperm counts could potentially be favourably modulated by CoQ10 supplementation [40].

Methods

This narrative review article investigated data regarding CoQ10 (ubiquinol focus) from supplements and associations with female and male fertility. PubMed, Science Direct and reference lists were used to search the literature for articles published between January 1. 2009 and June 30, 2024. The search conducted used the following keywords: “Coenzyme Q10” or “ubiquinol” and “subfertility”, or “infertility”, or “fertility”, or “ovarian reserve” or “oocyte quality” or “ovulation”, or “amenorrhea” or “polycystic ovary syndrome”, or “IVF” or “sperm” or “seminal fluid”. The search was restricted to Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs) regarded as the gold standard for effectiveness research [41]. The search was also restricted in PubMed to Controlled Clinical Trials. Included studies used CoQ10 or ubiquinol supplements in the specified populations with subfertility/infertility perturbations. Any retracted articles were not included. Studies with combined/ multinutrient interventions were not included. Study outcomes needed to focus on markers related to fertility to be included e.g. those focusing on blood lipids or glucose metabolism was discounted. Reference lists were also searched for relevant articles. Seventeen articles (Table 1) were identified for this narrative review, indicating that there is a growing evidence-base in this field.

Author Sample population Type and duration of study Outcome of focus Supplement dosage Main Findings
Females
(Jamal et al. 2023) [42] n=136 females with PCOS 45-day randomized controlled trial Ovulation induction 50mg CoQ10 in soft gel capsules thrice per day In the CoQ10 plus Clomiphene citrate group ovulation induction was observed in 23.5% patients, indicating that the addition of CoQ10 improved the chances of ovulation induction.
(Lin et al. 2023) [49] n=75 patients with ovarian senescence insufficiency 2-month supplementation controlled trial followed by examination of hub genes. Ovarian aging 30mg ubiquinol CoQ10 Women taking ubiquinol CoQ10 capsules for eight-weeks before undergoing IVF had a sig. higher number of oocytes retrieved, number of metaphase II oocytes, number of fertilized oocytes, number of Day 3 embryos, and top- quality D3 embryos compared with the control group (no supplements)
(Karamali and Gholizadeh 2022) [43] n=55 PCOS women (aged 18-40 yrs) 12-week double- blinded, placebo- controlled randomized clinical trial Hormonal indices, oxidative stress 100mg/day of CoQ10 The CoQ10 group had a sig. drop in total testosterone (p=.004), DHEAS (p<001), hirsutism (p=.002) and MDA (p=.001) levels & a significant rise in SHBG (p <.001) & TAC (p<.001) levels in serum than the placebo group.
(Ammar and Abdou 2021) [46] n=148 PCOS patients with Clomiphene Citrate resistance (75 treated with ubiquinol and Clomiphene Citrate, and 73 with human menopausal gonadotropins) Randomized controlled trial Ovarian responsiveness 100mg/d of CoQ10 as ubiquinol added to Clomiphene Citrate No statistically sig. differences (p> 0.05) between studied groups regarding ovarian responsiveness.
(Izadi et al. 2019) [44] n=86 females with PCOS 8-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial Hormonal markers 200mg/d CoQ10 CoQ10 with or without vitamin E supplementation among women with PCOS had beneficial effects on total testosterone levels (p<0.001).
(Xu et al. 2018) [45] n=169 females with POR (76 treated with CoQ10 and 93 controls) preceding IVF 60-day randomized controlled trial Ovarian response, embryo quality 200mg CoQ10 thrice per day The CoQ10 group had inc. number of retrieved oocytes, higher fertilization rate (67.49%) and more high-quality embryos; p < 0.05.
(Sen Sharma 2017) [47] n=62 infertile females with PCOS Randomized controlled trial during cycle. Size of matured follicle, endometrial thickness, clinical pregnancy, miscarriage rate 60mg CoQ10 thrice per day Follicle size, endometrial thickness and clinical pregnancy rate were improved in the group receiving CoQ10 and miscarriage rate was lower compared with the control group.
(Caballero et al. 2016) [48] n=78 poor responders in a prior IVF cycle. 12-week prospective randomized controlled study. Oocytes retrieved, implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate 600mg Co Q10 twice per day No sig. differences were detected between the CoQ10 and control group.
(Thakur et al. 2016) [50] n=50 infertile females 4-month controlled trial Serum reproductive hormones 150mg ubiquinol FSH concentration is inc. up to three times (P<0.05). LH levels doubled (P<0.05) compared with the normal range. 150 mg of Ubiquinol may reduce oxidative stress in neuroendocrine system and improves the function of a diminished HPA axis.

Table 1: Key RCTs, retrospective or prospective controlled studies investigating Coenzyme Q10/ubiquinol administration and aspects of female fertility.
Key:
CoQ10, Coenzyme Q10; DHEAS, Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; FSH, Follicle Stimulating Hormone; HPA, Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis; Inc, Increased; IVF, In Vitro Fertilization; LH, Luteinizing Hormone; MDA, Malondialdehyde; PCOS, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome; POR, Poor Ovarian Response; SHBG, Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; Sig, Significant/ly; TAC, Total Antioxidant Capacity.

Results
Females

Nine key studies have been conducted with females [42-50] (Table 1). Focusing on PCOS, four studies recruited women with PCOS at baseline [43,44-46], with two observing beneficial reductions in testosterone levels with 100-200mg/d CoQ10 administration for 8-12 weeks [43,44]. Other research administered 50 mg of CoQ10 three times daily for 45 days to women with PCOS and found a significant increase in the likelihood of ovulation induction, with a success rate of 23.5% when CoQ10 was combined with Clomiphene citrate, compared to the control group [42]. Other scientists found in Clomiphene Citrate resistant patients (those not responding and ovulating) that 100mg/d CoQ10 (ubiquinol) from the 2nd day of the cycle until the day of hCG triggering augmented ovarian responsiveness, endometrial thickness, number of stimulated cycles, luteal function and the pregnancy rate with results comparable to the conventional hCG stimulation protocol [46]. Similarly, in Clomiphene Citrate resistant patients with PCOS 60mg CoQ10 thrice daily improved markers of ovarian health (follicle size, endometrial thickness, pregnancy rate) in women trying to conceive compared with the control group [47].

In a study of 169 females with poor ovarian reserve CoQ10 administration (200mg thrice a day) for 60 days preceding IVF significantly increased the number of oocytes retrieved [45]. Those receiving CoQ10 also had more high-quality embryos, and a higher fertilization rate compared to those with no treatment before IVF [45]. Other research did not report any significant differences between CoQ10 use (600mg twice daily) and the number of oocytes retrieved, implantation or pregnancy rate, possibly due to the small sample size [48].

Research with infertile women undergoing IVF found that those taking ubiquinol CoQ10 capsules (30mg) for eight-weeks before undergoing in vitro fertilization had a significantly higher number of oocytes retrieved, number of metaphase II oocytes, number of fertilized oocytes, number of Day 3 embryos, and top- quality D3 embryos compared with the control group (no supplements) [49]. Further research with 50 amenorrhic infertile patients found 150mg/d ubiquinol over 4 months increased follicle stimulating and luteinizing hormones with reduced oxidative stress in the neuroendocrine system thought to be one plausible explanation [50].

Males

Eight key studies have been undertaken with males [38,51-56] (Table 2). Six studies recruited males with idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT; 3 sperm parameters affected - number, movement, and shape) [39,51-55]. CoQ10 as a dose of 200mg/d was administered in four of these studies, 300 mg/d in research by Safarinejad MR. (2009) [53] and 400mg/d alongside 2.5mg letrozole twice weekly in Iraqui men with infertility [56]. Studies found improvements in semen parameters, antioxidant measures and reduced DNA fragmentation) [51], sperm progressive and total motility and concentration [39], sperm morphology and antioxidant activity [52], sperm density and motility [53] and when used as an adjunctive alongside letrozole, most sperm parameters improved in Iraqi men with iOAT [56].

Author Sample population Type and duration of study Outcome of focus Supplement dosage Main Findings
Males
(Fadhil, Mohammed, and Alkawaz 2023) [56] n=67 adult males with idiopathic OAT 3-month randomized open label comparative study Spermiogram results Group A letrozole 2.5 mg tablet orally twice a week Group B letrozole 2.5 mg tablet orally twice a week plus CoQ10 400 mg per day CoQ10 as an adjuvant treatment to letrozole improved most of the sperm parameters in Iraqi men with iOAT.
(Alahmar and Naemi 2022) [39] n=178 male patients with idiopathic OAT and 84 fertile men (controls) 6-month prospective controlled clinical study Time to pregnancy 200mg/d CoQ10 as ubiquinol CoQ10 sig. improved semen parameters, antioxidant measures and reduced sperm DNA fragmentation.
(Alahmar and Sengupta 2021) [38] n=70 men with idiopathic OAT 3-month randomized controlled trial Semen parameters 200mg/d ubiquinol or selenium Sperm concentration, progressive and total motility sig. inc. with CoQ10 treatment (p<0.01) with this being most effective.
(Nadjarzadeh et al. 2014) [52] n=60 infertile men with idiopathic OAT 3-month randomized placebo- controlled trial Oxidative stress and antioxidant enzymes in seminal plasma 200mg/d CoQ10 CoQ10 levels sig. inc. from 44.74 ± 36.47 to 68.17 ± 42.41 ng ml(-1) following supplementation (p<0.001). CoQ10 group had higher catalase and SOD activity than the placebo. CoQ10 concentration and normal sperm morphology (p=0.037), catalase (p=0.041) and SOD (p < 0.001) were sig.& positively correlated.
(Safarinejad et al. 2012) [57] n=228 men with unexplained infertility 26-week double- blind, placebo controlled, randomized trial Semen parameters 200mg/d CoQ10 as ubiquinol Correlation coefficients identified a positive association between ubiquinol treatment & sperm density (r=0.74, p=0.017), sperm motility (r=0.66, p=0.024) and sperm morphology (r=0.57, p =0.027).
(Nadjarzadeh et al. 2011) [52] n=47 infertile men with idiopathic OAT 12-week double- blind placebo controlled clinical trial Semen parameters 200mg CoQ10 daily There were non-sig. changes in semen parameters in CoQ10 group, but total antioxidant capacity of seminal fluid increased sig. (p<0.05)
(Balercia et al. 2009) [55] n=60 infertile patients (27-39 years of age) with specific baseline sperm selection criteria (idiopathic asthenozoospermia) 6-month double- blind, placebo controlled, randomized trial Semen parameters 200mg/d CoQ10 CoQ10 and ubiquinol inc. sig. in sperm cells and seminal plasma, with males with reduced sperm motility at baseline responding and sperm kinetic features improving.
(Safarinejad 2009) [53] n=212 infertile men with idiopathic OAT 26-week randomised controlled trial Semen parameters, sperm function and reproductive hormones 300mg/d CoQ10 Sperm density and motility sig. improved with CoQ10 (p=0.01). Sperm morphology and count also improved.

Table 2: Key RCTs, retrospective or prospective controlled studies investigating Coenzyme Q10/ubiquinol administration and aspects of male fertility.
Key:
DNA, deoxyribonucleic acid; CoQ10, Coenzyme Q10; Inc, Increased; OAT, Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia; Sig, Significant/ly; SOD, Superoxide Dismutase.

In earlier research whilst total antioxidant capacity in seminal fluid increased after 6-months of CoQ10 supplementation (200mg/d) no significant changes in semen parameters were observed [54]. This may have been attributed to the smaller sample size (n=47) in this study. A later study by the same research team with n=60 infertile men found that normal sperm morphology, catalase, and Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) levels were significantly and positively correlated with CoQ10 levels [52]. 300mg/d CoQ10 administered to infertile males over 26-weeks has also been found to be effective at improving sperm density, motility and morphology [53].

Other research recruited 228 men with unexplained fertility and after administering 200mg/d ubiquinol over 26-weeks identified positive associations (using correlation coefficients) between ubiquinol treatment duration and sperm motility, density and morphology [57]. Earlier research studied males with idiopathic low sperm motility at baseline and administered 200mg/d CoQ10 over 6-months [55]. It was found that those with lower sperm motility levels were more likely to respond to CoQ10 administration which could help to improve sperm kinetic features [55].

Discussion

Infertility can be specific to one gender, or affect both partners, with a range of factors being involved [58]. Oocyte failure and/or poor semen quality in modern-day are increasing the need for assisted reproduction [59]. Underpinning factors can be multi-faceted but lifestyle factors including nutritional factors such as dietary energy, nutrients and non-nutrients can impact on fertility [11]. In past publications a range of nutrients such as zinc, selenium, omega-3 fatty acids and carnitine have been linked to increased sperm quality and pregnancy rates, but few have focused on the role(s) of ubiquinol CoQ10.

The science on CoQ10 and the ubiquinol form is surfacing in relation to its potential protective effects on reproductive health and fertility [6,13]. Several studies have been published studying the effects of CoQ10/ubiquinol on aspects of female fertility [42-46]. For females several RCTs recruiting women with PCOS have shown that 200mg/d CoQ10 can improve hormone profiles (namely reductions in testosterone) and the chances of ovulation induction [42-44] or ovarian responsiveness in Clomiphene Citrate resistant PCOS patients [46].

Regarding the efficacy of CoQ10/ubiquinol in women undergoing in vitro fertilization and/or intracytoplasmic injection there is promising evidence that CoQ10 has potential to improve embryo quality, the number of oocytes retrieved and fertilization and pregnancy rates [45]. A growing number of RCTs have studied men with idiopathic OAT as baseline [38,51,52,54,57]. Amongst these the administration of 200mg/d CoQ10/ubiquinol over the course of 3-6 months appears to benefit semen parameters which included sperm concentration, motility, and morphology [39,51,52]. Higher dosages of 300mg/d CoQ10 administered to infertile males over 26-weeks have also been found to be effective as improving sperm density, motility and morphology [57].

Regarding sources, a well-balanced diet may supply sufficient amounts of CoQ10, but supplementation may be beneficial in particular situations [6]. Interestingly, in a study of 211 males with subfertility mean daily CoQ10 intake from food was 19.2mg/d which was not associated with any semen parameters [60]. This indicates that CoQ10 from food alone may not be sufficient in terms of optimising semen parameters - intakes were 10-fold lower than supplemental doses used in clinical trials [60]. Further studies assessing habitual intakes of CoQ10 would be beneficial, particularly amongst those of reproductive age. It is plausible that CoQ10 intakes could be lower than anticipated due to transitional (plant-based) dietary movements excluding some CoQ10 food sources [61]. It is also important to consider that certain mutations in genes involved the multi-step biochemical pathway of CoQ10 synthesis can alter status and result in primary deficiency [62]. In humans at least 10 genes are required for CoQ10 biosynthesis and mutations in any of these may impact on CoQ10 status and result in deficits [63]. Individuals with such mutations may subsequently be most responsive to supplementation programmes [63]. Future fertility clinics may consider screening for these.

The European Food Safety Authority in 2010 authorised several health claims, some of which relate to adults of reproductive age. After reviewing evidence for CoQ10 the panel considered that ‘contribution to normal energy-yielding metabolism is a beneficial physiological effect’ and that ‘protection of DNA, proteins and lipids from oxidative damage may be a beneficial physiological effect’ [64]. In terms of dosages, most RCTs administered 200 mg/d CoQ10 daily with the longest interventions being conducted over 6-months [44,38,51,52,54,57,55]. Previous research has also found that plasma CoQ10 levels increase in a dose-dependent manner in a daily dose of up to 200mg [65]. Data from preclinical and clinical studies generally shows that CoQ10 supplementation is safe and well tolerated, although gastrointestinal side-effects may be observed when doses exceed beyond 1,200mg/d/ person [16,66].

It should be recognised that there can be potential constraints of CoQ10 use in subfertile patients. For example, other factors such as environmental factors may also need to be considered when determining the optimal dose/combination of antioxidants such as CoQ10 [67]. Some studies have suggested CoQ10 may not significantly enhance fertility as an adjunct therapy for sub/infertility [48,46]. It would be beneficial for future studies to clearly specify the form of CoQ10 used alongside the dosage. Subsequently, largescale prospective studies are still required to confirm its therapeutic efficacy. Further high-quality RCT studies using uniform methods and standards also need to be undertaken. These results could then be integrated within a future meta-analysis.

Overall, CoQ10/ubiquinol supplementation appears to be a lowcost and low-risk strategy that could attenuate the impact of aging and mitochondrial damage [6,68]. Health care practitioners, including those working in reproductive medicine or with couples seeking to conceive may wish to consider the potential roles of CoQ10, particularly ubiquinol which appears to be more bioavailable [25,26]. Targeted educational programmes in this field may pave the way for CoQ10 to be used as an adjunct alongside IVF treatments, or as a lifestyle measure for those planning to conceive. This could be of particular benefit to those experiencing sub or infertility or who are of advanced maternal/paternal age.

Conclusions

The underpinning causes of sub and infertility are complex and multi-faceted. Increasingly, rising costs of IVF coupled with advanced maternal and paternal age means that nutritional adjunctives could have a role to play in the field of reproductive health. A growing body of evidence from RCTs and controlled clinical studies indicates that CoQ10/ubiquinol supplementation could benefit oocyte quality/ fertilization, markers of sperm quality, particularly in instances of reproductive aging and could have a role in attenuating symptoms of PCOS which in turn impact on fertility. This could be due to its underpinning role(s) in improving mitochondrial energetics, reducing oxidative stress and modifications to DNA, proteins, and lipids. Given this, there is scope to raise awareness about CoQ10, particularly the bioavailable ubiquinol form amongst reproductive and medical healthcare practitioners.

Declaration of Interest

ED received funding provided by Kaneka to research and writes the article. Kaneka played no role in the writing or production of the article.

Author contributions

ED wrote the first draft and edited the publication.

Funding

ED received funding provided by Kaneka to research and write the article.

AI statement

During the preparation of this work the author(s) did not use an AI and AI-assisted technologies. The content is novel, discussed-based insights.


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Article Information

Aritcle Type: RESEARCH ARTICLE

Citation: Derbyshire E (2024) CoQ10: The Potential Role in Female and Male Subfertility. A Narrative Review of RCTs and Controlled Clinical Trials. Gynecol Women’s Health Res 4(1): dx.doi.org/10.16966/2689-3096.125

Copyright: ©2024 Derbyshire E. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Publication history: 

  • Received date: 09 Aug, 2024

  • Accepted date: 23 Aug, 2024

  • Published date: 06 Sep, 2024

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