Unclear
Coenzyme Q10
CoQ10, an antioxidant. Longevity & fitness.
During treatment: Antioxidant supplements, including CoQ10, taken before and during breast cancer chemotherapy were linked to more recurrence in one study. CoQ10 may change how warfarin works.
- Verdict
- UnclearThere isn't enough human evidence to say either way.
- How sure
- Rung 2 · LimitedFew, small or conflicting human studies, or only indirect measures such as blood markers.
The rung shows how sure the science is, not how big the effect is. How to read these ratings
Cancers affected
None shown
What the evidence shows
Trials have been small. In 236 women with breast cancer, CoQ10 didn't improve fatigue or quality of life. In a trial of 20 children, it reduced damage to the heart from the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin.
What to do
Ask your care team before taking it, especially during chemotherapy or with a blood thinner.
Sources
To take it to your doctor, print this page.
Spotted an error? Tell us and we’ll check it against the sources.
Related
Every supplement we rated, or follow one cancer step by step: breast cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer and prostate cancer.