Does coq10 boost fertility?
Hi, I'm Melanie McGrice, a fertility and prenatal dietitian, and on today's episode of Nourish,
we're going to look at what CoQ10 is, and what the evidence says about whether or not
this really works....
Stay tuned!
Coenzyme Q10 is also known as Co Q10, C-O Q10 and ubiquinone.
This amazing compound has many functions in the body including energy production and antioxidant
activity.
Although our body produces coenzyme Q10 naturally, the amount we produce declines with age.
I'm sure that you've heard that our fertility decreases as we get older.
Research suggests that one of the key reasons for this is reduced mitochondrial functioning,
resulting in lower quality, and quantity of eggs available for fertilisation.
Mitochondria are a tiny organelle found inside every one of our body's cells.
I like to think of mitochondria as the battery of the cell, giving it the energy that it
needs to function effectively.
So, you can imagine that if the batteries of our eggs are running flat, it's going to
be harder to conceive.
And, that's why your healthcare practitioner may suggest Coenzyme Q10 supplements for you.
Emerging research suggests that supplementation of coenzyme Q10 may boost mitochondrial function
within our eggs to limit oxidative damage, while also reducing the rate of egg cell death
within the ovaries.
It's interesting to note, when young, our ovaries produce relatively high levels of CoQ10, but us older
girls tend to produce much less.
So, how do we make sure that we get adequate coenzyme Q10?
One of the reasons that CoQ10 is also called ubiquinol is that it is ubiquitous, which
means common, so it's found in a huge variety of healthy foods.
So, as long as you're eating a healthy diet, you should be getting enough.
Some of the best food sources include fish, peanuts and avocado.
There's certainly a lot more research to be done, but emerging research suggests that
CoQ10 supplements may be beneficial for men with poor sperm motility and women over the
age of 35 who are trying to conceive.
Thankfully, it seems that our ovaries are able to efficiently uptake CoQ10 from external
sources like supplements as well, so that's a good sign.
CoQ10 supplementation has no significant side effects, however, it can impact the effectiveness
of some medications. Particularly warfarin and other anticoagulant medications. And also statins and beta-blockers.
So it's always really important to discuss any new supplement with your healthcare professional.
It's also important to note that
excessive doses can cause vomiting or nausea, so be careful of that too.
Although it's best to get personalised advice from your healthcare professional, one little hint is that it can be
best taken twice per day, instead of once so that you are continually providing those
antioxidants to defend your eggs or sperm against the effects of pollution on a regular basis.
Finally, remember that if you're eating an unhealthy diet, no supplement is going to
be strong enough to reverse the damage, no matter how much you take, so focus on a nutritious
diet and use supplements to 'supplement' your diet, rather than relying on them to do all
the work.
I'd love to hear if you've tried taking CoQ10 supplements, so let me know in the chat box below
And, if you haven't done so already, make sure you download my free fertility meal plan
from www.melaniemcgrice.com/fertility.
Pleaes share this video with your girlfriends who are trying to conceive because I am sure they will be interested as well
I look forward to seeing you in my next video!