Coenzyme Q10: Boosting Fertility and IVF Success - A Comprehensive Guide

You’ve heard the whispers but what exactly is the fuss about coenzyme Q10? This powerhouse multitasker (literally - you’ll see) is making waves in the fertility world as a key nutrient to include for egg quality improvement. Whether you’re preparing to conceive naturally or heading into IVF preparation, coenzyme Q10 supplement could be just the fertility supplement your ovaries ordered.

What is Coenzyme Q10 and How Does It Benefit Fertility? 

Think of coenzyme Q10 (or CoQ10 if you’re on a first name basis) as the ultimate multitasker (she’s a bit like you).

It’s a naturally occurring antioxidant that your body makes and it is also heavily involved in energy production in your cells - that’s the ‘powerhouse’ part. But here’s the catch: as we age, our CoQ10 levels start to drop, just when we need it most for things like, oh, keeping our ovarian health in tip-top shape.

CoQ10 and Egg Quality: How It Protects & Nourishes Your Eggs

CoQ10 and egg quality - it’s a love story, baby just say yes.

Okay, Taylor Swift aside, here’s the deal - your eggs are precious, and like all good things, they need a little TLC to stay in their prime.

That’s where CoQ10 steps in.

It helps your cells produce energy and keeps oxidative stress at bay (think of oxidative stress as kind of like cellular ‘rust’).

In addition to being precious, your eggs are also one of the oldest things you’ve been hanging on to, which is totally unfair but it’s true, you’re born with all the eggs you’re ever going to have.

This means that supplementing with CoQ10 may be especially helpful if you’re over the age of 35 as you’re going to have naturally lower levels of CoQ10 by this stage and your eggs are gonna need an additional energy boost.

However, research suggests CoQ10 supplementation nourishes eggs at all ages and stages including in people with conditions like low ovarian reserve or PCOS (Zhang et al., 2023, Lin et al., 2024).

This is why at arxi HQ we made CoQ10 an essential part of OvaGold, our preconception and reproductive health formula for women and people with ovaries.

Why CoQ10 is Essential in Your IVF Preparation Routine

If you’re on the IVF train, CoQ10 supplementation is worth a spot on your supplement shelf. Research indicates that people with ovaries who take CoQ10 in the lead up to an IVF egg collection cycle can have more mature eggs ready for action. Studies also suggest that it may improve embryo quality and increase clinical pregnancy rates.

Basically, adding CoQ10 into your IVF prep can help give you the best shot possible, which is what we’re all aiming for, right?

Can I Get Enough CoQ10 from Food?

CoQ10 is an antioxidant naturally found in foods including:

• Beef
• Chicken
• Salmon
• Lentils
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Nuts and seeds

And by all means, it is absolutely important to eat a nutritious and varied diet as part of your preconception prep (or prepconception as we call it here at arxi).

Can I Get Enough CoQ10 From Diet Alone?

Research studies have indicated that AT LEAST 150 mg of CoQ10 per day (and often more) is needed for a clinical benefit It becomes clear CoQ10 supplementation is the most practical way to reach an amount that can make a meaningful difference to your fertility outcomes. 

Here is the CoQ10 content of some common foods:

• Chicken breast contains 7.8-17.1 mg of CoQ10 per kilogram
• Beef sirloin contains 14 mg per kilogram
• Salmon contains 4.3-7.6 mg per kilogram
• Canned tuna contains 14.9-15.9 mg per kilogram

Yes that’s right - those small amounts are for a whole kilogram of that food. This is why using a CoQ10 supplement really tends to be the only practical way to match the high doses of CoQ10 used in fertility research.

Because we don’t know about you but the thought of eating 10 kilograms of canned tuna does not sound great to us.

What is The Best CoQ10 Supplement For Fertility?

The best CoQ10 supplement for fertility should contain the right form and amount to make a meaningful difference to egg health. And, ideally, should be paired with antioxidants which support its function like vitamin C & E.

Our fertility nutrition experts at arxi have formulated OvaGold , a world-first fertility supporting supplement containing 300 mg of CoQ10, Vitamins E & C alongside other well-known and loved nutrients to support your fertility health - Alpha-Lipoic Acid (ALA) and Nicotinamide Riboside Chloride (NRC) a precursor to NAD+.

OvaGold is arguably the best CoQ10 containing supplement for fertility, as it is partnered with other powerful ingredients to support optimal reproductive & preconception health.

So basically, we assembled the Avengers to protect and nourish your eggs, in just 2 capsules a day for a few months before you try to conceive or undergo assisted reproductive technologies (ART) like IVF, egg freezing, IUI or ovulation induction.

How Much CoQ10 Should You Take For Fertility?

Coenzyme Q10 is probably one of the most researched supplements when it comes to fertility support.

A very wide range of dosages have been studied - from 30mg per day all the way up to 1200mg (yikes!) (Shang et al., 2024). Based on current research, safety data and recommendations from the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration TGA), a limit of 300mg per day is advised.

The latest research suggests optimal effects are achieved if supplementation is maintained for 3 months prior to ovulation or IVF egg collection (Shang et al., 2024).

Also to note is that fertility studies used ubidecarenone, rather than ubiquinol, which is what we’ve used inside OvaGold, our world-first formulation combining 300 mg of CoQ10, alongside other antioxidant super stars and energy supporting nutrients to support your eggs before baby.

How to Make CoQ10 Part of Your Fertility Routine

So, how do you get CoQ10 on your prepconception dream team?

It’s simple: add a high-quality supplement to your daily routine.

At arxi, we’ve got you covered with OvaGold , a preconception and reproductive health supplement that includes 300 mg of CoQ10 per day, along with other antioxidant superstars to support your journey.

OvaGold  has been formulated to ensure the form and dose of your CoQ10 aligns with the latest fertility research (yet not so absurdly high we’re in uncharted dangerous territory). We’ve also made sure to pack in as much additional antioxidant and energy support for your eggs as possible. Trust us, your ovaries will thank you.

When Should I Take My CoQ10 Supplement for Fertility? 

Pro tip: take your CoQ10 supplement with a meal or snack that contains some fats like avocado, olive oil, nuts, seeds, nut butter, oily fish (all of these are our fertility friendly faves). Fats improve the absorption of CoQ10 as well as vitamin E which you will find inside OvaGold.

CoQ10 can have a bit of an energy boosting effect in some people, so it is recommended taking it in the first half of the day, rather than at night so it doesn’t impact your precious sleep (also important for your fertility!)

CoQ10 & Egg Health: All Wrapped Up

CoQ10 is a multi-tasking antioxidant powerhouse to take your fertility prep to the next level. Whether you’re just starting out or in the middle of IVF, it’s worth considering. Of course, please always chat with your healthcare provider for individual advice, before commencing any supplements.

References

Akarsu S, Gode F, Isik AZ, Dikmen ZG, Tekindal MA. The association between coenzyme Q10 concentrations in follicular fluid with embryo morphokinetics and pregnancy rate in assisted reproductive techniques. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2017 May;34(5):599–605.

Ben-Meir A, Burstein E, Borrego-Alvarez A, Chong J, Wong E, Yavorska T, et al. Coenzyme Q10 restores oocyte mitochondrial function and fertility during reproductive aging. Aging Cell. 2015 Oct;14(5):887.

Bentov Y, Casper RF. The aging oocyte--can mitochondrial function be improved? Fertil Steril. 2013 Jan;99(1):18–22.  

Florou P, Anagnostis P, Theocharis P, Chourdakis M, Goulis DG. Does coenzyme Q10 supplementation improve fertility outcomes in women undergoing assisted reproductive technology procedures? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized-controlled trials. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2020 Oct;37(10):2377–87.

Lin G, Li X, Jin Yie SL, Xu L. Clinical evidence of coenzyme Q10 pretreatment for women with diminished ovarian reserve undergoing IVF/ICSI: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Med. 56(1):2389469.

Shang Y, Song N, He R, Wu M. Antioxidants and Fertility in Women with Ovarian Aging: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Advances in Nutrition. 2024 Aug 1;15(8):100273.

Xu Y, Nisenblat V, Lu C, Li R, Qiao J, Zhen X, et al. Pretreatment with coenzyme Q10 improves ovarian response and embryo quality in low-prognosis young women with decreased ovarian reserve: a randomized controlled trial. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2018 Mar 27;16:29.  

Zhang T, He Q, Xiu H, Zhang Z, Liu Y, Chen Z, et al. Efficacy and Safety of Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation in the Treatment of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Reprod Sci. 2023 Apr;30(4):1033–48.