Evidence supporting the use of: Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
For the health condition: Multiple Sclerosis

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a naturally occurring antioxidant involved in mitochondrial energy production. Its use in supporting or treating Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is primarily justified by emerging scientific interest, rather than traditional medicine or long historical use. The rationale for CoQ10 supplementation in MS stems from evidence that oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction play roles in the pathogenesis of MS, contributing to neurodegeneration and fatigue symptoms.

Several small clinical studies and animal model experiments have investigated the potential benefits of CoQ10 in MS. For example, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial published in 2015 (Sanoobar et al., Nutritional Neuroscience) evaluated 500 mg/day CoQ10 supplementation in relapsing-remitting MS patients over 12 weeks. The study found that CoQ10 significantly improved fatigue and depression scores compared to placebo. Other research has indicated that CoQ10 may help reduce oxidative markers and improve mitochondrial function in MS patients.

However, the overall body of evidence remains limited, with small sample sizes, short durations, and varying dosages. There are no large-scale, long-term studies proving that CoQ10 can alter disease progression or major clinical outcomes in MS. While the biological rationale and initial findings are promising, current evidence supports only a modest effect—primarily as an adjunct to reduce fatigue and improve quality of life, rather than as a disease-modifying therapy.

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