Function

• CoQ10 is a coenzyme found in every cell's mitochondria. The mitochondria are organized cellular units that produce energy. The CoQ10 enzyme is a catalyst, or starter, that helps the mitochondria produce energy.
  
  

Benefits

• Taking CoQ10 supplements can help provide more energy during a workout, enabling you to train longer and with less fatigue. Studies also indicate that taking CoQ10 produces antioxidant advantages for the body. According to the Mayo Clinic, this can mean less damage to cells and faster healing time.
  
  

Effect on the Heart

• The heart has the most CoQ10 in the body. The enzyme is often used in the treatment of heart failure. CoQ10 levels drop as heart failure occurs; replenishing those levels helps the heart function more effectively, according to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
  
  

Expert Insight

• In the United States, CoQ10 is sold as a supplement.The Q and the 10 in coenzyme Q10 refer to the compound's makeup. Q represents the chemical group quinone. Ten represents the number of isoprenyl subunits in the molecule. Other names for CoQ10 include Q10, vitamin Q10, ubiquinone, or ubidecarenone, according to the Mayo Clinic.
  
  

Considerations

• Possible side effects include stomach ache, loss of appetite, diarrhea, vomiting and hypotension, or low blood pressure. According to the pharmaceutical manufacturer Merck, it also can make blood thinners less effective.