Condition
Mitochondrial Cytopathy
Mitochondrial cytopathy is a group of disorders in which mitochondria, the tiny structures that make cellular energy, work poorly, mostly affecting the brain, muscles and heart. Coenzyme Q10 is the most studied supplement for it, alongside creatine, but trials found no clear difference in exercise tolerance or aerobic exercise measures. Those studies were very small, about 30 people for coenzyme Q10 and just 7 for creatine, so the evidence is very limited.
Sources: PMID 20886510; PMID 9390662
- Supplements studied
- 2
- Graded outcomes
- 2
- Trials
- 2
- People studied
- 37
Evidence by supplement
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exercise Tolerance No effect | NoneNo effect | 2 studies | 30 people | |||
| Quality of Life | Improves (the measure goes up) | 30 people | ||||
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aerobic Exercise Metrics No effect | NoneNo effect | 2 studies | 7 people | |||
| Power Output | Improves (the measure goes up) | 44 studies | 7 people | |||
Studies that measured power output
| ||||||
| Oxygen Uptake | Improves (the measure goes up) | 2 studies | 7 people | |||
| Mitochondrial Cytopathies Symptoms | Improves (the measure goes down) | 1 study | 7 people | |||
Studies that measured mitochondrial cytopathies symptoms | ||||||
| Fat Oxidation | Improves (the measure goes up) | 7 people | ||||
Key findings
- Exercise Tolerance
- Aerobic Exercise Metrics
The Mitochondrial Disease Supportive Care protocol
2 primary supplements · 6 supporting supplements
- Coenzyme Q10100–600 mg daily (higher doses often used in mito disease)
- Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)100–400 mg daily
Studies cited
100 studies from PubMed
- Effects of Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation on Depressive Symptoms and Fatigue: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
- Does creatine supplementation improve glycemic control and insulin resistance in healthy and diabetic patients? A systematic review and meta-analysis.
- Role of creatine supplementation on exercise-induced cardiovascular function and oxidative stress
- Three weeks of creatine monohydrate supplementation affects dihydrotestosterone to testosterone ratio in college-aged rugby players
- Does creatine supplementation improve the plasma lipid profile in healthy male subjects undergoing aerobic training
- Effects of creatine supplementation on glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in sedentary healthy males undergoing aerobic training
- Creatine supplementation increases glycogen storage but not GLUT-4 expression in human skeletal muscle
- Creatine supplementation affects glucose homeostasis but not insulin secretion in humans
- Creatine supplementation and health variables: a retrospective study
- Effect of oral creatine supplementation on human muscle GLUT4 protein content after immobilization
- Role of submaximal exercise in promoting creatine and glycogen accumulation in human skeletal muscle
- Oral coenzyme Q10 supplementation in patients with migraine: Effects on clinical features and inflammatory markers
- Efficacy of coenzyme Q10 in migraine prophylaxis: a randomized controlled trial
- Effectiveness of coenzyme Q10 in prophylactic treatment of migraine headache: an open-label, add-on, controlled trial
- A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover, add-on study of CoEnzyme Q10 in the prevention of pediatric and adolescent migraine
- The synergistic effects of nano-curcumin and coenzyme Q10 supplementation in migraine prophylaxis: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial
- Oxidative stress correlates with headache symptoms in fibromyalgia: coenzyme Q₁₀ effect on clinical improvement
- Coenzyme Q10 supplementation alleviates pain in pregabalin-treated fibromyalgia patients via reducing brain activity and mitochondrial dysfunction
- Increased oxidative stress and coenzyme Q10 deficiency in juvenile fibromyalgia: amelioration of hypercholesterolemia and fatigue by ubiquinol-10 supplementation
- Coenzyme q10 regulates serotonin levels and depressive symptoms in fibromyalgia patients: results of a small clinical trial
- Can coenzyme q10 improve clinical and molecular parameters in fibromyalgia?
- Reversal of mitochondrial dysfunction by coenzyme Q10 supplement improves endothelial function in patients with ischaemic left ventricular systolic dysfunction: a randomized controlled trial
- Dose-Response Effect of Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation on Blood Pressure among Patients with Cardiometabolic Disorders: A Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE)-Assessed Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
- Electrocardiographic and hemodynamic effects of coenzyme Q10 in healthy individuals: a double-blind, randomized controlled trial
- Effects of coenzyme Q10 on vascular endothelial function in humans: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
- Coenzyme Q10 and exercise training in chronic heart failure
- Effects of Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation on Lipid Profiles in Adults: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
- Mediterranean Diet Supplemented With Coenzyme Q10 Modifies the Expression of Proinflammatory and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Related Genes in Elderly Men and Women
- Efficacy of coenzyme Q10 on semen parameters, sperm function and reproductive hormones in infertile men
- Coenzyme Q(10) supplementation in infertile men with idiopathic asthenozoospermia: an open, uncontrolled pilot study
- Effect of Coenzyme Q10 supplementation on antioxidant enzymes activity and oxidative stress of seminal plasma: a double-blind randomised clinical trial
- Coenzyme Q10 improves seminal oxidative defense but does not affect on semen parameters in idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia: a randomized double-blind, placebo controlled trial
- Coenzyme Q10 administration has no effect on sICAM-1 and metabolic parameters of pediatrics with type 1 diabetes mellitus
- Clinical trial of the effects of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on glycemic control and markers of lipid profiles in diabetic hemodialysis patients
- Effects of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on serum values of adiponectin, leptin, 8-isoprostane and malondialdehyde in women with type 2 diabetes
- Effects of Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation on Metabolic Indicators in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
- Effectiveness of Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- Coenzyme Q(10) improves endothelial dysfunction of the brachial artery in Type II diabetes mellitus
- Coenzyme Q10 improves blood pressure and glycaemic control: a controlled trial in subjects with type 2 diabetes
- Coenzyme Q10 improves endothelial dysfunction in statin-treated type 2 diabetic patients
- The effects of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on cardiometabolic markers in overweight type 2 diabetic patients with stable myocardial infarction: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
- Influence of adjuvant Coenzyme Q10 on inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers in patients with bipolar disorders during the depressive episode
- Evaluating the Effect of Coenzyme Q10 Augmentation on Treatment of Bipolar Depression: A Double-Blind Controlled Clinical Trial
- Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in isolated diastolic heart failure in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)
- Coenzyme Q10 terclatrate and creatine in chronic heart failure: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study
- Effects of coenzyme Q10 on arterial stiffness, metabolic parameters, and fatigue in obese subjects: a double-blind randomized controlled study
- Coenzyme Q10 supplementation and exercise-induced oxidative stress in humans
- Effects of Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation on Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress in Adults: A GRADE-Assessed Systematic Review and Updated Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
- Postprandial antioxidant effect of the Mediterranean diet supplemented with coenzyme Q10 in elderly men and women
- Effects of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on liver mitochondrial function and aerobic capacity in adolescent athletes
- Effects of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on plasma adiponectin, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels in men
- Efficacy and Optimal Dose of Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation on Inflammation-Related Biomarkers: A GRADE-Assessed Systematic Review and Updated Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
- Effects of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on glycemic control: A GRADE-assessed systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
- Impact of oral ubiquinol on blood oxidative stress and exercise performance
- The effects of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on performance during repeated bouts of supramaximal exercise in sedentary men
- Antifatigue effects of coenzyme Q10 during physical fatigue
- Oxidative stress and antioxidant defense in plasma after repeated bouts of supramaximal exercise: the effect of coenzyme Q10
- A randomized trial of coenzyme Q10 in mitochondrial disorders
- Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of coenzyme Q10 in isolated systolic hypertension
- A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study of coenzyme Q10 therapy in hypertensive patients with the metabolic syndrome
- Effect of coenzyme Q10 administration on endothelial function and extracellular superoxide dismutase in patients with ischaemic heart disease: a double-blind, randomized controlled study
- Efficacy and Safety of Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation in the Treatment of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
- Hormonal and Metabolic Effects of Coenzyme Q10 and/or Vitamin E in Patients With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
- Treatment of coenzyme Q10 for 24 weeks improves lipid and glycemic profile in dyslipidemic individuals
- Beneficial Effects of Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation on Lipid Profile and Intereukin-6 and Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 Reduction, Preliminary Results of a Double-blind Trial in Acute Myocardial Infarction
- Developmental profiles in young children with Prader-Labhart-Willi syndrome: effects of weight and therapy with growth hormone or coenzyme Q10
- Effect of coenzyme Q10 on risk of atherosclerosis in patients with recent myocardial infarction
- Coenzyme Q10 supplementation reduces oxidative stress and increase antioxidant enzyme activity in patients with coronary artery disease
- Coenzyme Q10 as a treatment for fatigue and depression in multiple sclerosis patients: A double blind randomized clinical trial
- Coenzyme Q10 supplementation ameliorates inflammatory markers in patients with multiple sclerosis: a double blind, placebo, controlled randomized clinical trial
- Safety and efficacy of coenzyme Q10 supplementation in early chronic Peyronie's disease: a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized study
- Coenzyme Q10 supplementation reduces oxidative stress and decreases antioxidant enzyme activity in children with autism spectrum disorders
- The effect of dietary intake of coenzyme Q10 on skin parameters and condition: Results of a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind study
- Aging skin is functionally anaerobic: importance of coenzyme Q10 for anti aging skin care
- Reducing exercise-induced muscular injury in kendo athletes with supplementation of coenzyme Q10
- Coenzyme Q10 supplementation during pregnancy reduces the risk of pre-eclampsia
- The efficacy and safety of coenzyme Q10 in Parkinson's disease: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
- Coenzyme Q10 supplementation provides mild symptomatic benefit in patients with Parkinson's disease
- The Effects of Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation on Metabolic Profiles of Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
- Effectiveness of Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation for Reducing Fatigue: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
- The effect of coenzyme Q10 pretreatment on ovarian reserve in women undergoing hysterectomy with bilateral salpingectomy: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
- Effect of creatine monohydrate in improving cellular energetics and muscle strength in ambulatory Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients: a randomized, placebo-controlled 31P MRS study
- Creatine for treating muscle disorders.
- Creatine monohydrate enhances strength and body composition in Duchenne muscular dystrophy
- Comparison of creatine ingestion and resistance training on energy expenditure and limb blood flow
- Creatine, arginine alpha-ketoglutarate, amino acids, and medium-chain triglycerides and endurance and performance
- The effects of creatine ethyl ester supplementation combined with heavy resistance training on body composition, muscle performance, and serum and muscle creatine levels
- Effect of in-season creatine supplementation on body composition and performance in rugby union football players
- Creatine fails to augment the benefits from resistance training in patients with HIV infection: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study
- Effect of creatine and weight training on muscle creatine and performance in vegetarians
- Effects of creatine supplementation in taekwondo practitioners
- Creatine supplementation improves muscular performance in older women
- The effects of creatine monohydrate supplementation with and without D-pinitol on resistance training adaptations
- Effects of creatine on body composition and strength gains after 4 weeks of resistance training in previously nonresistance-trained humans
- Creatine monohydrate supplementation on body weight and percent body fat
- Reliability and detecting change following short-term creatine supplementation: comparison of two-component body composition methods
- Low-dose creatine supplementation enhances fatigue resistance in the absence of weight gain
- Efficacy of Creatine Supplementation Combined with Resistance Training on Muscle Strength and Muscle Mass in Older Females: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
- The Paradoxical Effect of Creatine Monohydrate on Muscle Damage Markers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- Creatine supplementation and physical training in patients with COPD: a double blind, placebo-controlled study