8 Supplements to Take With CoQ10 to Boost Heart Health Benefits

Posted by AweSamo January 28, 2026
8 Supplements to Take With CoQ10 to Boost Heart Health Benefits

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10, or ubiquonone) is an antioxidant that is commonly used as a dietary supplement to promote heart health. Taking CoQ10 with certain supplements can enhance its effects.

1. Selenium

  • The mineral selenium is a potent antioxidant that has synergistic effects when it’s taken with CoQ10. This means that the two supplements work together to produce a benefit greater than the sum of their individual effects.
  • For people with low levels of selenium and CoQ10, taking these supplements together improves heart health while also reducing swelling (inflammation) and stress on the body.
  • A clinical trial showed that healthy older people who took CoQ10 and selenium supplements for four years had a reduced risk of death due to heart disease. This benefit lasted for up to 12 years after they stopped taking the supplements.

2. Red Yeast Rice

  • Red yeast rice is a dietary supplement that contains the molecule monacolin K, which has the same chemical structure as lovastatin (a prescription medication used to lower cholesterol).
  • A combination of CoQ10, red yeast rice, and other herbal supplements (berberine, policosanol, astaxanthin, and folic acid) can improve cholesterol levels according to a review of 14 clinical trials.
  • This supplement combination lowered total cholesterol, “bad” cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein, or LDL cholesterol), and triglycerides, all of which are associated with heart disease.
  • Another study of adults with metabolic syndrome showed that taking CoQ10 plus red yeast rice lowered both cholesterol and blood pressure.

3. B Vitamins

  • A small study of 54 adults with irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias) showed that taking a combination of CoQ10, B vitamins (vitamin B12, folic acid, and niacin), plus potassium and magnesium improved heart function.
  • It’s unclear how B vitamins and CoQ10 would work together specifically. Further study is needed.

4. Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NADH)

  • Taking CoQ10 with the coenzyme NADH for eight weeks helped lower heart rate during exercise and improved energy levels in people with chronic fatigue syndrome in a clinical trial.

5. L-Carnitine

  • L-carnitine is a strong antioxidant that can reduce chest pain and regulate heart rhythm in people who have had a heart attack.
  • Taking l-carnitine with CoQ10 supported both physical and mental health after heart attacks.

6. Vitamin E

  • Taking vitamin E and CoQ10 together increases their antioxidant effects, potentially boosting heart benefits.
  • A study in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) showed that this combination decreases LDL cholesterol and blood pressure, and increases “good” cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein, or HDL cholesterol).

7. L-Arginine and Vitamin D

  • Studies in animal models show that taking CoQ10 with the amino acid l-arginine and vitamin D can widen the heart’s blood vessels and block free radicals that may damage heart cells.
  • The effects of taking these supplements together seem to be greater than expected (synergistic).
  • More research in humans is needed to determine whether taking CoQ10 with l-arginine and vitamin D can protect the heart.

8. Omega-3 Fatty Acids

  • An animal study in obese rats found that taking CoQ10 plus omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil helps protect the heart.
  • This combination reduced plaque build-up in the arteries and lowered cholesterol levels, but human research is needed to verify these effects.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Martelli A, Testai L, Colletti A, et al. Coenzyme Q10: clinical applications in cardiovascular diseases. Antioxidants (Basel). 2020;9(4):341. doi:10.3390/antiox9040341

  2. Alehagen U, Johansson P, Svensson E, et al. Improved cardiovascular health by supplementation with selenium and coenzyme Q10: applying structural equation modelling (SEM) to clinical outcomes and biomarkers to explore underlying mechanisms in a prospective randomized double-blind placebo-controlled intervention project in Sweden. Eur J Nutr. 2022;61(6):3135-3148. doi:10.1007/s00394-022-02876-1

  3. Alehagen U, Aaseth J, Alexander J, et al. Still reduced cardiovascular mortality 12 years after supplementation with selenium and coenzyme Q10 for four years: A validation of previous 10-year follow-up results of a prospective randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial in elderly. PLoS One. 2018;13(4):e0193120. Published 2018 Apr 11. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0193120

  4. Cicero AFG, Fogacci F, Stoian AP, et al. Red yeast rice for the improvement of lipid profiles in mild-to-moderate hypercholesterolemia: A narrative review. Nutrients. 2023;15(10):2288. Published 2023 May 12. doi:10.3390/nu15102288

  5. Pirro M, Mannarino MR, Bianconi V, et al. The effects of a nutraceutical combination on plasma lipids and glucose: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Pharmacol Res. 2016;110:76-88. doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2016.04.021

  6. Mazza A, Lenti S, Schiavon L, et al. Effect of Monacolin K and COQ10 supplementation in hypertensive and hypercholesterolemic subjects with metabolic syndrome. Biomed Pharmacother. 2018;105:992-996. doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2018.06.076

  7. Parsi E, Bitterlich N, Winkelmann A, et al. Dietary intervention with a specific micronutrient combination for the treatment of patients with cardiac arrhythmias: the impact on insulin resistance and left ventricular function. BMC Cardiovasc Disord. 2018;18(1):220. Published 2018 Dec 3. doi:10.1186/s12872-018-0954-6

  8. Castro-Marrero J, Sáez-Francàs N, Segundo MJ, et al. Effect of coenzyme Q10 plus nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide supplementation on maximum heart rate after exercise testing in chronic fatigue syndrome – A randomized, controlled, double-blind trial. Clin Nutr. 2016;35(4):826-834. doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2015.07.010

  9. Sharifi MH, Eftekhari MH, Ostovan MA, et al. Effects of a therapeutic lifestyle change diet and supplementation with Q10 plus L-carnitine on quality of life in patients with myocardial infarction: A randomized clinical trial. J Cardiovasc Thorac Res. 2017;9(1):21-28. doi:10.15171/jcvtr.2017.03

  10. Hashim OA, Numan IT, Mohammed NH. The protective effect of coadministration of coenzyme Q10 and vitamin E on myopathy induced by simvastatin in rats. Toxicol Rep. 2025;14:101942. Published 2025 Jan 31. doi:10.1016/j.toxrep.2025.101942

  11. Izadi A, Shirazi S, Taghizadeh S, et al. Independent and additive effects of coenzyme Q10 and vitamin E on cardiometabolic outcomes and visceral adiposity in women With polycystic ovary syndrome. Arch Med Res. 2019;50(2):1-10. doi:10.1016/j.arcmed.2019.04.004

  12. Molinari C, Morsanuto V, Polli S, et al. Cooperative effects of Q10, vitamin D3, and l-arginine on cardiac and endothelial cells. J Vasc Res. 2018;55(1):47-60. doi:10.1159/000484928

  13. Ibrahim Fouad G. Synergistic anti-atherosclerotic role of combined treatment of omega-3 and co-enzyme Q10 in hypercholesterolemia-induced obese rats. Heliyon. 2020;6(4):e03659. Published 2020 Apr 1. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03659

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By Megan Nunn, PharmD

Nunn is a community pharmacist in Tennessee with 12 years of experience in medication counseling and immunization.

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