Trends in Coenzyme Q10 Supplement Use and Associations With All-Cause and Cardiovascular Mortality: A Population-Based Cohort Study

Abstract

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a fat-soluble nutrient, which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, there is insufficient evidence on its daily use and the association with mortality. We aimed to evaluate the trends of CoQ10 supplement use among US noninstitutionalized adults and explore its associations with all-cause and CVD mortality. A prospective cohort study used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999–2018). The association of CoQ10 supplementation with mortality was assessed with Cox proportional hazard models. The overall reported prevalence of CoQ10 supplement use increased from 1.2% (95% CI 0.7%–1.8%) in 1999–2000 to 4.6% (95% CI 3.4%–6.1%) in 2017–2018 (linear p  =  0.002). During an average of 9.8 years of follow-up, 5237 deaths were identified, including 1428 deaths due to CVD. In the multivariable model, CoQ10 supplement use was not associated with all-cause mortality (HR 1.00, 95% CI 0.77–1.30, p = 0.996) and CVD mortality (HR 1.30, 95% CI 0.89–1.90, p = 0.170). Subgroup analyses suggested that the use of CoQ10 supplements was associated with a higher all-cause mortality in obese participants (HR 1.45, 95% CI 1.01–2.08, p for interaction = 0.013). Although the prevalence of CoQ10 supplement use experienced continuous growth from 1999 to 2018 in the general adults of NHANES, CoQ10 supplementation was not associated with all-cause and CVD mortality.