Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) for Hair: What the Research Shows

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a molecule your cells use to make energy and to act as an antioxidant. In an early clinical study, a CoQ10 formulation designed to get into the skin gave a better response in people with androgenic alopecia than a plain CoQ10 solution.

Here's what that study shows, what else is known, and how to get CoQ10.

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Key Takeaways

• CoQ10 is an essential cofactor for ATP (cell energy) production, and it has antioxidant roles in the body.
• A clinical study of a new CoQ10 delivery formulation in people with androgenic alopecia reported a better response than a CoQ10 solution.
• Meat, fish, nuts and some oils are the richest food sources. Average dietary intake is only 3 to 6 mg a day.
• We found no study of oral CoQ10 for hair growth or hair color.

What Is Coenzyme Q10?

CoQ10 is a naturally occurring component of living cells. It acts as a cofactor in energy production and has antioxidant activity. It's also found in food and sold as a dietary supplement.

Why CoQ10 Comes Up For Hair

CoQ10 plays a role in cell energy and antioxidant defense, which is the basis for interest in it for hair. The one hair study we found tested it on the scalp, not by mouth, and the details are below.

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What Does CoQ10 Do For Hair?

A Clinical Study Of Topical CoQ10

CoQ10 is hard to apply to the skin: it has a large molecular weight, is highly lipophilic and dissolves poorly in water. Researchers built several carriers and found in ex vivo tests that transethosomes deposited the most CoQ10 in the skin layers, over 95%. In patients with androgenic alopecia, this formulation gave a better clinical response than a CoQ10 solution, which dermoscopy also confirmed (El-Zaafarany et al., 2021).

This was an early study of a delivery system. It compared two CoQ10 preparations, not CoQ10 against a placebo, so larger controlled trials are still needed.

How To Get CoQ10

Meat, fish, nuts and some oils are the richest food sources. Dairy, vegetables, fruits and cereals have much less. Average dietary intake is only 3 to 6 mg a day (Pravst et al., 2010). There is no hair-specific dose, because oral CoQ10 hasn't been tested for hair.

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Is CoQ10 Safe?

A safety review concluded that CoQ10 has low toxicity and doesn't cause serious adverse effects in humans. It calculated an acceptable daily intake of 12 mg/kg and an observed safety level of 1,200 mg a day (Hidaka et al., 2008). If you take any medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a condition, check with your doctor first.

See also: Manganese for Hair: Benefits, Food Sources & How Much You Need · Ferulic Acid for Hair and Scalp: What the Research Shows

Frequently Asked Questions

Does CoQ10 help hair growth?

Oral CoQ10 hasn't been tested for hair growth in people that we could find. In one clinical study, a topical CoQ10 formulation designed to penetrate the skin gave a better response in people with androgenic alopecia than a CoQ10 solution.

Does CoQ10 affect gray hair?

We found no study testing CoQ10 for hair color. For a mineral with a direct pigment link, see our article on copper for hair.

What foods have CoQ10?

Meat, fish, nuts and some oils are the richest sources, while most dairy, vegetables, fruits and cereals have much lower levels.

References

1. El-Zaafarany GM, Abdel-Aziz RTA, Montaser MHA, et al. Coenzyme Q10 phospholipidic vesicular formulations for treatment of androgenic alopecia: ex vivo permeation and clinical appraisal. Expert Opin Drug Deliv. 2021. PubMed
2. Pravst I, Zmitek K, Zmitek J. Coenzyme Q10 contents in foods and fortification strategies. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2010. PubMed
3. Hidaka T, Fujii K, Funahashi I, et al. Safety assessment of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). Biofactors. 2008. PubMed