Is Coenzyme Q10 safe while breastfeeding?
Here is what NIH LactMed, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's authority on medicines and breastfeeding, reports about Coenzyme Q10. This is a summary of that source — not our own verdict.
Effects on the breastfed infant
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Effects on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Levels in milk
Milk levels of coenzyme Q10 have not been measured after exogenous administration in humans. Coenzyme Q10 is a normal component of human milk; however, values appear to vary depending on the country in which they are measured, possibly because of dietary, genetic or other population differences as well as assay differences.[ 1 ] Maternal Levels. A study in 15 Italian mothers found a mean milk coenzyme Q10 concentrations of 1.6 mg/L at 4 days postpartum, compared to a maternal plasma concentration of 1.29 mg/L at the time of delivery.[ 2 ] Coenzyme Q10 milk levels were measured in 23 German women who were between 24 to 48 hours postpartum, and again at 7 and 14 days postpartum. Milk levels were 1.1, 1.0 and 0.9 mg/L, respectively, at those times. The study found no correlation between maternal plasma levels and milk coenzyme Q10 levels in mature milk.[ 3 ] Coenzyme Q10 milk levels were measured in 30 Spanish women on days 3, 8 and 30 postpartum. Half had delivered preterm infants and the other half had delivered fullterm infants. The estimated intake of coenzyme Q10 from food diaries were 3.2 mg daily in the preterm group and 2.7 mg daily in the fullterm group. In the preterm group, milk levels were 0.43, 0.39 and 0.36 mg/L, respectively, at those times. In the fullterm group, milk levels were 0.69, 0.65 and 0.47 mg/L, respectively, at those times.[ 4 ] Forty-three breastmilk samples were obtained from 32 Japanese women during the first 8 days postpartum. The mean coenzyme Q10 concentration was 0.35 mcg/L.[ 5 ] Thirty-nine lactating women in the United States donated 194 samples of breastmilk for analysis. The average milk concentration of coenzyme Q10 was 0.27 mcg/L.[ 1 ] Infant Levels. Plasma concentrations of coenzyme Q10 have not been measured in the plasma of breastfed infants after maternal supplementation. However, a study in 15 Italian mothers and their breastfed infants found infant coenzyme Q10 plasma concentrations of 49 mg/L at 4 days and 0.41 mg/L at 4 w
Source: NIH LactMed (National Library of Medicine).
Educational summary of an authoritative source — not medical advice. Never start, stop, or change a medicine while breastfeeding without confirming with your doctor.