CoQ10 + NADH for chronic fatigue Original paper

Myalgic encephalomyelitis — more commonly known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) — is a poorly understood and debilitating condition. Disruption of levels of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) have been reported in CFS; could supplementing these compounds improve people’s symptoms?

In this 12-week randomized controlled trial, 207 participants with CFS received either 200 milligrams of CoQ10 plus 20 milligrams of NADH or a placebo (in four equal doses) daily for 8 weeks. The primary outcome was the change in self-reported fatigue measured using the Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS-40). The secondary outcomes were changes in sleep disturbances and health-related quality of life, as measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), respectively. All outcomes were measured at baseline, at 4 and 8 weeks into treatment, and 4 weeks posttreatment.

In terms of fatigue, the CoQ10 + NADH group had small improvements in the cognitive domain of the FIS-40 at weeks 4 and 8 and in the total FIS-40 score at week 4 compared to baseline. There were no other improvements compared to baseline or placebo at any other time point.

In terms of sleep quality, the CoQ10 + NADH group had improved sleep duration and sleep efficiency at week 8 compared to baseline and a significant difference in sleep duration at baseline and week 4 compared to placebo. There were no other differences compared to baseline or placebo at any other time points.

In terms of health-related quality of life, the CoQ10 + NADH group had improved physical function at weeks 4 and 8 and improved bodily pain at 4 weeks compared to baseline. There were no other significant differences compared to baseline or placebo at any other time points.