If you were planning to take it, CoQ10 (coenzyme Q10) should be taken at breakfast or lunch with a meal that contains a little fat. For one simple reason: CoQ10 dissolves in fat, not in water. Your meal therefore helps with its absorption. It is also recommended to take it early, well before bedtime. That being said, the exact time you take it matters far less than taking it daily.  

In this article, we break down its benefits and how to use it on a daily basis.  

1. Why Do You Have Less Energy at 55 Than You Did at 35?  

There's a lot of reasons why we generally have less energy at 55 than at 35. Sleep tends to get lighter and more broken up as we age, and over the years that adds up. Many of us also move less than we used to, which means losing some muscle. Then there's life itself: stress, new medications, and health issues that show up along the way. 

There's a biological piece too. Most of your body's energy is made by mitochondria, tiny power plants inside your cells, and they rely on CoQ10 to do that work. Research shows your CoQ10 levels naturally decline with age. 

That being said, this is only one potential factor among others, and it rarely explains fatigue on its own. 

If your fatigue is significant, persistent, or getting worse, talk to your doctor before you reach for any supplement, CoQ10 included. Thyroid problems, anemia, sleep apnea, and side effects from medications you already take can all leave you feeling drained, and they're worth ruling out. 

2. What Is CoQ10, and What Does It Do in Your Body?  

CoQ10 (coenzyme Q10) is a vitamin-like compound your body makes on its own.  
Your cells use it to produce energy. 

That energy production happens inside your mitochondria through a series of reactions called the electron transport chain. CoQ10's job is to shuttle electrons from one protein complex to the next. The end result is ATP, the molecule your cells run on for almost everything they do. Put simply, CoQ10 helps your cells make the energy they need to get through the day. 

It also works as an antioxidant in your cell membranes, where it helps limit oxidative stress. 

When it comes to timing, three things are worth knowing: 

We also break down the place of CoQ10 among the other nutrients that support cellular health in another article: What Supplements Support Cellular Renewal? 

3. When Should You Take CoQ10?  

For most people, the best time to take CoQ10 is with breakfast or lunch, as long as the meal has a little fat in it. 

To be upfront: we didn't find any study showing 8 a.m. beats noon, or that noon beats 6 p.m. What the research does support is taking it with food. So pick a meal you rarely skip, and stick with it. 

4. Should You Take CoQ10 in the Morning or at Night?  

Take CoQ10 in the morning or at midday rather than at night.  
CoQ10 isn't a stimulant, but some people say they sleep worse when they take it later in the day. If that sounds like you, keep it to breakfast or lunch. 

5. Can You Take CoQ10 on an Empty Stomach?  

Yes, you can take CoQ10 on an empty stomach, but you may not absorb as much. Since CoQ10 is fat-soluble, a little fat in your meal goes a long way. 

This matters especially with Stem Cell Renew.  
It comes in a dry vegetable capsule, not an oil-filled softgel, so the fat has to come from your food. 

You don't need much. Any of these will do: 

6. Should You Split Your Daily Dose?  

Splitting your dose is mainly useful when the daily dose is high. People who need to take larger doses sometimes divide them between breakfast and lunch, which helps maintain more stable levels in the blood. That being said, at around 100 mg per day, which corresponds to one serving of two Stem Cell Renew capsules, there is little reason to split your dose unless your label says otherwise.  

7. How Much CoQ10 Should You Take?  

To date, there is no established daily dose of CoQ10 for healthy adults. Trials have tested widely varying amounts, and a review published in 2019 in the Methodist DeBakey Cardiovascular Journal points out that no minimum or maximum effective dose has been established.  

If we look at what is commonly done in practice, most supplements on the market provide between 100 mg and 200 mg per day, while higher doses are generally taken under a doctor’s supervision. For your dose, the product label therefore remains the main reference. In addition, if you take medication or have a health condition, remember to show the label to your doctor or pharmacist.  

8. How Long Does It Take for CoQ10 to Work?  

With CoQ10, you should generally expect to wait several weeks.  
Unlike caffeine, it is not something you take for a quick boost. In a 2022 meta-analysis on fatigue by Tsai and colleagues, longer periods of CoQ10 supplementation were associated with greater effects. 

That is why we designed Stem Cell Renew to be part of a consistent daily wellness routine. If you are adding CoQ10 to your routine, give it time and take it consistently over several weeks rather than judging it after a few days. 

9. Does CoQ10 Actually Help With Energy?  

Research on CoQ10 and fatigue is encouraging, but it has its limitations. The most useful study on this topic is a 2022 meta-analysis that included 13 randomized controlled trials and 1,126 participants. Across these trials, CoQ10 reduced fatigue scores compared with placebo.  

However, two limitations should be noted when interpreting this result. First, the participants had very different health conditions, which means that the average effect will not apply to everyone. In addition, the benefit appeared in studies that looked at CoQ10 alone, not in those that looked at combination formulas.  

As a result, CoQ10 has indeed been studied for fatigue, with encouraging results, but we are far from an energy guarantee, and it does not work at all like caffeine.  

Research on CoQ10 alone does not prove that a multi-ingredient supplement will produce the same results.  

10. Who Should Be Careful With CoQ10?  

CoQ10 is generally well tolerated, but it is not suitable for everyone. When side effects occur, they are most often mild: stomach upset, headaches, dizziness, or difficulty sleeping.  

You should also talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting if:  

11. Where Does Stem Cell Renew Fit?  

Stem Cell Renew is a daily supplement that provides 100 mg of CoQ10 per two-capsule serving, formulated to support cellular energy and healthy aging. With 60 capsules per bottle, that gives you a 30-day supply. 

Like all Vitality Now formulas, Stem Cell Renew was formulated by Dr. Sam Walters. His standard is simple: “I have never put my name on a formula I wouldn't hand to my own patients.” The product is made in the United States and independently tested. 

Beyond the active ingredients, the formula also contains a vegetable cellulose capsule, brown rice flour, stearic acid, and silicon dioxide. 

Because CoQ10 is fat-soluble, taking Stem Cell Renew with breakfast or lunch can be a practical way to work it into your routine, especially if that meal contains some fat. As always, follow the directions on your product label. 

Does Stem Cell Renew regenerate stem cells?  
No. It is a dietary supplement, not a stem cell therapy: it does not create, restore, or regenerate stem cells.  

The fatigue research we mentioned above only looked at CoQ10 on its own.  
It does not prove that the complete Stem Cell Renew formula produces the same results.  

In addition, Stem Cell Renew contains Ginkgo Biloba. If you take a blood thinner, consult your doctor before starting. The label recommends stopping use two weeks before surgery and consulting your doctor first if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication, or have a health condition.  

Finally, Stem Cell Renew is covered by our 180-day money-back guarantee. If the product does not work for you, you can return it for a full refund, even if the bottle is empty.  

12. The Bottom Line: 

CoQ10 (Coenzyme Q10) should be taken with a meal that contains a little fat, ideally at breakfast or lunch, and at roughly the same time each day.  

You should also give yourself several weeks of daily use before judging the results, while maintaining your sleep, physical activity, and diet. That being said, if you are considering Stem Cell Renew, always remember to follow the directions on the label and the precautions we detailed above.