Q10 counteracts the harmful effects of aluminum on the brain

A study published in RSC Advances shows that Q10 supplementation can reduce the harmful effects of aluminum, which is found in, among other things, cookware, aluminum foil, deodorants, refined table salt, vaccines, and several types of medicine. The researchers also describe how Q10, as a unique antioxidant, helps protect nerve cells and the hippocampus – the brain’s center for memory, spatial orientation, and the formation of new nerve cells.

Aluminum is a silvery-white element whose light weight makes it useful in alloys. It normally has a thin layer of aluminum oxide on the surface but becomes highly reactive as soon as this layer is removed. Aluminum can be a particular problem in acidic water, where it dissolves and poses a risk to plants and animals. Lemon and other acids that come into contact with cookware or foil can release aluminum into food. In refined table salt and powdered creamer, aluminum is used as an anti-caking agent. Aluminum, registered as food additive E-173, is also used to give chocolate-coated products and other foods a metallic sheen. It is found in deodorants, and the skin is especially vulnerable after shaving. Aluminum is also present in certain antacids and mucosal-protective stomach medications. In vaccines, aluminum occurs in the form of nanoparticles that transport active substances directly into cells to stimulate the immune system.

What effect can aluminum have on the nervous system and health?

According to several studies, aluminum can cross the blood-brain barrier and is considered a neurotoxin. In children and adolescents, aluminum can impair memory and mental development. In adults and the elderly, high levels of aluminum may contribute to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Overall, aluminum is believed to generate a large number of free radicals, which reduce the body’s antioxidant defenses. This can result in oxidative stress, where free radicals damage the lipids (fats) in cell membranes that protect cells and perform many functions. This process, called lipid peroxidation or rancidity, triggers a cascade of chain reactions that can also damage cell DNA and proteins.
Aluminum may interfere with the metabolism of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which is involved in muscle contraction, attention, learning, and sleep.
Many studies have shown that aluminum chloride can alter the structure of cell membranes as well as cell function and homeostasis. Evidence also suggests that aluminum can damage the hippocampus – the brain’s center for learning, memory, and spatial orientation. The hippocampus also plays a role in regulating emotions, especially in relation to stress and anxiety. Furthermore, it is one of the few areas of the brain where new cells are generated, even in adulthood.
A study conducted on rabbits has revealed that aluminum nanoparticles from vaccines can cause pathological changes in liver and kidney tissue. The extent of damage depends on the total dose of aluminum nanoparticles, and too little is known about their long-term effects.
Since oxidative stress caused by free radicals appears to play a major role in the harmful effects of aluminum, a team of researchers decided to investigate whether Q10 supplementation could have a positive effect. This is mainly because Q10 acts as a unique antioxidant that can neutralize free radicals and their damaging effects.

Q10 supplementation protects nerve cells and the hippocampus against aluminum

The aim of the study was to examine more specifically how Q10 supplementation affects the lipid structure of cell membranes and the morphology of the hippocampus. The study included male albino rats, which were divided into the following three groups:

• A control group
• A group receiving aluminum chloride (AlCl₃)
• A group receiving aluminum chloride plus Q10 supplements

The study lasted four weeks, and the researchers used various methods (FTIR and tissue samples) to assess molecular changes in cell lipids as well as their shape and structure.
The study revealed significant structural changes in the cells of rats that only received aluminum chloride, including cell shrinkage and dark areas in the hippocampus.
In contrast, rats that received both aluminum chloride and Q10 supplements showed no significant changes in the lipids and structure of their cells.
The study found that aluminum chloride can cause up to 16% shrinkage of cells in the hippocampus. Q10 supplementation, however, serves as a powerful therapeutic antioxidant, helping to counteract the harmful effects of aluminum chloride and restore healthy cells in the brain, including the hippocampus.

Q10 throughout life and relevant supplementation for humans

Q10 is an essential coenzyme and, as mentioned, it functions as a unique antioxidant that protects cells against oxidative stress, but only if blood and cell levels of Q10 are sufficiently high. Q10 is also involved in the body’s energy metabolism, which takes place in the mitochondria.
The body produces most of its own Q10, but this endogenous production gradually declines with age.
Certain mitochondrial disorders, as well as the use of statins (for high cholesterol) or alendronate (for osteoporosis), also inhibit the body’s production. In addition, intense physical activity and training require large amounts of Q10, both for energy metabolism and for antioxidant protection.
This means that aging and other factors can reduce Q10 levels in the blood, making cells more vulnerable to aluminum and oxidative stress.
Since Q10 from supplements is generally difficult to absorb, it is worth choosing a pharmaceutical-grade product to ensure that Q10 is absorbed into the bloodstream and reaches all the way into the cells.

References:

Abdu Saeed et al. Effects of aluminum chloride and coenzyme Q10 on the molecular structure of lipids and the morphology of the brain hippocampus cells. RSC Advances 2021

Mohammed Abdul Hameed Younis. Effect of Different Vaccines and Aluminum Nanoparticles (ALNPs) on Liver and Kidney of Rabbits. Galen Medical Journal 2025

Adrianna Budzinska et al. The bisphosphonates alendronate and zoledronate induce adaptations of aerobic metabolism in permanent human endothelial cells. Scientific Reports 2023.

Lain Hargreaves et al. Disorders of Human Coenzyme Q10 Metabolism: An Overview. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2020