I have not been tested, but I plan to ask my alternative nurse practitioner about this the next time I have an appointment. Another nurse practitioner who facilitates a cancer support group I attend, also recommended this supplement. Her big "band wagon" (in a good way) recently has been about reducing our bodies inflammation. I will ask her more about this supplement.

I haven't researched CoQ10, but have been reading a lot of articles at mercola.com and it seems that inflammation is at the root of just about *every illness, especially chronic ones .

I was tested for CoQ10 two years ago. I was six years into the illness. My level was in the normal range. The doctor did not suggest additional supplementation. I didn't know this enzyme already existed within us!!

CoQ10 helps with energy levels, and fuels the heart! My Cardiologist totally feels that everyone should take it! I haven't tried it because my level was good, but that doesn't mean it wouldn't be a good idea. If my heart doctor, who is NOT a CFS believer says it's a good thing to take, I totally believe he feels it would help me. I have no cardiac condition. Just occasional palpitations, which for my age, are acceptable! xo.

I just read the article at the link BlueBonnet posted and found this in the last 'graph:
"Of all the therapies reported by the subjects, the one chronic fatigue treatment they found most helpful was CoQ10. DHEA, ginseng, vitamins, vigorous exercise, and yoga were the other most effective treatments..."
and thought if the respondents reported 'vigorous exercise' as one of the top therapies, the study is badly flawed, or they don't really have ME/CFS.

All of which takes nothing away from the value of CoQ10.

I haven't been tested but it didn't do anything for me. Some people seem to find it helpful.

Followed a link from BB08's link to another article, Top 3 Nutritional Deficiencies as Fatigue Causes. I think most of us suspect that nutritional deficiencies may be part of our problem... Interesting article; just an abstract here. Links below.

"Nutrient deficiencies are classic fatigue causes because they impair cellular energy production.

"B Vitamins are necessary for converting food into energy. The B vitamins are B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6, B12, folic acid, and biotin. If you are lacking in B vitamins, either because your needs are increased or youre not taking in sufficient amounts, the ability of your cells mitochondria to generate energy will be compromised. The mitochondria are the energy power houses of the cell.

"How to use B vitamin supplements for fatigue
Its safe, easy, and inexpensive to experiment with B vitamin supplements in order to determine whether B vitamin supplementation will help with your fatigue. Try at least 6 weeks of a high potency B complex supplement, along with an additional 2000 micrograms of sublingual (under the tongue) B12 every day.

"Magnesium is an essential mineral to the human body. It is involved in more than 300 metabolic reactions, including energy production.... Deficiency of magnesium also reduces the mitochondrias ability to resist to free-radical damage and results in excessive production of... free radicals and low grade inflammation.

"How to take magnesium for fatigue
Magnesium is another safe, inexpensive supplement for you to try to treat your fatigue naturally. Look for magnesium bound to citrateor malate for superior absorption. Both magnesium and malic acid have been found to reduce fatigue. Take 300 mg magnesium citrateor magnesium malate twice a day.

"Antioxidants
Examples include vitamins C and E, the mineral selenium, and the nutrient coenzyme Q10.

Tips on supplementing with antioxidants
Make sure the antioxidant supplement you take contains natural vitamin E in the form of mixed tocopherols instead of just alpha-tocopherol. In addition to the combination antioxidant formula, try adding a separate CoQ10 supplement, aiming for a total of 300 mg CoQ10 per day."
http://tinyurl.com/naqqr3e also http://naturalhealthadvisory.com/category/daily/fatigue-lack-of-energy/

Thanks everyone for the replies and insights. I want to get this tested at my next bloodwork.
2 Dance Again - I do think infammation is implicated in this illness, although I'm not sure which comes first, the illness or the inflammation! Either way, I have consistently tested high on several inflammatory markers, so I think it's worthwhile to lower the inflammation load in the body.
Featherjack - I didn't see that part about the exercise! Obviously those people didn't have CFS! I like the information from the other link too. I do think illness and medications cause a rapid depletion of vitamins and nutrients, so it's always important to supplements. I think magnesium is a good one for CFS and for sleep!

Darla... I also meant to ask you... what do you mean that your doctor isn't a CFS believer? He doesn't believe it's an illness??

I have a CFS doctor. He's an ace! I also have a cardiologist. I had one year in the beginning of my illness, where my heart was just cavorting all over my chest, arrhythmias everywhere, making me nuts.

My CFS guy sent me to a cardiologist. It isn't that he doesn't believe CFS is an illness. He just sees the cardiac problem as easily resolved (which is was) with medication, and therefore, since it's fixable....doesn't think it's related to CFS. Make sense? These guys get very confused. But this cardiologist was very PRO CoQ10. With or without CFS. It's good for the heart! xo

Darla... Oh, okay.. I'm glad that your cardiologist isn't minimizing CFS. I've just heard of some doctors that still continue to do that in this day and age and it astounds me! I don't think anyone suffering this condition should have to go through that! Glad that your heart condition is treatable :)