Supplements for mitochondrial support

8 compounds relevant to mitochondrial support, ranked by overall evidence grade.

Overall grade: Grade B
Last revised: Jul 10, 2026; 8
graded outcomes: 0
references listed

Assembled by the app from other entries in this library. It adds no evidence of its own — follow the links to the entries it draws on.

2 at grade B · 5 at grade C · 1 at grade D — 8 graded rows

What is known

Each outcome with its grade (how strong the evidence is, A to D), the size of the effect where the entry records one, and how often studies agree.

Outcome	Grade	Effect size	Agreement
Coenzyme Q10A mitochondrial cofactor with its best evidence in heart failure and statin-associated muscle symptoms.	Evidence grade B	Unclear	mixed
Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALCAR)The brain-penetrant carnitine — real evidence for diabetic neuropathy, softer signals for mood and aging cognition.	Evidence grade B	Unclear	mixed
NMNAn NAD+ precursor with real biomarker effects (NAD+ rises) and no proven clinical or longevity outcomes yet.	Evidence grade C	Unclear	mixed
Nicotinamide RibosideThe better-studied NAD+ precursor — reliably raises NAD+, still short on hard human outcomes.	Evidence grade C	Unclear	mixed
Urolithin AA gut-derived metabolite that boosts mitophagy — early human trials show modest muscle-endurance gains.	Evidence grade C	Unclear	mixed
IdebenoneA synthetic CoQ10 relative with niche evidence in specific mitochondrial diseases, not general use.	Evidence grade C	Unclear	mixed
Methylene BlueA century-old dye and drug repurposed as a low-dose mitochondrial nootropic — real pharmacology, serious MAOI-level interactions.	Evidence grade C	Unclear	mixed
PQQA 'mitochondrial biogenesis' supplement whose small human trials are unconvincing.	Evidence grade D	Unclear	mixed

Coenzyme Q10Evidence grade B
A mitochondrial cofactor with its best evidence in heart failure and statin-associated muscle symptoms.
Unclearmixed
Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALCAR)Evidence grade B
The brain-penetrant carnitine — real evidence for diabetic neuropathy, softer signals for mood and aging cognition.
Unclearmixed
NMNEvidence grade C
An NAD+ precursor with real biomarker effects (NAD+ rises) and no proven clinical or longevity outcomes yet.
Unclearmixed
Nicotinamide RibosideEvidence grade C
The better-studied NAD+ precursor — reliably raises NAD+, still short on hard human outcomes.
Unclearmixed
Urolithin AEvidence grade C
A gut-derived metabolite that boosts mitophagy — early human trials show modest muscle-endurance gains.
Unclearmixed
IdebenoneEvidence grade C
A synthetic CoQ10 relative with niche evidence in specific mitochondrial diseases, not general use.
Unclearmixed
Methylene BlueEvidence grade C
A century-old dye and drug repurposed as a low-dose mitochondrial nootropic — real pharmacology, serious MAOI-level interactions.
Unclearmixed
PQQEvidence grade D
A 'mitochondrial biogenesis' supplement whose small human trials are unconvincing.
Unclearmixed

What is uncertain

Read off the same rows as above. Nothing here is added that the entry does not itself record.

Thin evidence: NMN (grade C); Nicotinamide Riboside (grade C); Urolithin A (grade C); Idebenone (grade C); Methylene Blue (grade C); PQQ (grade D).
Studies disagree: Coenzyme Q10 (mixed agreement); Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALCAR) (mixed agreement).

The evidence in words

The shortlist

Every compound in the knowledge base tagged to mitochondrial support, ordered by how strong its overall evidence is. Start at the top; the grade is the honest filter.

Worth considering first

Coenzyme Q10 (B) — A mitochondrial cofactor with its best evidence in heart failure and statin-associated muscle symptoms. · Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALCAR) (B) — The brain-penetrant carnitine — real evidence for diabetic neuropathy, softer signals for mood and aging cognition.

Lower-evidence options

NMN (C) — An NAD+ precursor with real biomarker effects (NAD+ rises) and no proven clinical or longevity outcomes yet. · Nicotinamide Riboside (C) — The better-studied NAD+ precursor — reliably raises NAD+, still short on hard human outcomes. · Urolithin A (C) — A gut-derived metabolite that boosts mitophagy — early human trials show modest muscle-endurance gains. · Idebenone (C) — A synthetic CoQ10 relative with niche evidence in specific mitochondrial diseases, not general use. · Methylene Blue (C) — A century-old dye and drug repurposed as a low-dose mitochondrial nootropic — real pharmacology, serious MAOI-level interactions. · PQQ (D) — A 'mitochondrial biogenesis' supplement whose small human trials are unconvincing.

Goes with

Coenzyme Q10Grade BEvidence grade B
Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALCAR)Grade BEvidence grade B
NMNGrade CEvidence grade C
Nicotinamide RibosideGrade CEvidence grade C
Urolithin AGrade CEvidence grade C
IdebenoneGrade CEvidence grade C
Methylene BlueGrade CEvidence grade C
PQQGrade DEvidence grade D

Entries that share this one's tags or conditions.

Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALCAR) for Cognition (MCI/aging)Evidence grade C — ModestEvidence grade C
Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALCAR) for Depression (older adults)Evidence grade B — AdjunctEvidence grade B
Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALCAR) for Diabetic neuropathy painEvidence grade B — Best useEvidence grade B
Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALCAR): side effects, safety & interactionsGenerally safe; can cause GI upset, and, like carnitine, may raise TMAO. Mildly stimulating for some — take earlier in tEvidence grade B

Sources

This entry lists no references of its own — it is assembled from the entries it links to, whose sources are on their pages.

Last revised Jul 10, 2026. A grade is this entry's reading of the evidence, not medical advice.