Idebenone is a lesser known nootropic that is taken as an anti-aging supplement and brain health longevity booster.
It also offers benefits for enhanced energy metabolism, clear-headedness, better memory, and protection against excitatory neurotoxicity.
Animal trials have shown it to significantly improve learning and memory performance. It was initially developed as a potential treatment for Alzheimer’s and related forms of mental impairment.
Current research trials are looking into whether Idebenone can be used as a treatment for neuromuscular disorders such as Leigh syndrome, and Friedreich’s ataxia.
It is also commonly paired with Centrophenoxine in an excellent longevity-boosting nootropic stack for advanced anti-aging protection. What exactly is Idebenone, what are the benefits it provides and how should it be used?



- Potent anti-oxidant for anti-aging benefits
- Supports ATP production & enegry levels
- Promotes cognitive function & memory
What Is Idebenone?
Related Topics
You have probably heard about a substance known as coenzyme Q10, or CoQ10.
This is an important natural biochemical for helping to maintain the health of the mitochondria (basically the power plants of the cells). Idebenone can be thought of as a synthetic version of CoQ10.
While CoQ10 is very effective at producing energy in your mitochondria, the main downside is the fact that it needs a constant supply of oxygen to function properly.
If this is not present, or conditions create a dangerously low level of oxygen (like a stroke or heart attack, for example) the enzyme itself actually breaks down and leads to the release of free radicals that can damage cells and organs.
Idebenone, on the other hand, does not break down nearly as quickly. Being a shorter chained quinone compound (CoQ10 is a longer chained compound), it offers a superior level of bioavailability and maintains its functions much more efficiently.
In essence, it is like CoQ10 on steroids. It even goes to work faster and helps protect the brain and body from a number of additional conditions.
How Idebenone Works:
One of the main ways in which this supplement works is as an anti-oxidant. It actually targets free radicals within the brain and throughout the body.
From here, it attacks these elements and flushes them out of the system. This helps to reduce damage to a number of different organs throughout the body including the brain and may even lower the risk of cancer.
Another interesting way that this supplement works is by helping to increase something called Nerve Growth Factor (NGF). This is a protein involved in the generation, growth, and health of neurons and nerves within the brain.
By increasing NGF levels, you may conceivably be able to promote the formation of new neurons and synapses in the brain, leading to better long-term brain function. Idebenone also acts to improve Choline transfer activity in the brain with studies supporting both of these mechanisms of action.
Benefits Of Idebenone:
By the choline-enhancing pathway, Idebenone is able to improve the activity of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the brain. This leads to better memory and learning capacity along with an overall faster speed of recall in some people.
Higher levels of Acetylcholine stimulation can result in more synaptic plasticity which means your brain is able to learn and adapt even later in life. Some users also report experience a better ability to make decisions and clearer thoughts and overall cognition. Attention spans may be lengthened along with enhanced focus and concentration.
As an anti-oxidant, Idebenone also carries neuroprotective benefits. Not only will the body and brain be cleansed of free radicals and other toxins, but it helps to guard against additional damage from occurring.
Idebenone may improve the maintenance of your cell organelles by increasing ATP bioenergy. This means any signs of damage are repaired more expediently and cells are less likely to accumulate waste products.
The supplement has also been shown to raise Dopamine levels within the brain. As a powerful neurotransmitter, Dopamine is implicated in the control of mood and movement. Many people will experience an enhanced mood and feelings of well-being when taking Idebenone.
In addition to Dopamine, Serotonin turnover may be enhanced leading to improved sleep patterns. This is also one of the very few Nootropic supplements reported to optimize information transfer across the corpus callosum section of the brain.
As a result, Idebenone can lead to more brain communication between the right and left hemispheres which is associated with better creative thought and problem solving.
Idebenone Dosage & Use:
The typically recommended dosage range for those looking to achieve Nootropic benefits from Idebenone is between 500 and 1,000 mg per day. As always, users are advised to start with the lowest effective dose and adjust from there. It is recommended to start your Idebenone in the range of 200 or 300 mg.
Another great option for usage is to combine Idebenone with a quality Choline supplement. Alpha GPC, CDP Choline (Citicoline), and Centrophenoxine all make for an excellent nootropic stack with Idebenone. This will potentiate the already excellent benefits of this supplement.
- Buyse GM, Voit T, Schara U, Straathof CS, D'Angelo MG, Bernert G, Cuisset JM, Finkel RS, Goemans N, McDonald CM, Rummey C, Meier T; DELOS Study Group. Efficacy of idebenone on respiratory function in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy not using glucocorticoids (DELOS): a double-blind randomised placebo-controlled phase 3 trial. Lancet. 2015
- Jaber S, Polster BM. Idebenone and neuroprotection: antioxidant, pro-oxidant, or electron carrier? J Bioenerg Biomembr. 2015
- Sun YN, Liu LB, Xue YX, Wang P. Effects of insulin combined with idebenone on blood-brain barrier permeability in diabetic rats. J Neurosci Res. 2015
- Arend N, Wertheimer C, Laubichler P, Wolf A, Kampik A, Kernt M. Idebenone Prevents Oxidative Stress, Cell Death and Senescence of Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cells by Stabilizing BAX/Bcl-2 Ratio. Ophthalmologica. 2015
- Ahmed MA. Neuroprotective effects of idebenone against pilocarpine-induced seizures: modulation of antioxidant status, DNA damage and Na(+), K (+)-ATPase activity in rat hippocampus. Neurochem Res. 2014
- Buyse GM, Goemans N, van den Hauwe M, Meier T. Effects of glucocorticoids and idebenone on respiratory function in patients with duchenne muscular dystrophy. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2013
- Gueven N, Woolley K, Smith J. Border between natural product and drug: comparison of the related benzoquinones idebenone and coenzyme Q10. Redox Biol. 2015
- Fiebiger SM, Bros H, Grobosch T, Janssen A, Chanvillard C, Paul F, Dörr J, Millward JM, Infante-Duarte C. The antioxidant idebenone fails to prevent or attenuate chronic experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in the mouse. J Neuroimmunol. 2013
- Kernt M, Arend N, Buerger A, Mann T, Haritoglou C, Ulbig MW, Kampik A, Hirneiss C. Idebenone prevents human optic nerve head astrocytes from oxidative stress, apoptosis, and senescence by stabilizing BAX/Bcl-2 ratio. J Glaucoma. 2013
- Sarpietro MG, Accolla ML, Puglisi G, Castelli F, Montenegro L. Idebenone loaded solid lipid nanoparticles: calorimetric studies on surfactant and drug loading effects. Int J Pharm. 2014
- Mercuri E, Muntoni F. Efficacy of idebenone in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Lancet. 2015
- Liu J, Wang LN. Mitochondrial enhancement for neurodegenerative movement disorders: a systematic review of trials involving creatine, coenzyme Q10, idebenone and mitoquinone. CNS Drugs. 2014
- Parkinson MH, Schulz JB, Giunti P. Co-enzyme Q10 and idebenone use in Friedreich's ataxia. J Neurochem. 2013
- Heitz FD, Erb M, Anklin C, Robay D, Pernet V, Gueven N. Idebenone protects against retinal damage and loss of vision in a mouse model of Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy. PLoS One. 2012
- Tai KK, Pham L, Truong DD. Idebenone induces apoptotic cell death in the human dopaminergic neuroblastoma SHSY-5Y cells. Neurotox Res. 2011
- Chang Y, Lin YW, Wang SJ. Idebenone inhibition of glutamate release from rat cerebral cortex nerve endings by suppression of voltage-dependent calcium influx and protein kinase A. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol. 2011
- Giorgio V, Petronilli V, Ghelli A, Carelli V, Rugolo M, Lenaz G, Bernardi P. The effects of idebenone on mitochondrial bioenergetics. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2012
- Mandpe L, Kyadarkunte A, Pokharkar V. Assessment of novel iloperidone- and idebenone-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers: brain targeting efficiency and neuroprotective potential. Ther Deliv. 2013
- Leonardi A, Crasci' L, Panico A, Pignatello R. Antioxidant activity of idebenone-loaded neutral and cationic solid-lipid nanoparticles. Pharm Dev Technol. 2014
- Lekoubou A, Kouamé-Assouan AE, Cho TH, Luauté J, Nighoghossian N, Derex L. Effect of long-term oral treatment with L-arginine and idebenone on the prevention of stroke-like episodes in an adult MELAS patient. Rev Neurol (Paris). 2011
- Becker C, Bray-French K, Drewe J. Pharmacokinetic evaluation of idebenone. Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol. 2010
- Haefeli RH, Erb M, Gemperli AC, Robay D, Courdier Fruh I, Anklin C, Dallmann R, Gueven N. NQO1-dependent redox cycling of idebenone: effects on cellular redox potential and energy levels. PLoS One. 2011
- Gamondi O, Chapela S, Nievas I, Burgos I, Alonso M, Stella C. Idebenone treatment mediates the effect of menadione oxidative stress damage in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Drug Metab Lett. 2012
- Drinkard BE, Keyser RE, Paul SM, Arena R, Plehn JF, Yanovski JA, Di Prospero NA. Exercise capacity and idebenone intervention in children and adolescents with Friedreich ataxia. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2010
- Angebault C, Gueguen N, Desquiret-Dumas V, Chevrollier A, Guillet V, Verny C, Cassereau J, Ferre M, Milea D, Amati-Bonneau P, Bonneau D, Procaccio V, Reynier P, Loiseau D. Idebenone increases mitochondrial complex I activity in fibroblasts from LHON patients while producing contradictory effects on respiration. BMC Res Notes. 2011
- Erb M, Hoffmann-Enger B, Deppe H, Soeberdt M, Haefeli RH, Rummey C, Feurer A, Gueven N. Features of idebenone and related short-chain quinones that rescue ATP levels under conditions of impaired mitochondrial complex I. PLoS One. 2012
- Brandsema JF, Stephens D, Hartley J, Yoon G. Intermediate-dose idebenone and quality of life in Friedreich ataxia. Pediatr Neurol. 2010
- Gerhardt E, Gräber S, Szego EM, Moisoi N, Martins LM, Outeiro TF, Kermer P. Idebenone and resveratrol extend lifespan and improve motor function of HtrA2 knockout mice. PLoS One. 2011
- Pignatello R, Acquaviva R, Campisi A, Raciti G, Musumeci T, Puglisi G. Effects of liposomal encapsulation on the antioxidant activity of lipophilic prodrugs of idebenone. J Liposome Res. 2011
- Bodmer M, Vankan P, Dreier M, Kutz KW, Drewe J. Pharmacokinetics and metabolism of idebenone in healthy male subjects. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2009
- Kutz K, Drewe J, Vankan P. Pharmacokinetic properties and metabolism of idebenone. J Neurol. 2009
- Schulz JB, Di Prospero NA, Fischbeck K. Clinical experience with high-dose idebenone in Friedreich ataxia. J Neurol. 2009
- Rinaldi C, Tucci T, Maione S, Giunta A, De Michele G, Filla A. Low-dose idebenone treatment in Friedreich's ataxia with and without cardiac hypertrophy. J Neurol. 2009
- Koreshkina MI. [The use of noben (idebenone) in the complex treatment of episodic and chronic migraine]. Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova. 2010
- Haginoya K, Miyabayashi S, Kikuchi M, Kojima A, Yamamoto K, Omura K, Uematsu M, Hino-Fukuyo N, Tanaka S, Tsuchiya S. Efficacy of idebenone for respiratory failure in a patient with Leigh syndrome: a long-term follow-up study. J Neurol Sci. 2009
- Pineda M, Arpa J, Montero R, Aracil A, DomÃnguez F, Galván M, Mas A, Martorell L, Sierra C, Brandi N, GarcÃa-Arumà E, Rissech M, Velasco D, Costa JA, Artuch R. Idebenone treatment in paediatric and adult patients with Friedreich ataxia: long-term follow-up. Eur J Paediatr Neurol. 2008
- Tonon C, Lodi R. Idebenone in Friedreich's ataxia. Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2008
- Di Prospero NA, Sumner CJ, Penzak SR, Ravina B, Fischbeck KH, Taylor JP. Safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of high-dose idebenone in patients with Friedreich ataxia. Arch Neurol. 2007
- Gutzmann H, Kühl KP, Hadler D, Rapp MA. Safety and efficacy of idebenone versus tacrine in patients with Alzheimer's disease: results of a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group multicenter study. Pharmacopsychiatry. 2002
- Mordente A, Martorana GE, Minotti G, Giardina B. Antioxidant properties of 2,3-dimethoxy-5-methyl-6-(10-hydroxydecyl)-1,4-benzoquinone (idebenone). Chem Res Toxicol. 1998
- Shivaram KN, Winklhofer-Roob BM, Straka MS, Devereaux MW, Everson G, Mierau GW, Sokol RJ. The effect of idebenone, a coenzyme Q analogue, on hydrophobic bile acid toxicity to isolated rat hepatocytes and hepatic mitochondria. Free Radic Biol Med. 1998
- Heller T, Geide A, Bonitz U, Wegner U, Gröne HJ, Armstrong VW, Oellerich M. Effect of the antioxidant idebenone on adverse events under mycophenolate mofetil therapy in a rat model. Transplantation. 2008
- Nagai Y, Narumi S, Kakihana M, Yamazaki N, Nagaoka A, Nagawa Y. Effects of idebenone on metabolism of monoamines and cyclic AMP formation in rats. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 1989
- Di Prospero NA, Baker A, Jeffries N, Fischbeck KH. Neurological effects of high-dose idebenone in patients with Friedreich's ataxia: a randomised, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet Neurol. 2007
- Civenni G, Bezzi P, Trotti D, Volterra A, Racagni G. Inhibitory effect of the neuroprotective agent idebenone on arachidonic acid metabolism in astrocytes. Eur J Pharmacol. 1999
- Gutzmann H, Hadler D. Sustained efficacy and safety of idebenone in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease: update on a 2-year double-blind multicentre study. J Neural Transm Suppl. 1998
- Schaffler K, Hadler D, Stark M. Dose-effect relationship of idebenone in an experimental cerebral deficit model. Pilot study in healthy young volunteers with piracetam as reference drug. Arzneimittelforschung. 1998
- Pisano P, Durand A, Autret E, Desnuelle C, Pinsard N, Serratrice G, Legout V, Joubert M, Blin O. Plasma concentrations and pharmacokinetics of idebenone and its metabolites following single and repeated doses in young patients with mitochondrial encephalomyopathy. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 1996
- Dong KK, Damaghi N, Kibitel J, Canning MT, Smiles KA, Yarosh DB. A comparison of the relative antioxidant potency of L-ergothioneine and idebenone. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2007
- Grieb P, Ryba MS, Debicki GS, Gordon-Krajcer W, Januszewski S, Chrapusta SJ. Changes in oxidative stress in the rat brain during post-cardiac arrest reperfusion, and the effect of treatment with the free radical scavenger idebenone. Resuscitation. 1998
- Nagai Y, Yoshida K, Narumi S, Tanayama S, Nagaoka A. Brain distribution of idebenone and its effect on local cerebral glucose utilization in rats. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 1989
- Chapela SP, Burgos HI, Salazar AI, Nievas I, Kriguer N, Stella CA. Biochemical study of idebenone effect on mitochondrial metabolism of yeast. Cell Biol Int. 2008
- Rustin P, von Kleist-Retzow JC, Chantrel-Groussard K, Sidi D, Munnich A, Rötig A. Effect of idebenone on cardiomyopathy in Friedreich's ataxia: a preliminary study. Lancet. 1999
- Gillis JC, Benefield P, McTavish D. Idebenone. A review of its pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties, and therapeutic use in age-related cognitive disorders. Drugs Aging. 1994
- Latini S, Pedata F, Pepeu G. Effect of idebenone on adenosine outflow and adenine nucleotide level in hippocampal slices under ischemia-like conditions. Eur J Pharmacol. 1993
- Wakabayashi H, Nakajima M, Yamato S, Shimada K. Determination of idebenone in rat serum and brain by high-performance liquid chromatography using platinum catalyst reduction and electrochemical detection. J Chromatogr. 1992
- Houchi H, Azuma M, Oka M, Morita K. Idebenone inhibits catecholamine secretion through its blocking action on Ca2+ channels in cultured adrenal chromaffin cells. Jpn J Pharmacol. 1991
- Yamazaki N, Nomura M, Nagaoka A, Nagawa Y. Idebenone improves learning and memory impairment induced by cholinergic or serotonergic dysfunction in rats. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 1989
- Kawakami M, Itoh T. Effects of idebenone on monoamine metabolites in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with cerebrovascular dementia. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 1989
- Miyamoto M, Nagaoka A. Effects of idebenone, a cerebral metabolism activator, on muricidal behavior in rats with raphe lesions. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 1987
- Naito M, Hayashi T, Yamada K, Asai K, Yoshimine N, Iguchi A. Protective effects of idebenone on vascular endothelial cells against toxicity induced by oxidatively modified low density lipoprotein. Artery. 1993
- Suno M, Nagaoka A. [Effect of idebenone and various nootropic drugs on lipid peroxidation in rat brain homogenate in the presence of succinate]. Nihon Yakurigaku Zasshi. 1988
- Sergi B, Fetoni AR, Paludetti G, Ferraresi A, Navarra P, Mordente A, Troiani D. Protective properties of idebenone in noise-induced hearing loss in the guinea pig. Neuroreport. 2006
- Scavini C, Rozza A, Lanza E, Favalli L, Racagni G, Brunello N. Effect of idebenone on in vivo serotonin release and serotonergic receptors in young and aged rats. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 1996
- Fetoni AR, Ferraresi A, Greca CL, Rizzo D, Sergi B, Tringali G, Piacentini R, Troiani D. Antioxidant protection against acoustic trauma by coadministration of idebenone and vitamin E. Neuroreport. 2008
- McDaniel DH, Neudecker BA, DiNardo JC, Lewis JA 2nd, Maibach HI. Clinical efficacy assessment in photodamaged skin of 0.5% and 1.0% idebenone. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2005
- Barnils N, Mesa E, Muñoz S, Ferrer-Artola A, Arruga J. [Response to idebenone and multivitamin therapy in Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy]. Arch Soc Esp Oftalmol. 2007
- Nagaoka A, Suno M, Shibota M, Kakihana M. Effects of idebenone on neurological deficits, local cerebral blood flow, and energy metabolism in rats with experimental cerebral ischemia. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 1989
- Suno M, Nagaoka A. Inhibition of brain mitochondrial swelling by idebenone. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 1989
- Nomura M. [Effect of idebenone (CV-2619) on brightness discrimination learning in rats with central serotonergic dysfunction]. Yakubutsu Seishin Kodo. 1985
- Zhai H, Cordoba-Diaz M, Wa C, Hui X, Maibach HI. Determination of the antioxidative capacity of an antioxidant complex and idebenone: an in vitro rapid and sensitive method. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2008
- Cardoso SM, Pereira C, Oliveira CR. The protective effect of vitamin E, idebenone and reduced glutathione on free radical mediated injury in rat brain synaptosomes. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1998
- Imada I, Fujita T, Sugiyama Y, Okamoto K, Kobayashi Y. Effects of idebenone and related compounds on respiratory activities of brain mitochondria, and on lipid peroxidation of their membranes. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 1989
- Suno M, Nagaoka A. Inhibition of lipid peroxidation by idebenone in brain mitochondria in the presence of succinate. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 1989
- Nagaoka A, Kakihana M, Fujiwara K. Effects of idebenone on neurological deficits following cerebrovascular lesions in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 1989
- Kiyota Y, Miyamoto M, Nagaoka A. [Ameliorating effects of idebenone and indeloxazine hydrochloride on impairment of radial maze learning in cerebral embolized rats]. Nihon Yakurigaku Zasshi. 1989
Article last updated on: March 13th, 2018 by Nootriment