In one study, 20 healthy older adults ate either a Western diet high in saturated fats, a Mediterranean diet high in unsaturated fats, or a Mediterranean diet plus 200 mg of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) per day.
After four weeks, everyone fasted for 12 hours and then ate a breakfast typical of their study diet. Several hours later, doctors drew blood and found that signs of inflammation and oxidative stress within cell manufacturing and transport centers were lower in the Mediterranean diet compared to the Western diet, and lowest of all in the Mediterranean diet plus CoQ10.