The price of coenzyme Q10 can be affected by name brand, potency, supplier, and amount. Since coenzyme Q10 is considered to be a natural or herbal supplement for a number of conditions that may be treated by prescription medicine, it is typically sold as a vitamin in specialty and mass market retail stores. As a consequence of competitive distribution networks, the prices of identical brands may vary significantly between a large and small retailer. In addition, some brands of coenzyme Q10 claim to contain "purer" ingredients, which might be used to justify premium pricing.
Brand name is one of the leading factors that affect the price of coenzyme Q10. Store or relatively unknown brands are typically priced slightly below average. Well-recognized brands sold by specialty vitamin and health food stores may be priced above average, on the other hand. The current popularity of coenzyme Q10 also has a direct impact on its price.
Coenzyme Q10 has been shown to benefit some individuals who are suffering from heart disease and metabolic disorders, which has increased its popularity as a viable supplement. It has also been known to help increase the energy of people who follow restricted diets, such as vegetarians. Due to different dietary needs, the vitamin comes in several strengths or potencies. Higher concentrations tend to drive up the price of coenzyme Q10, while weaker potencies tend to result in a lower price.
Besides brand name and strength, the supplier of the vitamin can greatly affect the price of coenzyme Q10. Major retail outlets with large distribution networks may offer multiple brands, since they are usually able to negotiate a lower unit price from the manufacturers due to market influence and high volume purchases. Small and specialty retailers may choose to stock one or two brands that tend to sell well and are usually not able to negotiate the lowest unit price. Online retailers could be as competitively priced as mass market retailers or they could charge higher prices, depending on the product's ingredients.
Some types of coenzyme Q10 claim to have "purer" or more natural ingredients. The price per bottle for these types of products is usually higher than those that use more preservatives and additives. An additional factor that often impacts the price of coenzyme Q10 is the amount of product that is in each bottle. For example, some lower priced brands tend to offer less product while slightly higher priced versions will offer more.
