CoQ10: Keep The Engine of Your Cells Running

Coenzyme Q10, or CoQ10, is one of the most powerful nutrients in our bodies. CoQ10 has a DUAL ROLE. It is both an energy producer and a powerful anti-oxidant. Every cell in your body is dependent on CoQ10.

Most organs function better with optimum CoQ10 levels: brain, eye, heart, gums, immune system, and muscle.

CoQ10 begins to decline in our 20’s.

CoQ10 is affected by many drugs. Most important of these is the STATINS (used to treat cholesterol problems). This can create problems for the person with cardiac issues. Statins can deplete CoQ10 to the degree that the function of the heart declines. This can lead to different levels of congestive heart failure.

Hypertension: CoQ10 can lower BLOOD PRESSURE

CoQ10 has been shown to reduce BLOOD PRESSURE in hypertensive people up to 17 systolic and 10 diastolic. This is in the range of many anti-hypertensive medications.

Arterial Function: CoQ10 can improve ARTERIAL FUNCTION

Studies have shown that CoQ10 can slow the progression of arterial disease (also called hardening of the arteries and atherosclerosis; sclerosis = hardening). This positive effect can be helped with combination with OTHER ANTI-OXIDANTS like the active forms of vitamin E (the gamma and delta forms of vitamin E are the active forms).

Diabetics and High Sugar/Insulin Levels lead to ARTERIAL PROBLEMS

Diabetes slowly damages the heart and arteries. CoQ10 is depleted. CoQ10 can help slow the progression of vascular disease and improve the function of the arteries (called endothelial function).

Heart Patients with Chest Pain and Poor Exercise Capacity may improve w/ CoQ10

Studies have shown a beneficial effect in people with heart failure. CoQ10 can improve the hearts ability to pump, which can help with stamina and the ability to exercise without getting short of breath.

Fertility and Sperm Health

Sperm burn high amounts of energy. One study showed and improvement in sperm motility and health with improved blood levels of CoQ10.

Muscular and Athletic Performance have shown improvement

Studies in endurance athletes have shown an improvement in both anaerobic and aerobic performance. Other studies showed an improvement in muscle recovery. These studies included cross country skiers, and martial arts athletes that had long training sessions.

Immune System Function

The U.S. NCI has mentioned in articles that CoQ10 has been shown to be an immune modulator and can improve immune function in certain areas of cancer.

Cancer and CoQ10

Cancer patients tend to have lower levels of CoQ10. Some studies have shown improved survival in CoQ10 supplemented patients.

Gum Disease: close association with heart disease

Gum health is related to cardiovascular health. The gums have a very high blood flow, and the blood communicates directly to the heart. If the gums are infected with bacteria, this bacteria is carried directly and in high concentrations to the heart. CoQ10 has been shown to improve periodontal disease in some research.

Eyesight and  macular degeneration

CoQ10 can be depleted in macular degeneration. CoQ10 is a powerful anti-oxidant and may help combat the oxidation in the retina and macula.

Alzheimer’s and Cognitive Dysfunction

Studies on neurodegenerative disease has been mixed. Anti-oxidants have shown a benefit in some studies. In mouse models, CoQ10 has shown reduced amyloid plaque. Mitochondrial problems (the energy producing part of the cell that CoQ10 is a key to function) are thought to be at the center of neurodegenerative diseases, like Parkinson’s.

Parkinson’s Disease:

A study showed a slowing of the progression of Parkinson’s with higher doses of CoQ10. Other studies found no beneficial effect.

A Common Issue: Statins reduce CoQ10 – consider supplementing with CoQ10

Stains block CoQ10 production. Statins are know to have the side effect of weak and painful muscles in some.

Research Studies

Lipids. 1989 Jul Age-related changes in the lipid comp of rat and human tissues. KalénDepartment of Cellular and Neuropathology, Huddinge Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.

Pharmacotherapy 2001 JulRole of coenzyme Q10 in chronic heart failure, angina, and hypertension. Tran School of Pharmacy, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, USA.

Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2001 Dietary supplementation with vit E and co Q(10) inhibits atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E gene knockout mice. Thomas Biochemistry Group, The Heart Research Institute, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.

J Hum Hypertens. 1999 Effect co Q10 on blood pressures and insulin resistance in hypertensive patients w coronary artery disease. Singh Salve Institute of Medical Science, Nagpur, India.

Diabetologia. 2002. Coenzyme Q(10) improves endothelial dysfunction of the brachial artery in Type II diabetes WattsDepartment of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Australia

Clin Chim Acta. 1996 Plasma ubiquinol/cholesterol ratios in patients with hyperlipidaemia, those with diabetes mellitus and in patients requiring dialysis. McDonnell Department of Clinical Chemistry, Belfast City Hospital, N. Ireland, UK.

Pharmacotherapy. 2001 Role of coenzyme Q10 in chronic heart failure, angina, and hypertension. TranSchool of Pharmacy, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, USA.

J Urol. 2009 Epub 2009 May 17. Efficacy of co Q10 on semen parameters, sperm function and reproductive hormones in infertile men. Safarinejad Urology and Nephrology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.

Mol Aspects Med. 1997 The effect of co Q10 on the exercise performance of cross-country skiers. Ylikoski Vuokatti Sports Testcenter, Finland.

Br J Nutr. 2008 Reducing exercise-induced muscular injury in kendo athletes with supplementation of co Q10. Kon Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, Doctoral program of Sports Medicine, University of Tsukuba

Nutrition. 2008 Antifatigue effects of coenzyme Q10 during physical fatigue. Mizuno Department of Physiology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.

Drugs Exp Clin Res. 1985 Research on co Q10 in clinical medicine and in immunomodulation. Folkers

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/coenzymeQ10/Patient/page2

Biofactors. 1999 CoQ10: could it have a role in cancer management? Hodges University of Sheffield, UK

J Int Med Res. 2009 Improved survival in patients with end-stage cancer treated with co Q(10) and other antioxidants Hertz Vipperoed, Denmark

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1971. Deficiency of co Q 10 in gingival tissue from patients with periodontal disease. Littarru

Res Commun Chem Pathol Pharmacol. 1976 Bioenergetics in clinical medicine. VI. adjunctive treatment of periodontal disease with coenzyme Q10. Wilkinson

J Periodontol. 1996 Periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease. Beck Department of Dental Ecology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA.

J Periodontol. 2002 Systemic release of endotoxins induced by gentle mastication: association with periodontitis severity. Geerts Department of Periodontology-Bucco-Dental Surgery, University of Liège, Belgium.

Ophthalmologica. 2001 Does coenzyme Q10 play a role in opposing oxidative stress in patients with age-related macular degeneration? Blasi Department of Ophthalmology, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy.

Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2009 Coenzyme Q10 in the human retina.
Qu Department of Ophthalmology, Columbia University Medical Center

J Mol Neurosci. 2010 Co Q10 reduces beta-amyloid plaque in an APP/PS1 transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. Yang

Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2009 Coenzyme Q10 effects in neurodegenerative disease. Spindler Department of Neurology.

Exp Neurol. 2004 Pilot trial of high dosages of co Q10 in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Shults Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla