Coenzyme Q10

See also : Ubiquinol
Other Names: Co Q10, Co Q-10, Coenzima Q-10, Co-Enzyme 10, Coenzyme Q 10, Coenzyme Q10, Co-Enzyme Q10, Co-Enzyme Q-10, Co-Q 10, CoQ10, Co-Q10, CoQ-10, Ubidcarenone, Ubidécarénone, Ubiquinone-10.
CoQ-10 is a nutrient produced by the “energy factories” in your cells called mitochondria. Coenzyme Q10 is a naturally-occuring compound found in every cell in the body. Coenzyme Q10's alternate name, ubiquinone, comes from the word ubiquitous, which means "found everywhere. The mineral selenium is essential for the body's natural production of Coenzyme Q10.

Special Precautions of Coenzyme Q10

• CoQ10 encourages blood clotting (a big no-no if you’re taking warfarin and other anti-coagulants), and can lower blood sugar and blood pressure to potentially dangerous levels.
• It may also interfere with chemotherapy treatment.
• CoQ10 and Statin Drugs : Some research suggests that statin drugs, or HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, a class of drugs used to lower cholesterol, may interfere with the body's production of CoQ10. However, research on the use of CoQ10 supplements in people taking statins is still inconclusive, and it is not routinely recommended in combination with statin therapy.
• High blood pressure or low blood pressure: Coenzyme Q-10 might lower blood pressure. It can increase the effects of medications used to lower blood pressure. Discuss your use of coenzyme Q-10 with your healthcare provider if you have blood pressure problems.
• Surgery: Coenzyme Q-10 might interfere with blood pressure control during and after surgery. Stop using coenzyme Q-10 at least two weeks before a scheduled surgery.
• Coenzyme Q10 can potentially interfere with coumadin (Warfarin) and other blood-thinning medications.

The benefits and uses of Coenzyme Q10 are

Coenzyme Q 10 is normally associated with anti-ageing skin care products. It is an oil-soluble substance which demonstrates similar properties with vitamins. Coenzyme Q 10 naturally occurs in eukaryotic cells and is an important element of the electron transport chain.The compound has been subjected to more than 5,000 clinical studies and its role in fighting the adverse effect of oxidative stress. As a person grows older, the body’s production of coenzyme Q 10 decreases. This makes the body more susceptible to disease like cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Taking a CoQ-10 supplement boosts the way your cells produce and use energy. It also helps your body burn fat, improves cholesterol ratios, boosts your physical energy levels and improves thyroid and pancreas functions. CoQ10 is fat-soluble. Take it with a bit of olive oil or fish oil. Or have your CoQ10 with a meal that includes fish, dairy, eggs or meat. The powdered form of CoQ10 is more difficult to absorb. Try either gel caps or tablets and take them with some kind of fat.

• Coenzyme Q-10 deficiency. This is a very rare condition. The symptoms include weakness, fatigue, and seizures.
• Inherited or acquired disorders that limit energy production in the cells of the body (mitochondrial disorders). Improvement in symptoms is slow. Some people have to take coenzyme Q-10 for six months to get the most benefit.
• Congestive heart failure (CHF). There is no evidence that taking coenzyme Q-10 alone can help heart failure. But there is some evidence (though controversial) that it might be helpful when taken in combination with other heart failure medications and treatments.
• Decreasing the risk of additional heart problems in people who have had a recent heart attack (myocardial infarction, MI). When started within 72 hours of MI and taken for one year, coenzyme Q-10 appears to significantly lower the risk of heart-related events including non-fatal MI.
• Preventing blood vessel complications caused by heart bypass surgery. There is some evidence that taking coenzyme Q-10 by mouth for a week before surgery might help to reduce blood vessel damage. But not all research agrees with this finding.
• High blood pressure (hypertension). Taking coenzyme Q-10 by itself or along with other medications for treating high blood pressure seems to help lower blood pressure even more.
• Preventing migraine headache. Taking coenzyme Q-10 by mouth seems to help prevent migraine headaches. Studies show it can decrease the frequency of headaches by about 30% and the number of days with headache-related nausea by about 45% in adults. Taking coenzyme Q-10 also appears to reduce migraine frequency in children who have low levels of coenzyme Q-10. It can take up to 3 months for significant benefit. Unfortunately, coenzyme Q-10 doesn’t seem to be effective in treating migraines, once they have developed.
• Parkinson’s disease. Some research shows that taking coenzyme Q-10 supplements might slow decline in people with early Parkinson’s disease. But taking a coenzyme Q-10 supplement in people with mid-stage Parkinson’s disease does not seem to improve symptoms.
• Improving the immune system of people with HIV/AIDS.
• Muscular dystrophy, an inherited disorder involving muscle wasting. Taking coenzyme Q-10 by mouth seems to improve physical performance in some patients with muscular dystrophy.
• strengthening the immune system
• Heart failure :People with heart failure have been found to have lower levels of CoQ10 in heart muscle cells.
• Cardiomyopathy :Several small trials have found CoQ10 may be helpful for certain types of cardiomyopathy.
• Parkinson's disease : Lower levels of CoQ10 have also been observed in people with Parkinson's disease. Preliminary research has found that increasing CoQ10 may increase levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is thought to be lowered in people with Parkinson's disease. It has also been suggested that CoQ10 might protect brain cells from damage by free radicals.
• Cancer : In a study conducted to evaluate the health benefits of coenzyme Q 10, researchers observed that cancer patients had lower levels of the compound than healthier individuals.
• Heart Attack Prevention and Recovery
• High Blood Pressure
• Diabetes
• Gum Disease
• Kidney Failure
• Migraine
• Counteract Prescription Drug Effects
• Weight loss
• eliminates depression and anxiety
• Huntington’s disease (a rare genetic neurological disorder). Ubiquinol, an altered form of coenzyme Q-10, has been granted “Orphan Drug Status” by the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This gives the maker of Ubiquinol some financial incentives to study its effectiveness for Huntington’s, a condition that is so rare (affecting less than 200,000 individuals) that pharmaceutical companies might not otherwise invest in developing a drug for it. However, taking coenzyme Q-10 by mouth in doses of 600 mg per day or less doesn’t seem to be effective for slowing the progression of Huntington’s disease.

Food sources

CoQ₁₀ levels in selected foods

Food	Coenzyme Q10 concentration [mg/kg]
Beef
heart	113
liver	39–50
muscle	26–40
Pork
heart	11.8–128.2
liver	22.7–54.0
muscle	13.8–45.0
Chicken
heart	116.2–132.2
Fish
sardine	5–64
mackerel
red flesh	43–67
white flesh	11–16
salmon	4–8
tuna	5
Oils
soybean	54–280
olive	4–160
grapeseed	64–73
sunflower	4–15
rice bran	/
coconut
Nuts
peanuts	27
walnuts	19
sesame seeds	18–23
pistachio nuts	20
hazelnuts	17
almond	5–14
Vegetables
parsley	8–26
broccoli	6–9
cauliflower	2–7
spinach	up to 10
grape	6–7
Chinese cabbage	2–5
Fruit
avocado	10
blackcurrant	3
strawberry	1
orange	1–2
grapefruit	1
apple	1

Meat and fish are the richest source of dietary CoQ₁₀ and levels over 50 mg/kg can be found in beef, pork and chicken heart, and chicken liver. Dairy products are much poorer sources of CoQ₁₀ compared to animal tissues. Vegetable oils are also quite rich in CoQ₁₀. Within vegetables, parsley, and perilla are the richest CoQ₁₀ sources, but significant differences in their CoQ₁₀ levels can be found in the literature. Broccoli, grape, and cauliflower are modest sources of CoQ₁₀. Most fruit and berries represent a poor to very poor source of CoQ₁₀, with the exception of avocado, with a relatively high CoQ₁₀ content.

• The mineral selenium is essential for the body's natural production of Coenzyme Q10.
• cholesterol-lowering drugs -- actually deplete your body’s natural CoQ-10. Statins block production of cholesterol in the liver, where CoQ-10 is also manufactured. Without sufficient CoQ-10, statins can cause liver damage ... irregular heartbeat ... muscle weakness ... leg cramps ... heart attack and stroke (the two potentially fatal conditions that statins are supposed to prevent).
• Other medications also can limit your body’s production of CoQ-10, including: Diabetes drugs ... antidepressants ... female hormone replacement therapy ... and blood pressure meds. If you take any of these, you definitely need to supplement with CoQ-10.
• When shopping, labels may read “CoQ-10” or “Coenzyme Q-10”, but the more active form will be labeled “QH” or “ubiquinol.” This is a stronger form of CoQ-10, though purchasing that version isn’t essential, especially if price is an issue. Take 100 mg two or three times twice per day, because your body can’t metabolize higher doses.

Recommended Products