CoQ10

What is Coq10?

CoQ10 is an enzyme produced by the liver and cells of your body...it's also present in some foods.

Other names for this enzyme are...

Ubiquinol

Coenzyme Q10

Ubiquinone

Ubidecarenone

Deficiency in CoenzymeQ10 can manifest itself as tiredness, painful muscles or an increased tendency to be illness prone. These symptoms of course could indicate any number of health issues...including a lack of sleep! Let's take a closer look.

CoenzymeQ10 is involved in the biochemical process of cellular energy production...each one of your millions and millions of cells is a microscopic factory that requires fuel to operate in order to carry out and complete certain tasks specific to the body system that they are a part of. CoenzymeQ10 also acts as an antioxidant.

CoenzymeQ10 has been the focus of a fair amount of scientific interest because some preliminary findings suggest that certain health conditions may respond well to supplementation of this enzyme.

It is clearly important for correct cellular function and in individuals that have a deficiency, supplementation by way of eating foods that have a high CoQ10 content or the use of bioavailable supplementation may be of assistance.

What could cause a CoQ10 deficiency?

Statin Drugs - the wide spread use of cholesterol lowering medication may have a significant impact on your naturally occurring levels. Statins interfere with an enzyme called CoA Reductase which is part of the cholesterol production process. CoA Reductase is also part of the CoenzymeQ10 synthesis process

Diet high in processed grains - the processing of grain products removes the germ and bran portions of the grain where many beneficial nutrients reside...including CoenzymeQ10

Age, stress and illness - CoenzymeQ10 levels can decrease with the presence of any of these three factors

Liver disease - CoenzymeQ10 is sythesized in the liver so poor liver function could affect production

Dietary sources of CoQ10 include...

Organ meats - heart, liver, kidney and beef

Fish - sardines and mackerel

peanuts

whole grains

soybean oil

Preliminary science has suggested that some conditions may benefit from regular intake of CoenzymeQ10.

Benefits may include....

Assistance with high blood pressure or hypertension

may be responsible for small decreases in systolic and diastolic pressure

Adjunct to statin therapy

Stain drugs can interfere with biosynthesis of CoQ10

Angina

May reduce angina symptoms and improve tolerance to exercise

Heart attack or myocardial infarction

Could reduce the risk of coronary artery plaque rupture

Other potential benefits may include...

Protect LDL cholesterol from oxidation

Help to maintain healthy blood vessels

support normal heart muscle function

Supplementation

If you or your health care professional think that you might be deficient in CoenzymeQ10, you could try eating more foods that contain it or you could use a high quality bioavailable supplement product.

If you choose to use a supplement product you should take it with a meal containing fat for optimal absorption as CoQ10 is soluble in fat.

As CoenzymeQ10 is a naturally occurring enzyme in a healthy body, supplementation is thought to be safe.

Up to 150mg / day has been suggested by some health care professionals. This could be of benefit to you if you know that you are deficient or you are concerned about your risk factors for heart disease and heart attack. Dietary substances...generally speaking should not be viewed as 'treatments' or 'magic bullets'...which is how most of us view pharmaceutical substances.

Supplementing with unnaturally high doses of a particular nutrient to 'treat' a condition without supporting science or at least reliable anecdotal evidence is not advised...

However...consider this...

If you are deficient in certain nutrients, then your body can certainly respond quite dramatically when nutrients are replaced.....the nutrient is not 'treating' the condition though....your body is simply starting to operate normally now that you have given it the correct raw materials to work with

If you or your health care professional think that you may benefit from additional Coenzyme Q10 in your diet then by all means experiment with some supplementation for a few months to see if you notice any benefits.

Click here to go from CoQ10 to Heart Health Supplements