Coenzyme Q10 is a member of the fat-soluble ubiquinone family of compounds. It is present in every cell in our body and is highly concentrated especially in the cells of the heart as this organ plays the main role in our body's energy supply process.
CoQ10 is constantly required in our body cells for energy production in mitochondria (cellular power stations). It should be even stated that CoQ10 is essential for transferring energy from food into ATP molecules and therefore its deficiency in our body leads to fatigue and can be extremely dangerous as it gradually leads to heart failure and eventually to heart attack.
At the same time CoQ10 functions in human cells as a super antioxidant which neutralises the very harmful effects of free radicals.
Unfortunately, as we age the CoQ10 levels in our body (including heart) begin to deplete. Also some drugs such as statins may lead to Q10 deficiency.
In addition, many individuals are often unable to obtain adequate amounts of CoQ10 from food due to unhealthy nutritional habits. But sometimes even if our diet seems to be right the levels of this precious antioxidant may still be too low and as a result we feel week, tired and run down. Other CoQ10 deficiency symptoms involve especially our heart muscle and can be noticed in the form of chest pain, heart failure, or high blood pressure.
CoQ10 plays important role in slowing down ageing process as it reduces cellular damage caused by the lack of oxygen.
Scientific research suggest that apart from being beneficial for those who suffer from heart conditions, and high blood pressure, or low energy CoQ10 may also be helpful in strengthening our immune system or slowing the progression of Parkinson’s and gum disease (periodontal disease).
Scientific research suggest that apart from being beneficial for those who suffer from heart conditions, and high blood pressure, or low energy CoQ10 may also be helpful in strengthening our immune system or slowing the progression of Parkinson’s and gum disease (periodontal disease).
According to a 2002 experiment which lasted 3 months, a dose of 15 to 30mg of CoQ10 a day was sufficient to produce significant reduction in headaches and migraines.
In addition, the same antioxidant may be useful in maintaining proper body weight, as studies have shown that we may start experiencing serious metabolic health problems when CoQ10 deficiency reaches the level of about 25%.
However, CoQ10 is most famous for being one of the best supplements able to significantly reduce the risk of death from CHD. Studies show that supplementation with CoQ10 strengthens heart and supports vascular function, and prevents damage from cardiovascular disease.
CoQ10 helps prevent low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol from oxidizing and from triggering arterial plaque formation. Also patients with heart failure demonstrated a dramatic outcome of 50% reduction in heart attacks and strokes in response to proper CoQ10 supplementation.
According to another study heart attack survivors who took 120 mg of CoQ10 on a daily basis for one year significantly raised beneficial HDL cholesterol while reducing the risk of heart attacks and rate of total cardiac events by 45 %.
Interestingly, adding Aged (Black) Garlic to CoQ10 may lead to even better results as according to one experiment participants who took a combination of 120 mg of CoQ10 and 1,200 mg of aged garlic extract every day for one year had four times lower atherosclerosis progression! At the same time the markers of atherosclerosis-promoting inflammation were significantly reduced.
A combination of CoQ10, carnitine, and taurine was able to replete essential cardiac myocyte nutrients and reduce left ventricular dysfunction.
Studies also demonstrated that CoQ10 is effective in addressing causes of endothelial dysfunction(especially prevalent in diabetics) of the very thin interior cell layer lining of arteries (endothelium), which is a regarded as a major early risk factor for the cardiovascular disease development of atherosclerosis. For instance, according to one study supplementation with 200 mg a day of CoQ10 significantly increased arterial endothelial function in patients with diabetes after a period of only 12 weeks. In patients with mild-to-moderate heart failure, 300 mg a day of CoQ10 improved endothelial function by 38%. The result was so good that it could be comparable with the effect of regular exercise training over a long period of time.
Taking into consideration all the key benefits of CoQ10 a regular supplementation of this excellent antioxidant may effectively strengthen the heart, prevent some side effects caused by regular use of cholesterol lowering drugs such as statins, help to slow down ageing process, help maintain proper blood pressure and blood glucose levels, my enhance body’s immune function, boost energy and improve athletic performance, stimulate body's metabolism to accelerate weight loss, and help maintain healthy gums.
Quality and Bioavailability
Instead of using poorly absorbed dry powder the HealthAid CoQ10 200mg Capsules are formulated bydissolving Ubiquinone form of CoQ10 in oil. It is important to emphasise this fact because studies demonstrated that the potency and bioavailability (absorption) of the oil-based Ubiquinone in our body is the same as that of the very expensive Ubiquinol form of Coenzyme Q10! Unlike the HealthAid Coenzyme Q10 range other Ubiquinone formulas are often offered in the form of poorly absorbed dry powder.
Dosage
Due to the fact that we gradually lose this very important antioxidant with age and because most of us do not get enough of CoQ10 from food some experts recommend that even relatively healthy individuals under 60 should take 30mg of oil-based Ubiquinone form of CoQ10 every day.
However, Supplementation of CoQ10 for those who are over 60 or those who are on statins should be increased to 100 – 200 mg a day as this very popular drug (statins) greatly increase the risk of CoQ10 deficiency. One study demonstrated that the use of statins can reduce the production of CoQ10 in our body by 50% within only two weeks!
Apart from Conergy Coenzyme Q10 30mg capsules (recommended for healthy individuals under 60) the HealthAid also provides a range of higher strength CoQ10 supplements (120mg and 200mg) which are more suitable for older individuals (over 60) or those who are on cholesterol lowering drugs such as Statins.
It is also very important to remember that taking CoQ10 with meals may significantly increase its absorption.
References
- Eurich DT, McAlister FA, Blackburn DF, et al. Benefits and harms of antidiabetic agents in patients with diabetes and heart failure: systematic review. BMJ. 2007 Sep 8;335(7618):497.
- Singh RB, Neki NS, Kartikey K, et al. Effect of coenzyme Q10 on risk of atherosclerosis in patients with recent myocardial infarction. Mol Cell Biochem. 2003 Apr;246(1-2):75-82.
- Zeb I, Ahmadi N, Nasir K, et al. Aged garlic extract and coenzyme Q10 have favorable effect on inflammatory markers and coronary atherosclerosis progression: a randomized clinical trial. J Cardiovasc Dis Res. 2012 Jul;3(3):185-90.
- Rundek, T., Naini, A., Sacco, et al (2004) ‘Atorvastatin decreases the coenzyme Q10 level in the blood of patients at risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke’, Archives of neurology., 61(6), pp.889–92.
- Dixon B, McKinnon T, Schneider E, et al (2011) Bioavailability of Ubiquinone versus Ubiquinol. USANA Clinical Research Bulletin, USANA Health Sciences, Inc. SLC, UT.
- Langsjoen, P. H. and Langsjoen, A. M. (2013), Comparison study of plasma coenzyme Q10 levels in healthy subjects supplemented with ubiquinol versus ubiquinone. Clinical Pharm in Drug Dev. doi: 10.1002/cpdd.
- Takeda R, Sawabe A, Nakano R, et al. (2011) Effect of various food additives and soy constituents on high CoQ10 absorption. Japanese Journal Medicine P S 2011; 64(4):614-20.
- http://www.greenmedinfo.com/article/combination-carnitine-coq10-and-taurine-repletes-essential-cardiac-myocyte-nutrients-and
- Belardinelli R, Mucaj A, Lacalaprice F, et al. Coenzyme Q10 and exercise training in chronic heart failure.Eur Heart J. 2006 Nov;27(22):2675-81.
- http://www.greenmedinfo.com/substance/coenzyme-q10
- http://www.lifeextension.com/Magazine/2015/4/CoQ10-Combats-Congestive-Heart-Failure/Page-01
- https://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/data_statistics/fact_sheets/fs_heart_failure.htm
- Sinatra S. (2013) What's the Best Form of CoQ10?
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