Friday Sept 27, 2013 (foodconsumer.org) -- Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is another powerful antioxidant that is found in almost every cell in the body and helps the production of energy.   We already know that vitamin C, vitamin E and alpha-lipoic acid and many others are antioxidants.

Ageing and age-related diseases in many cases are caused by a chemical process called oxidation.  No one can stop the process, which eventually leads to death.  But antioxidants like CoQ10 reduce some oxidation-induced damage.  Oxidation leads to the formation of free radicals which damage tissues and cells.

As an antioxidant, CoQ10 can also help heart-related conditions as it can promote energy production, prevent blood clots and oxidation, which can damage the cardiovascular system leading to heart disease.

CoQ10 Benefits

Coenzyme Q10 supplements alone or together with other drugs mag help or treat the following medical conditions or diseases.

Help Patients Who Suffered Heart Attack

One clinical trial shows that compared with people who did not take CoQ10 supplements, those who took them every day within three days of a heart attack were at a lower risk of having another heart attack and chest pain and were less likely to die of heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in the United States.

Heart failure

CoQ10 may help treat heart failure when used in combination with other drug therapies. It was found that people who suffer congestive heart failure have low levels of CoQ10.   In people with heart failure, CoQ10 supplements also help reduce swelling in the legs, reduce fluid in the lungs, make breathing easier; and increase exercise capacity.  Many studies found an efficacy of CoQ10 in helping people with heart failure.

According to a case report, a patient with maternally-inherited diabetes and deafness who developed congestive heart failure improved left ventricular function after taking Coenzyme Q10 in a dose of 150 mg per day for three months. Specifically, the fractional shortening and ejection fraction increased from 26 to 34% and from 49 to 64%, respectively.  There was no side effect. 

Heart damage in cancer patients caused by chemotherapy or heart surgery

CoQ10 may help prevent heart damage caused by some chemotherapies including adriamycin and athracycline medications.

CoQ10 can also reduce damage cause by free radicals, strengthen heart function and lower the risk of irregularity in heart beat after heart surgery including bypass surgery and heart transplantation. 

High blood pressure or hypertension

Studies suggest that CoQ10 may lower blood pressure in people suffering hypertension or high blood pressure although the effect would become evident only after 4 to 12 weeks of CoQ10 supplementation.

A review of 12 clinical trials has found CoQ10 potentially lowered systolic blood pressure by as much as 17 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure by 10 mm Hg, which are huge! Even better, there was no side effects observed. 

High cholesterol and CoQ10 and statins

High cholesterol is linked to heart disease.  Statins are often used to lower cholesterol.  But studies have found statins may not be cost-effective in healthy people although they can very effectively help people who have developed some heart condition.  And statins can also lead to the development of side effects, some of which can be serious.  For that reason, some people resort to alternative treatments.  CoQ10 has been found effective in treating high cholesterol.   People with high cholesterol tend to have lower levels of CoQ10.    CoQ10 supplementation can help normalize the CoQ10 level in the body which can otherwise be lowered by statins.  Also CoQ10 has been found to decrease muscle pain caused by statins.  Another alternative to lower cholesterol is red yeast rice, which is as effective as statins but fewer side effects have been reported.

Diabetes mellitus

Studies have found a little as 100 mg of CoQ10 twice a day improved Alc levels which is an indicator of the severity of diabetes mellitus.  It is known that CoQ10 supplements can improve heart condition and improve insulin sensitivity and lower blood sugar and help diabetics with high blood pressure.

Gum (Periodontal) disease

Gum disease is like many other diseases that have something to do with inflammation or oxidation.   Symptoms of gum disease include swelling, bleeding, pain and redness of the gums.  People with gum disease are more likely to have low levels of CoQ10, which means that supplementation of CoQ10 helps those patients as clinical studies have proved.  Studies show people taking CoQ10 recovered from gum disease faster.

CoQ10 may also help immunity in people with HIV/AIDS, improve male fertility such as increasing sperm motility, treat Parkinson's disease, improve exercise capability in people with angina, and prevent migraines.

Sources

CoQ10 is found in oily fish, organ meats, and whole grains. Healthy people may get enough CoQ10 through a well balanced diet, but people with a health condition may benefit from CoQ10 supplements.

Cautions and CoQ10 dosage

Do not let children younger than 18 to take CoQ10 and adults can use a dose of 30 to 200 mg of CoQ10 per day

Precautions and CoQ10 side effects

Coenzyme Q10 is generally safe and causes no major side effects, except that it may cause stomach upset occasionally. (DL)