Who Should Consider Coenzyme Q10?
Anyone who is looking to supplement their diet with a powerful antioxidant,
but especially:
People who have been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease;
People who have been diagnosed with Congestive Heart Disease;
People who are diagnosed with, or especially concerned about, cardiovascular
disease
(ie; heart disease and/or stroke).
People seeking a powerful antioxidant.
Coenzyme Q10 - The Other Vitamin
Coenzyme Q10 is a vitamin essential to our very lives, yet very few
of us have ever heard about it until recently. Discovered in 1957 by Dr.
Fred Crane at the University of Wisconsin, Coenzyme Q10 is a nutrient
necessary to the functioning of every cell in our bodies.
Levels of Coenzyme Q10 begin to decline around age 30 and steadily decrease
with age, making supplementation increasingly important.13 Our bodies
could not survive without Coenzyme Q10, as it is necessary in the synthesis
of ATP.13
If body levels start dropping, so does our general health; scientists
have estimated that once body levels of Coenzyme Q10 drop below the 25%
deficiency levels, many health problems begin to flourish, including cardiovascular
problems, immune system depression, periodontal problems, lack of energy,
and weight gain, and it may be a contributing factor to the aging process.4,13
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and its preventive value
Numerous studies have shown that pretreatment with Coenzyme Q10 helps
heart patients come through open heart surgeries in better health and
with shorter recovery times than those who have not been so treated.14,15,16,17
This is because CoQ10 possesses the ability to protect the heart during
periods of aschemia, or oxygen deprivation.4 CoQ10 has helped cardiomyopathy
patients to live well beyond their usual life expectancies.17 In a study
performed in 1998, CoQ10 was shown to halve the total number of subsequent
cardiovascular incidents in patients who had suffered myocardial infarctions
(heart attack), as long as the CoQ10 was begun within three days of the
infarction.1
Perhaps more importantly, supplementation with CoQ10 has a preventative
effect--preventative against lack of oxygen, and against certain heart
medications.18,19 Yes, heart medications.
Strange as it may seem, certain heart medications that are prescribed
to reduce cholesterol levels actually block the production of CoQ10! 20,21,22
Additionally, researchers believe that CoQ10 "prevents" the
oxidation of low-density lipoproteins (LDL; i.e., the "bad"
cholesterol), making it an important supplement for anyone with high cholesterol.
It is bound to the LDL by Vitamin E.23,24
Coenzyme Q10 And Parkinson's Disease:
Recent studies indicate that Coenzyme Q10 can help reduce the effects
of Parkinson's Disease.2 Here is the source of that information, and
the details of the study:
Funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke,
conducted at the University of California at San Diego, and published
in a recent issue of Archives of Neurology, the study demonstrates that
Coenzyme Q10 slows the progress of early-stage Parkinson's Disease.
Patients diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease for 5 years were divided
into four groups and given varying amounts of Coenzyme Q10 and Vitamin
E. The four groups were as follows: 300mg of CoQ10, 600mg of CoQ10, 1200mg
of CoQ10 or Placebo, all with Vitamin E (i.e., Vitamin E was used in all
groups). The patients' improvement in mental function, motor ability
and activities of daily living were dose dependent; those receiving 1200
mg of Co Q10 each day showed the greatest improvement (44% less decline
in the above function categories as compared to the placebo group). Patients
receiving the smaller amounts of CO Q10 did not fare as well as those
in the 1200 mg group, but did better than those not receiving any CO Q10.
Why does CoQ10 help patients with Parkinson's Disease?
Researchers suspect that it has to do with improved mitochondria function.
Mitochondria are the organelles in the body that generate energy; mitochondria
in patients with Parkinson's Disease are depleted of Coenzyme Q10.
The Coenzyme Q10 may also protect areas of the brain typically affected
in people with Parkinson's Disease.
Coenzyme Q10 Recommended Supplementation Levels For Parkinson's
Disease:
From the studies we have reviewed, the best performing dosage level
for measured improvements is 1,200mg of Coenzyme Q10 per day but a small
number of additional studies showing a therapeutic level of 2,400mg of
Coenzyme Q10 per day have also occurred. We recommend that you try the
1,200mg per day level first and measure results before moving on to, if
necessary, 2,400mg per day.
Coenzyme Q10 Prices:
The effectiveness and media attention concerning Coenzyme Q10 have driven
prices very high. We sympathize with our customers and their need for
coenzyme Q10 and we are doing everything we can to keep prices down. Our
raw materials costs for coenzyme Q10 have gone through the roof though
and we don't expect the costs to fall any time soon. We always keep
our prices to the lowest level we can.
Special Note About Parkinson's Disease:
Parkinson's Disease is a complex medical disease that requires the
care and guidance of a competent physician. Coenzyme Q10 is NOT intended
to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent Parkinson's Disease or related
diseases or conditions. Rather, it is intended to provide you with nutritional
support to help your body combat this disease as part of a total health
program. Follow the guidance of your physician as you fight Parkinson's
Disease, or seek to prevent it. Inform your physician if you decide to
use Coenzyme Q10 for additional nutritional support.
Coenzyme Q10 And Congestive Heart Disease:
Coenzyme Q10 is an exciting supplement for patients with Congestive
Heart Disease. Recent studies have shown that patients with Congestive
Heart Disease (also Heart Failure or Heart Failure candidates for transplants)
who supplement with Coenzyme Q10: A double-blind placebo study demonstrated
improved functional status, clinical status and quality of life for heart
failure patients;25 A meta-analysis shows that several forms of heart
disease, including heart failure and congestive heart disease, respond
well to Coenzyme Q10 treatment;26 A double-blind placebo study of patients
with low Coenzyme Q10, L-Carnitine, Creatine and Theamine levels who were
supplemented with all the properties, including Coenzyme Q10, showed improvement
in myocardial and ventricular function;27 Additional studies also recommend
coenzyme Q10 as adjuvant (meaning added to improve treatment effectiveness)
therapy for people with congestive heart disease;28 However, definitive,
large scale clinical studies have not yet been done and so we cannot definitively
say that coenzyme Q10 provides effective, proved treatment for congestive
heart disease. The results are very promising, but not yet categorically
conclusive.
Special Note About Congestive Heart Disease:
Congestive Heart Disease is a complex medical disease that requires
the care and guidance of a competent physician, preferably a cardiologist.
Coenzyme Q10 is NOT intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent Congestive
Heart Disease or related diseases or conditions. Rather, it is intended
to provide you with nutritional support to help your body combat this
disease as part of a total health program. Follow the guidance of your
physician or cardiologist as you fight Congestive Heart Disease or Heart
Failure, or seek to prevent it. Inform your physician if you decide to
use Coenzyme Q10 for additional nutritional support and discuss its usage
with her/him.
Coenzyme Q10 Recommended Supplementation Levels For Congestive Heart
Disease:
As with Parkinson's Disease, based on the studies we have reviewed,
the best performing dosage level for measured improvements is 1,200mg
of Coenzyme Q10 per day.
How Does Coenzyme Q10 Work?
CoQ10, also known as ubiquinone, a member of the quinone cyclic compounds
such as Vitamins E and K, can supply or remove oxygen from biologically
active molecules. Every cell in your body contains many intercellular
components called mitochondria, which produce 95% of the total energy
of the body. Coenzyme Q10 is an integral part of the membranes of the
mitochondria where it is involved in the production of ATP (adenosine
triphosphate), the basic energy molecules of the cell.
Supplementing Coenzyme Q10 aids in the body's cellular respiration
and energy production; it's that simple.
Recommended Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation
With the exception of the serious diseases of Parkinson's Disease
and Congestive Heart Disease, we recommend supplementation for cardiovascular
health in the amount of 1mg of Coenzyme Q10 per every pound of body weight.
For example, a 150 pound person should supplement with 150mg per day.
The above referenced studies on Coenzyme Q10 and Parkinson's Disease
and Congestive Heart Disease showed the greatest benefit when 1200mg of
Coenzyme Q10 was taken daily.
Coenzyme Q10 for Relief of Chronic Migraines
By Alan R. Gaby, MD
(June 16, 2005)-Supplementing with coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) can reduce the
frequency of migraines in chronic sufferers, reports a study in Neurology
(2005;64:713-5). The results of this study add to the growing list of
nutritional and herbal remedies that have been proven effective for migraine
prevention.
Energy production in brain cells is impaired in migraine sufferers,
and as CoQ10 can enhance energy production, it has the potential to correct
this defect and possibly to prevent migraines. Research has shown two
other nutrients that play a role in cellular energy production-riboflavin
and magnesium-to be effective for migraine prevention. CoQ10 was also
reported in a preliminary trial to reduce the recurrence rate of migraines;
however, in that study the possibility of a placebo effect could not be
ruled out.
In the new study, 42 migraine sufferers were randomly assigned to receive
100 mg of CoQ10 three times a day or a placebo for three months. Migraine
frequency decreased progressively in the CoQ10 group, whereas no change
was seen in the placebo group. During the third month, the difference
in migraine frequency between people receiving CoQ10 and those receiving
placebo was statistically significant. The response rate (defined as the
proportion of participants who experienced at least a 50% reduction in
attack frequency) was 47.6% in the CoQ10 group and 14.4% in the placebo
group. There was no difference between groups in the severity or duration
of migraines.
Additional research is needed to determine the most effective amount
of CoQ10, and whether combining CoQ10 with magnesium and riboflavin would
be more effective than using any one of these alone. Although nutritionists
have observed that combinations of nutrients frequently work better than
single nutrients, a recent study found that riboflavin by itself (25 mg
per day) worked as well as, and possibly better than, the daily combination
of riboflavin (400 mg), magnesium (300 mg), and the antimigraine herb
feverfew (100 mg). It is possible that one or more of the substances in
that combination product interfered with the effects of the others, or
that massive doses of riboflavin are less effective than more moderate
doses.
In addition to migraine prevention, CoQ10 has been found in some, though
not all, studies to be effective for treating congestive heart failure.
It has also been used successfully for high blood pressure and periodontal
disease, and to slow the progression of Parkinson's disease. CoQ10
is generally well tolerated, but it can interfere with the effects of
anticoagulant drugs such as warfarin (Coumadin®).
Alan R. Gaby, MD, an expert in nutritional therapies, testified to the
White House Commission on CAM upon request in December 2001. Dr. Gaby
served as a member of the Ad-Hoc Advisory Panel of the National Institutes
of Health Office of Alternative Medicine. He is the author of Preventing
and Reversing Osteoporosis (Prima, 1994), and co-author of The Natural
Pharmacy, 2nd Edition (Healthnotes, Three Rivers Press, 1999), the A-Z
Guide to Drug-Herb-Vitamin Interactions (Healthnotes, Three Rivers Press,
1999), Clinical Essentials Volume 1 and 2 (Healthnotes, 2000), and The
Patient's Book of Natural Healing (Prima, 1999). A former professor
at Bastyr University of Natural Health Sciences, in Kenmore, WA, where
he served as the Endowed Professor of Nutrition, Dr. Gaby is the Chief
Medical Editor for Healthnotes, Inc.
|
Friendly
See
our full line of Antioxidant products
