Coenzyme Q10, also known as CoQ10 or just Q10 has become another popular supplement. It can be an important supplement for those over 40 or people that take statin drugs. What are the health benefits and should we take this supplement.
What Is Coenzyme Q10
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) was discovered in 1957 and since that time nearly 5,000 studies about it have been published. Coenzyme Q10 is a fat-soluble compound that is synthesized by the body and also consumed in the diet.
Coenzyme Q10 is found in every cell and is required by the body for mitochondrial synthesis, mitochondrial synthesis is the energy-producing structures within cells; one of the critical functions is the converting of nutrients into energy.
This conversion of nutrients into energy is very important in the heart and heart cells. Coenzyme Q10 is also a well-known antioxidant, which means it is used by our bodies to protect cells from oxidation damage.
CoQ10 is a member of the ubiquinone family of compounds and since we can synthesize coenzyme Q10 in our bodies, it is not considered a vitamin.
For coenzyme Q10 to be synthesized in the body, an adequate intake of vitamin B6 is required. CoQ10 works in conjunction with vitamin E as it plays a critical role in maintaining our supply of Vitamin E and its antioxidant abilities. CoQ10 also has the unique ability to increase oxygen utilization in our body.
One recent study in Denmark found that the average daily dietary intake of coenzyme Q10 was between 3-5 mg (milligrams), and most people do not get more than 10 mg per day in their diet.
Higher sources of dietary coenzyme Q10 are found mainly in meat, organ meats, poultry, oily fish, trout, spinach, soybean oils, and nuts.
Vitamin B6 is very important for coenzyme Q10 to be able to synthesize in the body. Foods with a good amount of B6 are baked potato with skin, bananas, garbanzo beans, chicken breast, pork loin, roast beef, fish, tomatoes, avocado, and sunflower seeds.
If you eat a vegetarian, vegan or plant-based diet, you might be getting less CoQ10 than you should since higher amounts are found in meat. But even on a plant-based diet, there is still a good amount of CoQ10 in seeds, nuts, legumes and broccoli.
Coenzyme Q10 Health Benefits
As we get older, our body’s production of coenzyme Q10 decreases and by as much as 72% in the heart.
Because of the antioxidant properties of CoQ10 doctors are now using it in numerous heart-related ailments such as arrhythmia, angina, heart attack, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, mitral valve prolapse, atherosclerosis, and congestive heart failure.
In a 1961 study, scientist found that people who had cancer also had very low levels of CoQ10 in their blood. Other research has found that CoQ10 helps strengthen the immune system and could be useful as a secondary treatment for cancer.
According to WebMD, three studies examined the use of CoQ10 along with conventional cancer treatment. The three studies were done with 41 women who had breast cancer and in each study, the women improved.
Another study found that Coenzyme Q10 can cause breast tumor regression. The study of 32 women with high-risk breast cancer was supplemented with 90 mg of Coenzyme Q10 and antioxidants.
Six of the 32 women showed partial tumor regression. The dosage of CoQ10 for one woman was increased to 390 mg, one month later, a mammography confirmed the absence of tumor [1].
CoQ10 can also help with periodontal health and prevent getting gingivitis and heals any damage from gingivitis.
Dr. Emile G. Bliznakov, MD and past President and Scientific Director of the Lupus Research Institute conducted many studies with coenzyme Q10.
His studies showed that CoQ10 doubled the strength of the immune system by cleaning out bacteria from the bloodstream. CoQ10 also boosted the immune system by increasing the white blood cells, which increased the immune systems ability to fight off disease and including virulent flu.
In animal studies it defended against malignant tumors, leukemia and retarded the rate at which the thymus gland deteriorated with age, the thymus gland is key to our immune systems. Up to 95% less, cell damage has been reported with coenzyme Q10 supplementation.
According to a report issued by the Annals of Neurology (August 1997) coenzyme Q10 might be effective in the prevention and treating of Parkinson’s disease.
There are also claims that coenzyme Q10 boosts energy. In my own experience, the first time I took CoQ10 I noticed a boost in energy when I worked out.
This boost of energy was not like caffeine or an energy drink. It was as if my lungs opened up and my heart worked better and I was able to breathe a little easier or more fully as I exercised. I believe that the claim of increased energy and what I saw first hand was CoQ10’s ability to increase oxygen utilization.
The Different Types of CoQ10
There are two types of CoQ10, ubiquinone, and ubiquinol and there is still some debate about which is better for us.
The main difference is that the ubiquinol is better absorbed by our body and is more effective, plus it is usually more expensive. For those of us over the age of 40, taking the ubiquinol form is best.
Much of the ubiquinol form of CoQ10 is Ubiquinol QH Active or Kaneka QH, which is said to have a superior bioavailability.
Taking CoQ10
The Bottom Line
Drug Interactions
CoQ10 can reduce the body’s response to the blood thinner (anticoagulant) warfarin (Coumadin) if you are taking a blood thinner, talk to your doctor before taking coenzyme Q10.
The cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statin drugs can lower the levels of CoQ10 in the blood, for this reason, many doctors will supplement patients with coenzyme Q10.
This is ironic since statin drugs are given to reduce the risk of heart disease and the lowering of Q10 has been shown to increase the risk of heart disease.
Beta-blockers that are used to lower high blood pressure also lower the amount of CoQ10 in the body and have numerous side effects.
Coenzyme Q10 has been shown to dramatically reduce these side effects. Talk to your doctor before taking any supplements of CoQ10. CoQ10 can also decrease the insulin requirements in people with diabetes.
About the Author
Sam Montana is a certified Food Over Medicine instructor from the Wellness Forum Health Center and certified in optimal nutrition from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
© 2009-2018 Sam Montana
[1] PubMed - Partial and complete regression of breast cancer in patients in relation to dosage of coenzyme Q10
Linus Pauling Institute – CoQ10 Micronutrient Information Center
