According to information provided by the American Heart Association, coenzyme Q10, or CoQ10, is a fat-soluble, vitamin-like substance that is found in every cell of the human body. It is involved in key biochemical reactions that produce energy in the cells and also acts as an antioxidant. It is naturally present in a variety of foods, such as beef, organ meats, soybean oil, sardines, mackerel and peanuts.
Controversy
The Mayo Clinic website says that, although the levels of CoQ10 in the body can be increased by taking supplements that have been used and recommended for numerous conditions, it remains controversial as a treatment. The American Heart Association maintains that, until the safety and effectiveness of CoQ10 is further evaluated, it cannot recommend taking it regularly. However, some nutritional scientists such as Dr. Nicholas Perricone, in his book "Dr. Perricone's 7 Secrets to Beauty, Health and Longevity," believe that CoQ10 is probably one of the best researched antioxidant, anti-inflammatory vitamins and that studies show that it provides protection to all of the body's organs.
CoQ10 Deficiency
There are some well-known doctors who have written about the value of CoQ10 and ways that our bodies can possibly become deficient. In their book, "You: The Owner's Manual," Dr. Michael Roizen and Dr. Mehmet Oz say that the body naturally produces CoQ10 only when it is not lacking in vitamin C, the B-complex vitamins or folate. In his discussion about cellular repair, Perricone says that cellular energy production declines as people age and that substances such as CoQ10 are critical in maintaining enough energy in the cell so that it can repair itself. Dr. Mark Hyman says in his book, "The UltraMind Solution," that coenzyme Q10 is lowered by common drugs, including the cholesterol-lowering statins, beta-blockers and hypoglycemic drugs. He says that CoQ10 is made by the same enzyme in your body as cholesterol so, if you take a statin drug, you shut down your production of coenzyme Q10.
Benefits
Roizen and Oz discuss their belief that CoQ10 helps your heart and that it may also help prevent your brain from aging. In discussing studies of Parkinson's disease and hypertension, they report that high doses seem to decrease symptoms of the disease as well as decrease high blood pressure. Additionally, Roizen and Oz say that, based on the studies they have reviewed, many additional people could benefit from taking CoQ10 supplements, including those who use statin drugs and those with life-threatening heart failure, Parkinson's symptoms, diabetes and hypertension. Since it is such a powerful anti-inflammatory, Perricone stresses the protective importance of CoQ10 against cardiovascular disease by keeping the heart muscle healthy while preventing inflammation of the arteries that leads to arterial sclerosis.
Safety
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not strictly regulate herbs and supplements, so the Mayo Clinic website warns against considering the use of CoQ10 without consulting a qualified health-care provider. Safety and effectiveness have not always been proven for people with conditions that are potentially serious. However, it appears that few side effects of CoQ10 have been reported and any reactions that have been found tend to be mild and stop without needing additional treatment.
Dosage
According to the Mayo Clinic website, doses of 50 to 1,200mg of CoQ10 have been taken by adults in divided amounts by mouth daily. Hyman, as well as Roizen and Oz, quote studies of subjects with Parkinson's disease in which the nutrient was given at the dosage of 1,200mg per day without side effects. However, in his suggestions for boosting energy and reducing oxidative stress, Hyman recommends a dose of 100mg per day.
References
- American Heart Association: Coenzyme Q10
- MayoClinic.com: Coenzyme Q10
- "You: The Owner's Manual"; Michael F. Roizen, MD and Mehmet C. Oz, M.D.; 2005
- "Dr. Perricone's 7 Secrets to Beauty, Health and Longevity"; Nicholas Perricone, M.D.; 2006
- "The UltraMind Solution"; Mark Hyman, M.D.; 2009
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