Coenzyme Q10 is an enzyme compound that helps facilitate energy production within the cells of the body. CoQ10, as it is commonly known, is also obtained by eating certain foods, including salmon, beef, soybeans, peanuts, liver and spinach. Levels of CoQ10 decrease with age and with certain diseases, such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes. This supplement, which also has some antioxidant properties, is being touted by the media for a host of possible benefits. Consult a physician before taking it, as more research is needed.
Lowers Blood Pressure
CoQ10 may offer some benefits to those with hypertension. Early research shows that it brings about a small drop in blood pressure. Whether a low level of CoQ10 is part of the disease profile of hypertension is a subject for future study. RxList: The Internet Drug Index states that the dosage of the supplement for those with high blood pressure should be 60 mg twice daily. It can take four to 12 weeks of treatment for any decrease in blood pressure to manifest.
Reduces Risk of Second Heart Attack
Taking a CoQ10 supplement in a dosage of 60 mg twice a day can prevent the occurrence of another heart attack in those who have recently suffered from one. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center states CoQ10 may have a role in protecting cells during periods of ischemia, or decreased blood flow, which is especially important to the heart muscle.
Treatment of Heart Failure
Levels of CoQ10 are low in those suffering from congestive heart failure, a condition in which the heart cannot pump blood efficiently. Congestive heart failure leads to edema, or retention of fluid, around the heart and in the extremities. The University of Maryland Medical Center states that CoQ10 can help reduce some of the swelling associated with congestive heart failure, as well as increase tolerance for exercise.
More Research Needed
CoQ10 has shown some promise of being of benefit for a number of different ailments, but more research is needed to provide definitive proof. Taking CoQ10 may provide some protection for your heart against harsh, cardiotoxic chemotherapy medications and shrink the tumors of breast cancer. It may lower blood glucose levels naturally, allowing diabetics to take less medication to control their blood sugar. It may also help slow the development of macular degeneration and Alzheimer's disease, and has shown some benefit in helping relieve some of the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome, Friedreich's ataxia, kidney failure, gum disease and Parkinson's disease.
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