CoQ10, a molecule involved in energy production, also functions as an antioxidant. Though CoQ10 is manufactured by the body, it is also a popular supplement for a variety of purported health benefits, among them congestive heart failure. As with any remedy, consult with a qualified health professional to determine the most appropriate course of therapy before supplementing with CoQ10.
Improved Heart Function
Coenzyme Q10 improves heart function in congestive heart disease, according to a New Zealand study published in the October 2009 "New Zealand Medical Journal." Increased heart pumping ability of 3.7 percent was obtained in one experiment with CoQ10 supplementation, and 6.7 percent in another. The results suggest that CoQ10 depletion may be a contributing factor in the limited results obtained in congestive heart failure patients who take statin drugs, which are known to lower CoQ10 levels. The researchers noted that further investigation is warranted to determine the long-term effects of CoQ10 on increasing lifespan.
Dosage Levels
Higher dosages of supplemental CoQ10 offset impaired absorption and improved blood levels in congestive heart failure patients, according to a U.S. study published in the 2008 "Biofactors" journal. Fluid retention around the intestines of congestive heart failure patients may lead to decreased absorption of CoQ10. In the study, participants on dosages of 150 to 600 mg per day were increased to 450 to 900 mg per day. CoQ10 levels increased 400 percent and ejection fraction -- a measure of heart strength -- increased significantly.
Testing Methods
Improvements in testing methods have shown that CoQ10 does not benefit congestive heart failure, as previously thought, according to a Canadian study published in the October 2002 "Canadian Journal of Cardiology." Previous studies found decreased mortality rates associated with CoQ10 supplementation; however, newer, more precise diagnostics have not supported those results in recent studies.
Children
CoQ10, in conjunction with drug therapy, might improve heart function in children with chronic heart failure, according to a Thai study published in the July-August 2005 "Pediatric Cardiology" journal. After nine months of CoQ10 supplementation, heart function, as measured by the New York Heart Association criteria, significantly improved; CT ratio -- a measure of heart size -- improved; and EKG readouts were closer to normal values. In spite of the improvement noted in these specific parameters, a broader consideration of the results did not reveal a statistically significant improvement with CoQ10 therapy.
References
- PubMed.gov: Coenzyme Q10 -- an adjunctive therapy for congestive heart failure?
- PubMed.gov: Supplemental ubiquinol in patients with advanced congestive heart failure
- "Canadian Journal of Cardiology": Coenzyme Q10 and congestive heart failure -- What is the verdict?
- PubMed.gov: Effect of coenzyme Q10 on idiopathic chronic dilated cardiomyopathy in children
