Heart attacks affect 1.1 million Americans each year, according the the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. The causes of heart failure are multifactorial, but typically involve elements of diet, lifestyle and genetics. Treatment for heart failure involves medications as well as diet and lifestyle modifications. CoQ10 is a molecule present in the mitochondria of every cell and is critical for energy production. CoQ10 is typically found in low amounts in people with heart failure, according to RD411.com, which makes CoQ10 supplementation a likely preventative measure and treatment option.
Improves Levels of CoQ10
As mentioned above, people with heart failure tend to have decreased levels of CoQ10. Low levels of CoQ10 do not allow the cells of the body to effectively protect themselves from damaging molecules like free radicals. The more deficient a person becomes in CoQ10, the more severe the heart failure becomes, according to a study in the April 18, 2000, edition of the journal "Annals of Internal Medicine." Therefore, repletion of CoQ10 through the diet or from a supplement is indicated for people with heart failure.
Exercise and Breathing
CoQ10 has shown improvement in exercise and breathing for people with heart failure, according to a study in the November 2006 "European Heart Journal." Researchers gave the study participants 100 mg of CoQ10 three times daily for one month and assessed their breathing and improvement in lining of blood vessel walls. CoQ10 in conjunction with exercise improved breathing and strengthened the blood vessel walls moreso than exercise alone.
Leg Swelling
Leg swelling may occur in people with heart failure due to water retention as a result of high blood pressure. CoQ10 helps with this by improving circulatory flow because it strengthens the walls of blood vessels as discussed above in the "European Heart Journal" article. When blood is flowing easier and smoother, pressure is less within the body and this includes the legs. Less pressure leads to less swelling.
Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is the hallmark feature of heart failure. Obtaining healthier blood pressure levels is critical for heart failure patients. CoQ10 has shown some promise in being able to improve blood pressure. A study in the April 2007 "Journal of Human Hypertension" gave study participants 50 mg of CoQ10 daily. Blood pressure decreased slightly after one to three months of supplementation. These study results are all very promising, though are still small in regards to making strong claims regarding CoQ10's benefits and heart failure.
References
- RD411.com: Coenzyme Q10 Fact Sheet
- "Annals of Internal Medicine"; The Effect of Coenzyme Q10 in Patients with Congestive Heart Failure; Meenakshi Khatta, et al.; 2000
- "European Heart Journal"; Coenzyme Q10 and Exercise Training in Chronic Heart Failure; R. Belardinelli, et al.; 2006
- "Journal of Human Hypertension"; Coenzyme Q10 in the Treatment of Hypertension: A Meta-Analysis of the Clinical Trials; F. Rosenfeldt, et al.; 2007
- National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute: What is a Heart Attach?
