Congestive heart failure or CHF is when the heart is unable to maintain adequate circulation to all of the tissues of the body. CHF occurs for a variety of reasons involving diet, lifestyle and genetic components. Diet, lifestyle modifications and medications are recommended treatments for CHF. Research is becoming stronger in the area of coQ10 supplementation of CHF, though it needs to be replicated to make firm claims, explains RD411.com. Before taking this or any other supplement, consult your physician.
Antioxidant
A primary role of coQ10 in the body is as an antioxidant. Antioxidants assist with damaging free radicals in order to prevent them from causing damage. CoQ10 is in an ideal position to deal with free radicals since they both originate within the mitochondria of each cell. However, coQ10 has to be adequate within the cells to do its job of protecting cells, as explained by RD411.com.
Blood Vessel Strength
A benefit of coQ10 is that it strengthens the walls of blood vessels. When this occurs blood flows more freely with less restriction, which results in lower blood pressure. Patients with CHF typically have a problem of high blood pressure. A study in the "European Heart Journal" in 2006 assessed the effects of supplementation with coQ10 on the blood vessel strength after 100 mg of coQ10 daily for four weeks. They found that the thickness of the blood vessel walls increased, which strengthens them.
Blood Pressure
Hypertension or high blood pressure is a frequent occurrence with congestive heart failure. High blood pressure weakens the blood vessels over time making them more vulnerable to a heart attack or other heart related conditions. Since coQ10 can strengthen the blood vessel walls, this helps to lower blood pressure because the blood flows uninhibited. The "Journal of Human Hypertension" reports in a 2007 study that coQ10 supplementation lowered blood pressure without side effects.
Exercise Duration
People with CHF need energy for exercise or even for daily life activities, which often become compromised due to having CHF. Supplementation of coQ10 together with exercise helped CHF sufferers exercise longer than people who exercised without coQ10 as explained in the above-mentioned study in the 2006 "European Heart Journal." CoQ10 is responsible for energy production within the energy-producing mitochondria present in every cell. This provides another reason why patients may want to supplement their diets with coQ10 however, they should discuss this with their physicians beforehand.
References
- RD411.com: Coenzyme Q10 Fact Sheet
- Pubmed.gov: "European Heart Journal"; Coenzyme Q10 and Exercise Training in Chronic Heart Failure; R. Belardinelli, et al.; 2006
- Pubmed.gov: "Journal of Human Hypertension"; Coenzyme Q10 in the Treatment of Hypertension: A Meta-Analysis of the Clinical Trials; F. Rosenfeldt, et al.; 2007
