Coenzyme Q10, or ubiquinone, is a compound essential for cellular function. Synthesized naturally by the body and found in foods such as beef, chicken and fish, coenzyme Q10 is not considered a vitamin, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. Coenzyme Q10 is a fat-soluble compound, which supports energy production and acts as an antioxidant, thus providing vitality and protection against aging and disease.
Energy Production
All cells contain tiny organelles called mitochondria; they produce a chemical called adenosine triphosphate, or ATP -- the molecule that stores energy. All bodily functions require energy; therefore, mitochondrial activity is essential for life. Carbohydrates and fats, which we consume, are converted to energy in the mitochondria. Coenzyme Q10 is required to help mitochondrial enzymes convert food into energy.
Antioxidant
Free radicals are dangerous environmental pollutants. Structurally, free radicals are atoms with an unpaired electron. Electrons always exist in pairs; therefore, free radicals steal electrons from cellular membranes, or DNA. Extracting electrons from cellular structures causes cellular death, aging, cancer and other diseases. Coenzyme Q10 acts as an antioxidant and protects the body from adverse free radical damage, by providing electrons to the free radicals, thus sheltering cellular structures from harm.
Health Conditions
Coenzyme Q10 supplementation may help to prevent heart disease. Low-density lipoprotein -- a type of cholesterol -- produces arterial plaque and promotes infiltration of white blood cells, thus decreasing blood flow within the heart muscle. Studies published in "Free Radical Biology and Medicine" and "Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications" indicate that CoQ10 is effective to prevent plaque formation and white blood cell infiltration. Coenzyme Q10 may also reduce cholesterol levels, blood pressure, gum disease, breast cancer tumor size and the effects of diabetes.
Supplements
Coenzyme Q10 supplementation is recommend for individuals over the age of 18.
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, the recommended daily dose is 30 to 200 mg, which is best absorbed when consumed with a meal containing fat. Coenzyme Q10 supplements are available in many forms -- for example, oral spray, tablets, or hard shell capsules; however, gel capsules are the most absorbable form.
Caution
There are no known side effects, other than stomach upset, reported. However, coenzyme Q10 may interact with some medications; therefore, consult a physician before taking this supplement. The effects of taking CoQ10 during pregnancy or while breast-feeding are unknown; therefore, exercise caution.
References
- Linus Pauling Institute; Coenzyme Q10; February 2007
- "Free Radical Biology and Medicine"; Anti-Atherogenic Effect of Coenzyme Q10 in Apolipoprotein E Gene Knockout Mice; P. Witting, et al.; 2000
- "Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications"; Beta2-Integrin and Lipid Modifications Indicate a Non-Antioxidant Mechanism for the Anti-Atherogenic Effect of Dietary Coenzyme Q10; M. Turunin, et al.; 2002
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Coenzyme Q10; March 2009
Member Comments