Diabetes is a chronic disease in which a person has high levels of sugar in the blood. The disease is caused when the body does not produce enough insulin, or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced. Insulin is a hormone produced by a group of cells in the pancreas to control blood sugar. CoQ10 supplements alone or in combination with other drug therapies may help prevent some of the symptoms of diabetes. If you have diabetes, talk to your doctor before using CoQ10 supplements.
Coenzyme Q10
CoQ10 is a fat-soluble, vitamin-like compound formed in the human body. CoQ10 is involved in the production of energy in the form of a molecule known as adenosine triphosphate, or ATP. CoQ10 also works as an antioxidant -- a substance that may protect cells from the damage caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals. CoQ10 is capable of ensuring good heart health, by controlling the level of sugar in the blood. The supplement may help manage high cholesterol and high blood pressure, the common problems associated with diabetes, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Research
Bearing in mind the role of coenzyme Q10 in the production of cellular energy, researchers at Kansai Medical University in Osaka, Japan, tested whether dietary supplementation with coenzyme Q10 would benefit energy metabolism and ATP production in diabetic patients. An ATP producing enzyme that requires coenzyme Q10 to function was measured in 120 patients with diabetes. According to researchers, the amount and activity of the enzyme was significantly lower in diabetics than in non-diabetics. Researchers also found that coenzyme Q10 supplementation may reduce insulin requirements in patients with diabetes.
Dosage
A double-blind study published in November 2002 in "European Journal of Clinical Nutrition" found that supplementation with CoQ10 at a dosage of 100 mg twice daily significantly improved the blood sugar control in people with diabetes. However, another study published in May 2003 in "Atherosclerosis" found that dietary supplementation with coenzyme Q10 at a dosage of 200 mg daily may reduce blood glucose levels in people with diabetes. Consult your doctor to know which dose is best for your needs.
Risk
According to the Diabetes Action Research and Education Foundation, CoQ10 may be helpful for the treatment of diabetes, but it presents a risk, as well. People using CoQ10 supplement for the treatment of diabetes may inadvertently push their blood sugar levels dangerously low. Speak to your doctor before taking CoQ10 supplements for diabetes.
References
- PubMed Health: Diabetes
- University of Maryland Medical Center: CoQ10
- "Arzneimittelforschung"; Effect of Treatment with 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl Coenzyme A Reductase Inhibitors on Serum Coenzyme Q10 in Diabetic Patients; Y. Miyake et al.; April 1999
- "Atherosclerosis "; Combined effect of coenzyme Q10 and Fenofibrate on Forearm Microcirculatory Function in Type 2 Diabetes; D. Playford et al.; May 2003.
- "European Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Coenzyme Q10 Improves Blood Pressure and Glycaemic Control: A Controlled Trial in Subjects with Type 2 Diabetes; J. Hodqson et al.; November 2002
- Diabetes Action Research and Education Foundation: Coenzyme Q10: The State of the Science in Diabetes.
