High blood pressure, otherwise known as hypertension, is a condition where the heart pumps blood through the arteries with an unusually high amount of pressure. Coenzyme Q10 is a nutritional supplement that helps to treat hypertension. As with any nutritional supplement, talk to your health care practitioner before self-medicating with coenzyme Q10.
Coenzyme Q10 Information
Coenzyme Q10, also referred to as CoQ10 and ubiquinone, is a vitamin-like substance that is found throughout the body. CoQ10 plays a critical role in the production of energy. It also increases oxygen delivery to your tissue, enhances immunity and helps slow down signs of aging. In addition, CoQ10 is vital for cardiovascular health--it improves heart function and numerous studies have confirmed that it helps to lower high blood pressure, state Phyllis Balch and James Balch, M.D., in their book "Prescription for Nutritional Healing."
The Risks Associated With High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is a health risk because it means that your heart has to work harder to pump adequate amounts of blood to all the tissues in your body. If left untreated, it can lead to kidney failure, heart failure, coronary heart disease and stroke. To diagnose high blood pressure, a measurement of you systolic and diastolic pressure is taken. Systolic blood pressure is a measure of the pressure exerted by blood when the heart beats, forcing blood into the blood vessels. Diastolic blood pressure is measured when the heart is at rest and when the blood pressure is at its lowest.
Coenzyme Q10 Effects on Blood Pressure
A study cited in the 1994 edition of "Molecular Aspects of Medicine" examined the effects of CoQ10 in hypertension patients, as an adjunctive therapy to their existing antihypertensive drug regimen. In the study, 109 patients were given 225mg of CoQ10. CoQ10 significantly improved left ventricular wall thickness. The left ventricle is a muscular chamber in your heart that helps pump blood, and a widening of it means that your heart doesn't have to exert as much pressure to distribute blood throughout your body. Within one to six months the majority of the patients were able to reduce their drug requirements and both systolic and diastolic blood pressure was reduced.
Considerations
Adverse reactions from CoQ10 supplements are rare but gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, appetite suppression and heartburn have been reported. For the treatment of high blood pressure, 120 to 200mg per day taken in two divided doses is generally recommended. CoQ10 can have additive effects with hypertensive medications and you should only take it under the supervision of your health care practitioner.
References
- "Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database"; Therapeutic Research Faculty; 2011
- "Prescription for Nutritional Healing"; Phyllis A Balch, CNC, and James F. Balch, MD; 2003
- "Molecular Aspects of Medicine"; Treatment of Essential Hypertension with Coenzyme Q10; Langsjoen P et al; 1994
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