1. CoQ10 is Everywhere
Coenzyme C10, or CoQ10, is present in every cell in plants and animals. It helps improve energy function and acts as an antioxidant, interrupting the damage of free radicals. It can help prevent cancer and heart disease in healthy people and has a number of uses in different diseases. CoQ10 levels are twice as high in vegetarians as in omnivores because it is present in high levels in plant foods. Most studies of CoQ10 have used a dosage of 100 mg per day, but doctors use doses up to 300 mg per day in patients with severe heart disease. A good rule of thumb is to take 2 mg for each kilogram (2.2 lbs.) of body weight.
2. CoQ10 Promotes Heart Health
A number of studies have shown that CoQ10 is useful in treating heart disease. In fact, people with heart disease usually have CoQ10 deficiencies. CoQ10 helps the heart to function better overall and improves heart function in people with congestive heart failure. Four in 10 people with high blood pressure have a CoQ10 deficiency, and while CoQ10 is not an antihypertensive drug, it is helpful in lowering blood pressure. It also helps improve outcomes for people with cardiomyopathy, a disease that reduces the force of heart contractions, and in mitral valve prolapse, a common deformity of the valve that separates the left atrium from the left ventricle. Many physicians pre-treat patients who are undergoing coronary bypass surgery with CoQ10.
3. Control Diabetes With CoQ10
CoQ10 is also helpful for people with diabetes. Many people with diabetes are deficient in CoQ10. This is especially true for people who take oral hypoglycemic drugs, because these drugs interfere with CoQ10 metabolism. Actually, scientists don't know exactly how CoQ10 helps control diabetes, but studies have shown that it is helpful in controlling this disease.
4. Chew on These Facts About Gum Disease
Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is an extremely common problem in the Western world. In the United States, 6 in 10 young adults and 9 in 10 people over age 65 have gum disease. When scientists looked at CoQ10 levels in the gingival tissue of people with gum disease, 60 to 96 percent had low levels of CoQ10. You can take CoQ10 orally or apply it to your gums if you have gum disease.
5. CoQ10 and Cancer Care
CoQ10 is a supplement for cancer patients because it strengthens the immune system and acts as an antioxidant. It is particularly helpful for cancer patients on chemotherapy because it can limit damage to the heart sometimes caused by chemotherapeutic drugs. In addition to CoQ10, many cancer patients also take vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, selenium and an essential fatty acid like linoleic acid.
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