What is CoQ10 and why is it so beneficial to your heart and health?

• Geplaatst op 24 Oktober 2016
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While CoQ10 has been proven to have multiple effects benefiting your health, it does interact with some drugs in a negative way. If you are taking medication regularly, speak to your doctor about taking CoQ10 supplements.

According to a study, published by Eurostat in 2013, circulatory and heart disease combined are the most common cause of death in each and every country of the European Union, making it the biggest killer on the old continent.

What are the mitochondria?

A mitochondrion is a cell organelle – a miniature organ – charged with the daunting task to facilitate breathing, energy production, cell growth and cell cycle control. 

What is CoQ10?

Coenzymes are substances in our body that assist enzymes to process the food we take in. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) complements the function of the cell mitochondria – to absorb sugars and fats, to process them and convert them into energy, and the aerobic cellular respiration. CoQ10 is also known as vitamin Q10 and may be found under the names ubiquiniol, ubiquinone, or ubidecarenone.

Which factors affect CoQ10 production?

Genetics

CoQ10 is produced thanks to biosynthesis – a process, requiring the participation of multiple different genes. A mutation in any of those genes will hinder biosynthesis and lead to a CoQ10 deficiency. 

Aging

With age, the production of CoQ10 is slowed down and our bodies cannot keep up with the CoQ10 demand of the cells. The result is food is not processed as effectively and the cells become energy deficient.

Statins

As we get old, the levels of CoQ10 are reduced by up to 70%. The cells then struggle to absorb the energy from the food. And the production of CoQ10 may be additionally hindered – up to 30% - if you are taking statins. Statins are the family of medications, prescribed to regulate high cholesterol. Another age related health issue. It has been discovered that taking in statins brings down the levels of CoQ10 produced in the body, making taking CoQ10 supplements crucial for the cell functions of many people over 50. 

Beta blockers

Some beta blockers, a medication meant to prevent heart attack and hypertension, block the synthesis of a precursor of CoQ10 and with that limit the amounts of CoQ10 in your body.  

There are multiple factors limiting the production or inhibiting the effects of CoQ10 in your body. That is why more often than not it would turn out taking additional CoQ10 will be beneficial for you, as it will bring up the levels of CoQ10 to what your body requires for optimal functioning.

But apart from its default function – to help the mitochondria produce energy, there is strong scientific evidence of the positive effects of CoQ10 to your cardiovascular system.

How is CoQ10 beneficial to your heart?

CoQ10 is a subject of numerous studies, most of which have proven the healing effects they set out to research. 

• One such study discovered that among people who have already had a heart attack, in those who take CoQ10 supplements, the condition is less likely to repeat. The patients who would take the medication would complain less frequently from chest pain.
• Researchers, analyzing 12 clinical studies have discovered evidence taking CoQ10 may lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure respectively with 17 mm Hg and 10 mm Hg.
• Another research is done in the field of congestive heart failure, a condition where the heart is not strong enough to pump blood properly. Blood would concentrate in different parts of the body – the lungs and the legs. CoQ10 would show to be low in the patients’ bloodstream. Taking CoQ10 supplements has shown to reduce the fluid in the lungs, the shortness of breath, and the swelling in the limbs, significantly improving the patients’ quality of life.
• Some evidence suggests CoQ10 reduces the insulin requirement in patients with diabetes and improves the body’s control over high blood sugar.
• Because CoQ10 is low in patients with high cholesterol, taking CoQ10 has been suggested as a treatment for the condition. Even though scientific evidence of the effects has been inconclusive, CoQ10 has been proven to be beneficial to alleviate the symptoms of other high cholesterol treatments.
• One research suggests taking CoQ10 before heart surgery, including bypass and transplantation limits the negative consequences of the procedure on the body (arrhythmias and tissue damage) and shortens the recovery period.

Should you take Coenzyme Q10 supplements?

Unless you take any medication, that would interact with CoQ10, you should consider taking CoQ10 supplements even if you do not have any heart condition – as a prevention. Plus, CoQ10 will bring up your energy, and improve your metabolism.