WHAT IS COENZYME Q10?

 

Coenzyme Q10 or Co Q10 is a vitamin-like substance, present in every cell in our body, which is vital for energy production. But although the body makes its own CoQ10, levels have been found to decrease from the age of 20 onwards.

CoQ10 exists in two forms, ubiquinone (full oxidized form) and ubiquinol (reduced form), which represents more than 90% of the total CoQ10 in the human plasma. [1] 

Lack of energy

Low levels of CoQ10 can result in tiredness, lack of energy and muscle fatigue.  According to Dr. Wendy Denning [2], ‘’One of the most common reasons now, that patients go to see their doctors, is because of lack of energy or tiredness.  CoQ10 is vital for energy production. It is found primarily in the mitochondria of our cells, the power generators, where it helps make energy from the food we eat. In terms of energy, CoQ10 makes a big difference in just a matter of weeks to how people feel.’’

Heart health

Denning continues, ‘’CoQ10 is particularly important to the heart, as the heart requires lots of CoQ10 to keep it pumping all the time. Unlike most cells that just have one mitochondria per cell, the heart muscle may have up to 20 mitochondria per cell to make sure it never fails us. Those mitochondria all require CoQ10 and so lower levels are felt particularly in the heart.’’

Anti-ageing inside and out

Ubiquinol Qu10 also helps defend against the degenerative changes of ageing both inside and out.  It supports brain health and helps protect against age-related memory decline as well as quenching free radicals that damage cells and age the skin.  Denning comments, “CoQ10 is a very powerful antioxidant, decreasing the ageing process in our cells, arteries, hearts, gums and brains.’’

CoQ10 and statin usage

CoQ10 supplementation is recommended by many health practitioners to those using cholesterol-lowering statin medication.  Statin medication lowers CoQ10 levels in the body, which is thought to contribute to side effects such as fatigue, muscle weakness and cardiovascular disease.[3]

Dr. Wendy Denning further explains, “Certain drugs, such as statins, deplete the body of CoQ10 as they block the biochemical pathway in the liver that makes this molecule. So if you are taking a statin, make sure you are taking CoQ10, otherwise you may be at risk of developing heart failure in the future and you will also avoid the adverse risks of muscle aches and weakness so commonly seen with statin usage.’’

 

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References:

[1] Clin Chim Acta. 2003 Jun;332 (1-2); 123-32 2

[2] Dr. Wendy Denning MBBS, MRCGP, DRCOG, CCFP, DCMAc is a Registered GP and Director of The Health Doctors

[3] Am J Cardiol. 2007 May 15;99(10):1409-12 6