Is CoQ10 the Miracle Nutrient?

Last Updated on June 28, 2022 by Rebecca Huff

With the cost of healthcare, it's no wonder so many people are looking for dietary supplements to help improve health and prevent disease.

As we get older, our levels of antioxidants decrease, including CoQ10. Studies have already shown the protective effect it has on the aging process.

CoQ10 has often be called the miracle nutrient

CoQ10 has often be called the miracle nutrient and is one of the top recommended heart supplements. So what is coenzyme q10 and should you consider adding it to your roundup of supplements?

CoQ10 is not technically a vitamin, but a vitamin-like compound. (1) It's used by your body to make energy.

Health benefits of CoQ10 supplements may include:

• Improved Energy Levels
• Helps maintain a youthful feeling
• Reduces the number and severity of migraines
• May help prevent and treat gingivitis
• Replaces necessary CoQ10 that has been blocked by statin drugs
• Maintains a healthy blood pressure
• Helps to maintain a healthy cholesterol level
• Promotes heart health
• Promotes arterial health

Officially, there is no Daily Recommended Value of CoQ10, however, most people consider taking a dose of 50 mg and 200 mg.  CoQ10 production in the human body declines with age, so it's important to replenish the supply.  Check with your doctor for an ideal dosage.

There are two types of CoQ10, ubiquinol, and ubiquinone, however, 95 percent of the CoQ10 that naturally exists in your body is ubiquinol. This means that CoQ10 taken in the form of ubiquinol is instantly available for use by your body as energy.

How to take CoQ10

If you're going to supplement with CoQ10 make sure you take it properly.

• Best taken in divided doses with meals
• Best taken with meals that include a little fat

You can find CoQ10 in your local health food shop or online. My source for CoQ10 is Bulk Supplements.

I have personally taken CoQ10 for about eight years as a precaution since I had an abnormal EKG, where my doctor noted some inverted T waves. However, I have since found out that inverted T waves are not uncommon and I am in good health. I do prefer to practice alternative medicine and always look for a way around invasive treatment plans.

In general, “alternative medicine” refers to treatment that is not standard practice in Western medicine.

Creating Energy

Ubiquinone helps our body to metabolize glucose or fatty acids into Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) which is everything we need to function. Our body needs this on a cellular level. It helps transport glucose and fat into the mitochondria so it can be turned into energy. It's important to know this, because you might not have enough, especially as you grow older.

Bottom line: Without CoQ10, our body can't convert food into energy.

Heart Health, Free Radicals and Oxidative stress

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, with one person dying every 36 seconds in the United States from cardiovascular disease. Every 46 seconds someone in the US has a heart attack. 2 Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction are two clear signs of heart failure and lower CoQ10 levels are associated with increasing severity of heart failure symptoms.

Coq10 is such a potent antioxidant that helps to combat oxidative stress at the source (in the mitochondria) which is why it's so powerful. Taking this antioxidant can help to minimize the effects of free radicals and oxidative stress, which in turn will enhance your heart's health.

Reducing High Blood Pressure

The effect it has on blood pressure is also outstanding. In one clinical trial, researchers found that people who took CoQ10 had an outstanding drop in blood pressure.

A review of multiple studies using doses of 34-225 mg found that CoQ10 lowered systolic and diastolic blood pressure by up to 17 and 10 mmHg, respectively, compared to placebo.

Cholesterol and CoQ10 Deficiency

Statin medications also deplete the body of CoQ10, it's a known side-effect. Some doctors recommend supplementation because of the important role CoQ10 plays in energy production as well as reducing muscle pain. (Muscle pain is a commonly reported side effect of some statin drugs.) Although randomized controlled trials show that the results remain unclear, what we do know is that low CoQ10 levels can cause muscle weakness, fatigue, insomnia, chest pain, and other symptoms.

In addition, studies have found that CoQ10 levels are lower in the mitochondria of people with early Parkinson’s disease.

Migraine Headaches

In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, the effects of CoQ10 were shown to be superior in reducing the frequency and intensity of migraines with nausea. 1

Still Being Evaluated

CoQ10 supplementation is still being studied with regard to infertility.

Food Sources of CoQ10

• Salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines, and other fatty fish
• Liver and other organ meats
• Oranges
• Lentils
• Peanuts
• Soybeans (though it's best to only eat nonGMO, fermented soy products)
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Oysters

Unfortunately, you'd have to eat an incredible amount of these foods to acquire the typical daily dose of CoQ10. This is why many practitioners suggest supplementing. Liquid chromatography lab work can be acquired to measure your blood levels of CoQ10. Although,

I recommend DNA testing to determine what types of health conditions you are apt to encounter in life. Genetic testing can determine if you have the “bad gene” for heart conditions, Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, and more. Focusing on wellness is much easier when you know the target you're aiming for!

If you are over the age of 20, your body produces less and levels will decline as you age.

Ubiquinol is the best form of CoQ10. You may see it listed as an oxidized form (ubiquinone) or the reduced form (ubiquinol) on supplement labels.

There is very little risk of overdose, however, you should consult your physician, especially if you are taking other medications.

CoQ10 might make blood-thinning drugs, such as warfarin (Jantoven), less effective. This could increase the risk of a blood clot. 3

Mayo Clinic

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