Taking a Look at the Unexpected Benefits of CoQ10

CoQ10 or Coenzyme Q10 is a vitamin-like substance your body needs to make energy, even the energy to move your eyes, as you read this article. It helps people with weak hearts, including those with diseases such as cardiomyopathy and heart failure. But what's more, CoQ10 may reduce the frequency of migraine headaches and lower the recurrence of breast cancer.

How does CoQ10 work? Each of the 70 trillion cells in your body contains hundreds of mitochondria-the tiny structures that bread down and burn glucose and fat for energy. Coenzyme Q10 is essential for some of the latter steps in this process, where is shuttles around energy containing electrons.

Health Benefits

Weak Hearts 

Japanese researchers first recognized CoQ10's heart benefits in the 1960s and later some American and European physicians started using it to treat diseases of the heart. In a recent study, Italian doctors noted impressive improvements after four weeks of giving CoQ10 (100mg, three times daily) to 21 patients with severe heart failure. CoQ10 supplements, ranging from 60-300 daily can significantly improve the hearts ability to pump blood.

Migraine Headaches

Peter S. Sandor MD, of the University Hospital,  Zurich, Switzerland, treated 42 patients with a history of migraines, giving them either CoQ10 (100mg, three times daily) of placebos. After three months, half of the patients taking CoQ10 had fewer and shorter headaches and less headache related nausea. Hardly anyone in the placebo group improved. Results of other studies have been similar.

Tinnitus

German doctors found that after treating patients with CoQ10 (100mg, three times daily) for twelve weeks that the incidence of tinnitus (ringing in the ears) had been reduced by 36 percent.

Breast Cancer

Knud Lockwood, MD, who surgically removed breast cancers for 35 years, found that high doses of CoQ10, (almost 400 mg daily) led to remissions in recurrent breast cancers. He wrote that CoQ10 does not have direct anti-tumor properties, but that it probably helps energize the body's anti-cancer cells.

Parkinson's Disease

A study involving 10 hospitals showed that CoQ10 supplements reduced the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Eighty patients were given 300, 600 or 1200mg of CoQ10 or placebos daily for 16 weeks. All of the patients taking CoQ10 had less severe symptoms than those in the placebo group. The highest dose of CoQ10 provided the greatest benefits.

Ataxia

Often inherited, Ataxia affects a person's coordination and ability to use their arms and legs. Researchers reported that 300-3000mg of CoQ10 daily helped patients with a type of hereditary ataxia. The patients' strength and coordination improved and they suffered fewer seizures. Another study of 77 patients with Friedreich's ataxia found benefits from a combination of 400mg of CoQ10 and 2100 IU of natural vitamin E.

Discovery

How CoQ10 works in the production of energy in the body was work that formed the basis of the 1978 Nobel Prize in chemistry, which was awarded to Peter Mitchell, PhD, of England.

Heads up for People Taking Statins

Cholesterol lowering Statins, (such as Lipitor, Zocor and Crestor) inhibit an enzyme involved in the production of cholesterol, which is the same enzyme that makes CoQ10 in the body. In fact some of the side-effects of Statins are a direct result of the reduction in the production of CoQ10.

CoQ10 supplements (240mg)may offset some drug related side effects, such as liver problems and muscle pain, while also improving heart function.

Peace of Mind

CoQ10 is extraordinarily safe and the heart strengthening benefits may decrease requirements for digitalis, ACE inhibitors and other drugs prescribed for your heart by your physician. Work with your doctor when combining CoQ10 with heart-strengthening medicines. There is no problem taking CoQ10 with Statins.

How much should you take?

For general health maintenance, take 25-50mg of CoQ10 daily. If you are past age 50, consider taking 100mg daily. Nutritionally oriented physicians may recommend 300-400mg daily in the treatment of some of the aforementioned conditions. Ubiquinol is the biologically active form, other forms are converted to ubiquinol in the body with about 90% efficiency.

Because CoQ10 is fat soluble, take with food to aid in absorption. Foods which contain CoQ10 include liver, heart and other organ meats, which Americans now rarely eat.

CoQ10 is very safe. However, its heart strengthening benefits may decrease requirements for digitalis, ACE inhibitors and other drugs prescribed for heart failure. Work with your doctor when combining CoQ10 with heart stimulating medications. There is no problem taking CoQ10 with Statin drugs.