CO-Q-10

 

Co-enzyme Q-10 is a fat soluble vitamin-like substance that is found in minute amounts in a variety of foods and although it is synthesized in all tissues, it is found in greater percentages in the heart muscle.

The biosynthesis of Co-Q-10 from the amino acid Tyrosine, is a multi-stage process requiring B-Complex vitamins and several trace minerals. Co-enzymes are co-factors upon which large and complex enzymes absolutely depend for their function.

Co-Q-10 is the Co-enzyme for at least three mitochondrial enzymes, (mitochondria are the power-plants of cells) as well as enzymes in other parts of the cell. Mitochondrial enzymes are essential for the production of the high-energy phosphate, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), upon which all cellular functions depend. Co-Q-10 is critical in the Electron and Proton transfer function, fundamental to all life forms - animals, plants and bacteria.

 

 

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is produced by the human body and is necessary for the basic functioning of cells. CoQ10 levels are reported to decrease with age and to be low in patients with some chronic diseases such as heart conditions, muscular dystrophies, Parkinson's disease, cancer, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS. Some prescription drugs may also lower CoQ10 levels.

Levels of CoQ10 in the body can be increased by taking CoQ10 supplements, although it is not clear that replacing "low CoQ10" is beneficial.

CoQ10 has been used, recommended, or studied for numerous conditions, but remains controversial as a treatment in many areas.

 

Synonyms

 

Andelir®, CoenzymeQ, Co-enzyme Q10, Coenzyme Q (50), CoQ, CoQ10, CoQ(50), Co-Q10, CoQ-10, 2,3 dimethoxy-5 methyl-6-decaprenyl benzoquinone, Heartcin®, idebenone (synthetic analogue), mitoquinone, Neuquinone®, Q10, Taidecanone®, ubidecarenone, ubiquinone, ubiquinone-10, ubiquinone-Q10, Udekinon®, vitamin q10, vitamin Q10.

 

Evidence

These uses have been tested in humans or animals. Safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider.

 

Uses based on scientific evidence Grade*
High blood pressure (hypertension)

Preliminary research suggests that CoQ10 causes small decreases in blood pressure (systolic and possibly diastolic). Low blood levels of CoQ10 have been found in people with hypertension, although it is not clear if CoQ10 "deficiency" is a cause of high blood pressure. It is not known what dose is safe or effective. CoQ10 is less commonly used to treat hypertension than it is for other heart conditions such as congestive heart failure. Well-designed long-term research is needed to strengthen this recommendation.

 

     B
Alzheimer's disease

Promising preliminary evidence from human research suggests that CoQ10 supplements may slow down, but not cure, dementia in people with Alzheimer's disease. Additional well-designed studies are needed to confirm this result before a firm recommendation can be made.

 

     C
Angina (chest pain from clogged heart arteries)

Preliminary small human studies suggest that CoQ10 may reduce angina and improve exercise tolerance in people with clogged heart arteries. Better studies are needed before a firm recommendation can be made.

 

     C
Anthracycline chemotherapy heart toxicity

Anthracycline chemotherapy drugs, such as doxorubicin (Adriamycin®), are commonly used to treat cancers such as breast cancer or lymphoma. Heart damage (cardiomyopathy) is a major concern with the use of anthracyclines, and CoQ10 has been suggested to protect the heart. However, studies in this area are small and not high quality and the effects of CoQ10 remain unclear.

 

     C
Breast cancer

Several studies in women with breast cancer report reduced levels of CoQ10 in diseased breast tissue or blood. It has been suggested by some researchers that raising CoQ10 levels with supplements might be helpful. However, it is not clear if CoQ10 is beneficial in these patients, or if the low levels of CoQ10 may actually be a part of the body's natural response to cancer, helping to fight disease. Supplementation with CoQ10 has not been proven to reduce cancer, and has not been compared to other forms of treatment for breast cancer.

 

     C
Cardiomyopathy (dilated, hypertrophic)

There is conflicting evidence from research on the use of CoQ10 in patients with dilated or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Different levels of disease severity have been studied (New York Heart Association heart failure classes I through IV). Some studies report improved heart function (ejection fraction, stroke volume, cardiac index, exercise tolerance), while others find no improvements. Most trials are small or not well designed. Better research is needed in this area before a recommendation can be made.

 

     C
Exercise performance

The effects of CoQ10 on exercise performance have been tested in athletes, normal healthy individuals, and in people with chronic lung disease. Results are variable, with some research suggesting benefits, and other studies showing no effects. Most trials have not been well-designed. Better research is necessary before a firm conclusion can be drawn.

 

     C
Friedreich's ataxia

Preliminary research reports promising evidence for the use of CQ10 in the treatment of Friedreich's ataxia. Further evidence is necessary before a firm conclusion can be drawn.

 

     C
Gum disease (periodontitis)

Preliminary human studies suggest possible benefits of CoQ10 taken by mouth or placed on the skin or gums in the treatment of periodontitis. Improvements in bleeding, swelling, and pain are reported. However, available studies are small and not high quality. Better research is needed before a conclusion can be drawn.

 

     C
Heart attack (acute myocardial infarction)

There is preliminary human study of CoQ10 given to patients within three days after a heart attack. Reductions in deaths, abnormal heart rhythms, and second heart attacks are reported, although better research is needed before a firm conclusion can be drawn.

 

     C
Heart conditions (mitral valve prolapse in children)

There is early data to support the use of CoQ10 in children with mitral valve prolapse. Well-designed clinical trials are needed before a recommendation can be made.

 

      C
Heart failure

The evidence for CoQ10 in the treatment of heart failure is controversial and remains unclear. Different levels of disease severity have been studied (New York Heart Association classes I through IV). Several studies have shown benefits of coenzyme Q10 in people who have been diagnosed with chronic heart failure (with or without cardiomyopathy), including in transplant recipients. Some studies report improved heart function (ejection fraction, stroke volume, cardiac index, exercise tolerance), while others find no improvements. Most trials are small or not well designed. In some parts of Europe, Russia, and Japan, CoQ10 is considered a part of standard therapy for congestive heart failure patients. Better research is needed in this area, studying effects on quality of life, hospitalization, death rates, before a recommendation can be made.

 

     C
Heart protection during surgery

Several studies suggest that the function of the heart may be improved after major heart surgeries such as coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) or valve replacement when CoQ10 is given to patients before or during surgery. Better studies that measure effects on long-term heart function and survival are necessary before a recommendation can be made.

 

     C
HIV/AIDS

There is limited evidence that natural levels of CoQ10 in the body may be reduced in people with HIV/AIDS. There is no reliable scientific research showing that CoQ10 supplements have any effect on this disease.

 

     C
Increasing sperm count (idiopathic spermatozoa)

There is early evidence that supports the use of CoQ10 in the treatment of increasing sperm count and motility. Better studies are needed before a strong recommendation can be made.

 

     C
Kidney failure

There is initial data from one small trial to support the use of CoQ10 in the treatment of kidney (renal) failure. More research is needed before a recommendation can be made

 

     C
Migraine

There is fair evidence to support the use of CoQ10 treatment in migraine prevention or treatment. However, more well-designed studies are needed to confirm these findings.

 

     C
Mitochondrial diseases and Kearns-Sayre syndrome

COQ10 is often recommended for patients with mitochondrial diseases, including myopathies, encephalomyopathies, and Kearns-Sayre syndrome. Several early studies report improvements in metabolism and physical endurance in patients with these conditions after treatment with CoQ10, although most available research is not high quality or definitive. Better studies are needed before a strong recommendation can be made.

 

     C
Muscular dystrophies

Preliminary studies in patients with muscular dystrophy taking COQ10 supplements describe improvements in exercise capacity, heart function, and overall quality of life. Additional research is needed in this area.

 

     C
Parkinson's disease

There is promising human evidence for the use of CoQ10 in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Better-designed trials are needed to confirm these results.

 

     C
Diabetes

Preliminary evidence suggests that CoQ10 does not affect blood sugar levels in patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, and does not alter the need for diabetes medications.

 

     D
Huntington's disease

There is negative evidence from studies that used CoQ10 in the treatment of Huntington's disease.

    D
 

 

Key to grades
A Strong scientific evidence for this use
B Good scientific evidence for this use
C Unclear scientific evidence for this use
D Fair scientific evidence against this use (it may not work)
F Strong scientific evidence against this use (it likely does not work)
 

Uses based on tradition or theory

The below uses are based on tradition or scientific theories. They often have not been thoroughly tested in humans, and safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider.

 

Abnormal heart rhythms, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), antioxidant, asthma, atherosclerosis, Bell's palsy, blood flow disorders, breathing difficulties, cancer, cerebellar ataxia, chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), deafness, gingivitis, hair loss (and hair loss from chemotherapy), heart irregular beats, hepatitis B, high cholesterol, immune system diseases, infertility, insomnia, kidney failure, leg swelling (edema), life extension, liver enlargement or disease, lung cancer, lung disease, macular degeneration, MELAS syndrome, metastatic disease, MIDD (maternally inherited diabetes mellitus and deafness), muscle wasting, nutrition, obesity, Papillon-Lefevre Syndrome, physical performance, prevention of muscle damage from "statin" cholesterol-lowering drugs, psychiatric disorders, QT-interval shortening; reduction of phenothiazine drug side effects, reduction of tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) drug side effects, stomach ulcer, swelling.

 

Dosing

The below doses are based on scientific research, publications, traditional use, or expert opinion. Many herbs and supplements have not been thoroughly tested, and safety and effectiveness may not be proven. Brands may be made differently, with variable ingredients, even within the same brand. The below doses may not apply to all products. You should read product labels, and discuss doses with a qualified healthcare provider before starting therapy.

Standardization

Standardization involves measuring the amount of certain chemicals in products to try to make different preparations similar to each other. It is not always known if the chemicals being measured are the "active" ingredients. CoQ10 products sold in stores have been found to contain variable amounts of claimed ingredients. Early studies used low doses, while more recent research suggests that higher doses may be safe and have greater effects.

 

Adults (18 years and older)

By mouth (oral) :

General : 50-1200 milligrams of CoQ10 have been taken in divided doses by mouth daily.

 

On the skin (topical) :

Gum disease (periodontitis) : 85 milligrams of CoQ10 per milliliter of soybean oil suspension has been applied to the surface of affected areas once weekly using a plastic syringe, in one study.

 

Through the veins (intravenous) :

Heart protection during surgery : Most studies of CoQ10 for heart protection during bypass surgery have used CoQ10 taken by mouth. One study used intravenous CoQ10, 5 milligrams per kilogram of body weight, given 2 hours prior to surgery. Safety is not clear. Any therapies used close to the time of surgery should be discussed with the surgeon and a pharmacist prior to starting.

 

Children (younger than 18 years)

There is not enough scientific information to recommend the safe use of Coenzyme Q10 in children. A qualified healthcare provider should be consulted before considering use.

 

Safety

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not strictly regulate herbs and supplements. There is no guarantee of strength, purity or safety of products, and effects may vary. You should always read product labels. If you have a medical condition, or are taking other drugs, herbs, or supplements, you should speak with a qualified healthcare provider before starting a new therapy. Consult a healthcare provider immediately if you experience side effects.

Allergies

In theory, allergic reactions to supplements containing CoQ10 may occur.

 

Side Effects and Warnings

There are few serious reported side effects of CoQ10. Side effects are typically mild and brief, stopping without any treatment needed. Reactions may include nausea, vomiting, stomach upset, heartburn, diarrhea, loss of appetite, skin itching, rash, insomnia, headache, dizziness, irritability, increased light sensitivity of the eyes, fatigue, or flu-like symptoms.

CoQ10 may lower blood sugar levels. Caution is advised in patients with diabetes or hypoglycemia, and in those taking drugs, herbs, or supplements that affect blood sugar. Serum glucose levels may need to be monitored by a healthcare provider, and medication adjustments may be necessary.

Low blood platelet number was reported in one person taking CoQ10. However, other factors (viral infection, other medications) may have been responsible. Lowering of platelets may increase the risk of bruising or bleeding, although there are no known reports of bleeding from CoQ10. Caution is advised in people who have bleeding disorders or who are taking drugs that increase the risk of bleeding. Dosing adjustments may be necessary.

CoQ10 may decrease blood pressure, and caution is advised in patients with low blood pressure or taking blood pressure medications. Elevations of liver enzymes have been reported rarely, and caution is advised in people with liver disease or taking medications that may harm the liver. CoQ10 may lower blood levels of cholesterol or triglycerides. Thyroid hormone levels may be altered based on one study.

Organ damage due to lack of oxygen/blood flow during intense exercise has been reported in a study of patients with heart disease, although the specific role of CoQ10 is not clear. Vigorous exercise is often discouraged in people using CoQ10 supplements.

 

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

There is not enough scientific evidence to support the safe use of CoQ10 during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

 

 

 

Treatment of the heart disease with
Coenzyme Q10

 

CoQ10 is known to be highly concentrated in heart muscle cells due to the high energy requirements of this cell type. For the past 14 years, the great bulk of clinical work with CoQ10 has focused on heart disease. Specifically, congestive heart failure has been strongly correlated with significantly low blood and tissue levels of CoQ10. The severity of heart failure correlates with the severity of CoQ10 deficiency. This CoQ10 deficiency may well be a primary etiologic factor in some types of heart muscle dysfunction while in others it may be a secondary phenomenon. Whether primary, secondary or both, this deficiency of CoQ10 appears to be a major treatable factor in the otherwise inexorable progression of heart failure.

Pioneering trials of CoQ10 in heart failure involved primarily patients with dilated weak heart muscle of unknown cause (idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy). CoQ10 was added to standard treatments for heart failure such as fluid pills (diuretics), digitalis preparations (Lanoxin), and ACE inhibitors. Several trials involved the comparison between supplemental CoQ10 and placebo on heart function as measured by echocardiography. CoQ10 was given orally in divided doses as a dry tablet chewed with a fat containing food or an oil based gel cap swallowed at mealtime. Heart function, as indicated by the fraction of blood pumped out of the heart with each beat (the ejection fraction), showed a gradual and sustained improvement in tempo with a gradual and sustained improvement in patients' symptoms of fatigue, dyspnea, chest pain, and palpitations. The degree of improvement was occasionally dramatic with some patients developing a normal heart size and function on CoQ10 alone.

Most of these dramatic cases were patients who began CoQ10 shortly after the onset of congestive heart failure. Patients with more established disease frequently showed clear improvement but not a return to normal heart size and function. Internationally, there have been at least nine placebo controlled studies on the treatment of heart disease with CoQ10: two in Japan, two in the United States, two in Italy, two in Germany, and one in Sweden. All nine of these studies have confirmed the effectiveness of CoQ10 as well as its remarkable safety.

There have now been eight international symposia on the biomedical and clinical aspects of CoQ10 (from 1976 through 1993). These eight symposia comprised over 300 papers presented by approximately 200 different physicians and scientists from 18 different countries. The majority of these scientific papers were Japanese (34%), with American (26%), Italian (20%) and the remaining 20% from Sweden, Denmark, Germany, United Kingdom, Belgium, Australia, Austria, France, India, Korea, Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland, USSR, and Finland. The majority of the clinical studies concerned the treatment of heart disease and were remarkably consistent in their conclusions: that treatment with CoQ10 significantly improved heart muscle function while producing no adverse effects or drug interactions.

The efficacy and safety of CoQ10 in the treatment of congestive heart failure, whether related to primary cardiomyopathies or secondary forms of heart failure, appears to be well established. The largest study to date is the Italian multicenter trial, by Baggio et al., involving 2664 patients with heart failure. The most recent work in heart failure examined the effect of CoQ10 on diastolic dysfunction, one of the earliest identifiable signs of myocardial failure that is often found in mitral valve prolapse, hypertensive heart disease and certain fatigue syndromes. Diastolic dysfunction might be considered the common denominator and a basic cause of symptoms in these three diagnostic groups of disease. Diastole is the filling phase of the cardiac cycle. Diastolic function has a larger cellular energy requirement than the systolic contraction and, therefore, the process of diastolic relaxation is more highly energy dependent and thus more highly dependent on CoQ10.

In simpler terms, it takes more energy to fill the heart than to empty it. Diastolic dysfunction is a stiffening of the heart muscle which interferes with the heart's ability to function as an effective pump. It is seen early in the course of many common cardiac disorders and is demonstrable by echocardiography. This stiffening returns towards normal with supplemental CoQ10 in tempo with clinical improvement. It is important to note that in all of the above clinical trials, CoQ10 was used in addition to traditional medical treatments, not to their exclusion. In one study by Langsjoen et al, of 109 patients with essential hypertension, 51% were able to stop between one and three antihypertensive drugs at an average of 4.4 months after starting CoQ10 treatment while the overall New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class improved significantly from a mean of 2.40 to 1.36.Hypertension is reduced when diastolic function improves.

In another study, there was a gradual and sustained decrease in dosage or discontinuation of concomitant cardiovascular drug therapy: Of 424 patients with cardiovascular disease, 43% were able to stop between one and three cardiovascular drugs with CoQ10 therapy. The authors conclude that the vitamin-like substance, CoQ10, "may be ushering in the new era of cellular/biochemical treatment of disease, complementing and extending the systems-oriented, macro and microscopic approach that has served us well to this point".

 

 

CO-ENZYME Q-10 DEFICIENCY

 

Normal blood and tissue levels of Co-Q-10 have been well established by numerous investigators around the world. Significantly decreased levels of Co-Q-10 have been noted in a wide variety of diseases in both animals and human studies. Co-Q-10 deficiency may be caused by insufficient dietary Co-Q-10, impairment in Co-Q-10 biosynthesis, excessive utilization of Co-Q-10 by the body, or a combination of the three. Dr. Karl Folkers takes the position that the dominant source of Co-Q-10 in Man is biosynthesis. This complex 17 step process using all the B-Complex vitamins including several trace elements, is, by its nature, highly vulnerable. Dr. Folkers argues that average ìnormalî levels of Co-Q-10 are really sub-optimal and the very low levels observed in advanced disease states, represent on the tip of the deficiency "ice berg".

 

 

HEART DISEASE AND CO-Q-10

 

Drugs used to treat elevated cholesterol levels, also block the biosynthesis of Co-Q-10 in the heart muscle, where it is needed most.

Co-Q-10 is known to be highly concentrated in heart muscle cells due to the high energy requirements of this cell type. For the past 14 years, the great bulk of clinical work with Co-Q-10 has focused on heart disease. Specifically congestive heart failure has been strongly correlated with significantly low blood and tissue levels of Co-Q-10. The severity of heart failure correlates with the severity of Co-Q-10 deficiency. This deficiency of Co-Q-10 appears to be a major treatable factor in the progression of heart failure.

According to Dr. Julian Whitaker, Co-Q-10 is the most powerful treatment of cardiomyopathy available. He states that it increases the survival rate of cardiomyopathy patients tenfold, compared to the combined therapy of ACE inhibitors, diuretics and digitalis drugs. Several trials showed the gradual and sustained improvement in the blood pumped out of the heart as well as improvement in fatigue, chest pain and palpitations.

 

 

 
Co-Q-10 ESSENTIAL TO ALL CELLS
 
 
 
Since Co-Q-10 is necessary for optimal function of all cells, it is not surprising to learn of the diverse number of diseases which respond favorably to Co-Q-10.

Disease states that involve immune dysfunction, have been recognized to have low levels of Co-Q-10. Q-10 is a powerful antioxidant and can greatly reduce oxidative damage to tissues as well as inhibit oxidation of LDL cholesterol. Co-Q-10 protects the mitochondria, the power-house of the cell, from free radical damage. Co-Q-10 is LIFE FORCE.

Coenzyme Q-10 plays an important role in the production of energy within each cell of the human body.

Coenzyme Q-10(Ubiquinone) is a naturally-occurring cofactor in the electron transport chain, the biochemical pathway in cellular respiration, from which ATP and most of the body's energy are derived. Co Q-10 is considered essential for the health of all the body's cells, tissues, and organs. Coenzyme Q10 is found in every cell in the human body and is key to the process that produces 95% of the energy consumed at the cellular level.

Coenzyme Q-10 acts as part of another class of substances, known as enzymes. These important compounds are proteins found in plants, animals, humans - all living things. Their role is to facilitate, to act as catalysts, in countless chemical reactions that take place in the human body. In essence, they make reactions happen without themselves being consumed in the reaction. When calcium is turned into bone, an enzyme makes the reaction possible, but the enzyme itself does not end up becoming part of the bone. When we digest our food, when we flex a muscle, when our heart beats, in some way an enzyme is playing a key role.

Enzymes consist of two parts, a protein portion made up of one of a variety of amino acids, and a cofactor portion that is either a mineral (like calcium, magnesium, or zinc) or a vitamin. When a vitamin, the vitamin is called a coenzyme.

Coenzyme Q10 is a naturally occurring vitamin-like molecule that has a structure similar to vitamin K. As part of an enzyme, it acts as a catalyst in the vital biochemical pathway that leads to cellular energy production. Specifically, every cell must have a special substance known as ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which provides all the cell's energy. The energy obtained from the food we eat is used to make this fuel for the cells, and when a cell needs energy, it breaks the bonds that hold the ATP molecule together. When this chemical bond is broken, it releases energy equivalent to approx. 7,000 calories, more than twice the energy a person consumes in an entire day. However, the body, at any given time, only stores enough ATP to sustain vigorous activity for 5 - 8 minutes. Thus, ATP must be produced constantly, and for this ATP to be produced, there must be a ready supply of CoQ10.

This explains why, in particular, COQ10 is found in high concentrations in muscle cells and especially in the muscles that form the heart - because the heart is constantly in motion, it creates a great demand for energy, and at the same time, a need for the CoQ10 to create it.

Various studies have found that as we age our body's supply of CoQ10 slowly diminishes. Clearly, it is beneficial to provide the body with an adequate supply of this important nutrient.

Coenzyme Q-10 is an important part of the "anti-oxidant network", described by Dr. Lester Packer of the U. of California at Berkeley. Isolated in its pure form in 1957, researchers have found it to be an essential substance in cell respiration, electron transfer, and the control of oxidation reactions. A recent review of its therapeutic benefits suggests CoEnzyme Q10 may become a standard therapy for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease, including angina pectoris and congestive heart falure. CoEnzyme Q10 deficiency has been reported in 60% to 96% of patients with gingivitis. Deficient levels of CoEnzyme Q10 have been found in diabetes mellitus, periodontal disease and muscular dystrophy. No serious side effects have been reported with long term clinical use of CoEnzyme Q10.

 

 

Cardiovascular disease is still the largest killer of both men and women in the US. More than 950, 000 Americans die of heart disease and stroke every year, accounting for more deaths than cancer, accidents and AIDS combined. Whether is is stress, bad eating habits or smoking which brings on the degeneration of the heart, this amazing organ keeps pumping away day and night without your prompting. Isn't it time to repay the favor, and provide it with the special nutrients which will help it to keep serving you?

CoQ-10 is the world's most comprehensive cardiovascular support supplement. It is also the best selling cardio-vascular prescription drug in Japan. It is widely recommended to repair heart damage and to boost the function of the heart, as well as in preventative use to safeguard against heart attacks and valve damage. It has also been shown to be beneficial in breast and lung cancer, as well as helping to maintain cognitive function.

This is what Dr. Andrew Weil has to say about 'standard' CoQ10:" In addition, because I eat a mostly vegetarian diet low in zinc, I take a supplement of that mineral as well (30mg a day). I also take the supplement coenzyme Q (100mg a day) which increases aerobic activity and protects the heart muscle. While coenzyme Q does occur naturally in all fruits and vegetables, again, it is difficult to get enough of it on a daily basis from food alone. Men who have proven coronary heart disease should consider taking 300mg of coenzyme Q a day, as should women with breast cancer, since this dosage has been shown to increase survival times in women with that disease."

Dr. James E Balch recommends it as an essential nutrient  saying it "Prevents additional heart damage caused by lack of oxygen".

CoQ-10 is an enzyme found in all cells of the body. It occurs naturally, and is the co-factor in the electron transport chain between cells. If is is lacking, the body's most important source of cellular energy is depleted, and many medical conditions are aggravated. It is most concentrated in the heart and liver, and is a vital component in the mitochondria, the body's metabolic factories.

It is a powerful antioxidant, scavenging free radicals, sitting in the membranes with Vitamin E which it recycles to keep it most active.

 

It has been shown that enhancing the body's CoQ-10 can:

  • Reduce many of the serious side effects of cholesterol and other prescription drugs such as adriamycin, beta    blockers and psychiatric drugs.

  •  

  • Reduce the effects of aging

  •  

  • Aid in the recovery from a wide range of heart problems including angina pectoris, congestive heart failure and mitral valve prolapse.

  •  

  • Can reduce blood pressure and blood lipids at 60 mg day.

  •  

  • Assists chronic fatigue sufferers when administered at 100 to 300 mg per day.

  •  

  • Assists in weight loss by stimulating mitochrondria and thermogenic activity

  •  

  • Treating chronic gum disease

  •  

  • Building a strong immune system as a defense against all forms of disease

  •  

  • May normalize blood sugar levels

  •  

  • Help maintain a healthy brain

    •  


     

    Dr. Richard Passwater, Phd., reports in 'Whole Foods Magazine', November 2001, "Overall, I am aware of more than 800 prostate cancer patients who have been treated with CoQ-10, all with uniformly good results." In the same article, author and biochemist Wayne Martin noted successes with CoQ-10 treatment of breast cancer and Parkinson's Disease, especially with long-term usage. In the October 2002 issue of Archives of Neurology a small but promising study reported that CoQ-10 helped to slow progression of Parkinson's. The researchers theorize that CoQ-10 may protect nerve cell function in some yet undiscovered way.

     

     

     

    Preliminary Study Shows High-Dose Coenzyme Q10 Slows Functional Decline In Parkinson's Patients

     

     

    A national clinical trial with 80 Parkinson's disease patients has shown that high dosages of a naturally occurring compound, coenzyme Q10, slowed by 44 percent the progressive deterioration in function that occurs in the disease. The greatest benefit was seen in everyday activities such as feeding, dressing, bathing and walking.

    The study's coordinators caution that while encouraging, the therapy needs to be tested in a larger trial with hundreds of patients before this treatment can be recommended.

    Published in the Oct. 15, 2002 issue of the American Medical Association's Archives of Neurology, the study was conducted at 10 sites by the Parkinson Study Group, under the direction of principal investigator Clifford Shults, M.D., professor of neurosciences, University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine, and chief of the Neurology Service at the VA San Diego Healthcare System. Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the brain in which patients develop tremor, slowness of movement and stiffness of muscles. It affects approximately 1 percent of Americans over the age of 65. Although certain drugs, such as levodopa, can reduce the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, no treatment has been shown to slow the progressive deterioration in function.

    The selection of coenzyme Q10 as a potential treatment for Parkinson's was based on work carried out over the past decade by Shults, Richard Haas, M.D., UCSD professor of neurosciences, and Flint Beal, M.D., professor and chair of neurology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University.

    Shults explained that mitochondria produce the energy-containing molecules that supply energy to chemical reactions in cells and that coenzyme Q10 plays an integral role in that process. He further explained that coenzyme Q10 is also a potent antioxidant. Over the past several years, research by Shults, Haas and Beal showed that mitochondrial function is impaired in patients with Parkinson's disease and coenzyme Q10 levels are reduced in the mitochondria of Parkinsonian patients. Beal and Shults studied coenzyme Q10 in an animal model of Parkinson's disease and found that it could protect the part of the brain affected by the disorder.

    "Coenzyme Q10 plays a crucial role in normal mitochondrial function both as a component of the electron transport chain which makes cellular energy and as a molecule with antioxidant and pro-oxidant properties," Haas said. "Recently, several rare mitochondrial diseases affecting younger people resulting from coenzyme Q10 deficiency have been described. These patients may respond dramatically to coenzyme Q10 treatment. Tissue coenzyme Q10 levels fall with aging and we do not know why this occurs. The normal lower levels of Coenzyme Q10 in older individuals may be a contributing factor in the progression of some diseases of aging."

    In the Parkinson Study Group national clinical trial, 80 Parkinsonian patients who had early disease and did not yet need medications typically used to treat Parkinson's disease (such as levodopa), were randomly assigned to receive coenzyme Q10 four times a day at a dosage of 300, 600 or 1200 mg/day, or a placebo, also taken four times a day. Prior to beginning the study, the patients were evaluated with a medical history, physical exam, laboratory tests, and a battery of clinical assessments of Parkinson's disease. Participants were reevaluated with tests to assess the severity of the Parkinson's disease at regular intervals and followed until the time that they needed treatment with medications used to treat the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, or for a maximum of 16 months.

    By the eighth month visit, the scores among the four groups had clearly separated and established a pattern of the groups taking the lowest and intermediate dosages (300 and 600 mg/day) being similar and lower than placebo and the scores for the group receiving the highest dosage (1200 mg/day) being substantially lower than the other groups. The lower score reflected less impairment and better function. This pattern persisted to the end of the study. The benefit was seen in assessment of mental function and mood, activities of daily living and motor skills.

    If the drug had merely been ameliorating symptoms – while the disease continued unchecked to kill nerve cells – the researchers would have expected the initial, first-month check-up to reveal improvement in the coenzyme Q10 groups. Since that was not the case, Shults hypothesized that the drug might have slowed the underlying progression of the disease over the 16-month period of the study. However, Shults cautioned that a study with a larger number of patients might reveal a small amelioration of symptoms early. Shults also stressed that the study was designed to look at the function of the patients and was not designed to look at whether groups treated with coenzyme Q10 did, in fact, have less damage to the nerve cells that are affected in Parkinson's disease. He and his colleagues hope to look at damage to the nerve cells in a larger study.

    In appraising the results of the clinical trial, Shults noted that "while it is tremendously encouraging that our results indicate that it is likely that coenzyme Q10 slows the progression of Parkinson's disease, our study did not have sufficient numbers of patients to unequivocally prove that it does. It would be premature to recommend that patients with Parkinson's disease take high doses of coenzyme Q10."

    Shults and the Parkinson Study Group are developing a proposal to carry out a larger study to confirm their results. He added that an equally important outcome of the recently completed clinical trial was that it provided an efficient design for studies, such as this one, of drugs that might slow the progression of Parkinson's disease. The design was based on previous studies carried out by the Parkinson Study Group and developed by David Oakes, Ph.D., biostatistician for the study and chair of the Department of Biostatistics at the University of Rochester, in collaboration with Shults and Drs. Ira Shoulson and Karl Kieburtz of the University of Rochester

     
     

    Vitamin Treatment For Hereditary Ataxia Brings Dramatic Improvements

    ST. PAUL, MN -- Researchers have discovered a new treatment for one form of the rare disorder hereditary ataxia that has resulted in remarkable improvements, according to a study in the April 10 issue of Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

    "An 8-year-old boy who was confined to a wheelchair was able to walk independently after the treatment, and a 20-year-old woman was able to work outside the home for the first time," said study author and neurologist Salvatore DiMauro, MD, of Columbia University in New York, NY.

    Hereditary ataxia is a genetic neurological disorder that affects coordination. Patients have difficulty with balance, coordination of arms and legs and speech. Some patients also develop seizures. The disease often causes deterioration of the cerebellum, the area of the brain that controls coordination.

    The researchers discovered that some patients with hereditary ataxia have a decreased level of coenzyme Q10, or CoQ10, in their muscles. CoQ10, also called ubiquinone, is a vitamin-like substance that plays a key role in the production of energy within cells. It is naturally present in small amounts in various foods.

    For the study, the researchers identified people with hereditary ataxia with no known genetic cause. CoQ10 levels were low among the six patients identified -- about 70 percent lower than normal. The patients were then given daily supplements of CoQ10, ranging from 300 mg to 3,000 mg.

    "All of the patients improved with the CoQ10," DiMauro said. "They got stronger, their ataxia improved and their seizures either stopped or happened less often.

    One year after they started taking CoQ10, the patients' scores improved by an average of 25 percent on an ataxia scale measuring their balance, speech and movement. Five of the patients were unable to walk before receiving CoQ10; after treatment all were able to walk with some assistance, such as a rolling walker.

    There are many forms of hereditary ataxia, also called hereditary spinocerebellar ataxia, or SCA. These patients did not have the autosomal dominant forms of SCA (SCA1 to SCA5) or Friedreich's ataxia.

    "Our findings suggest that CoQ10 deficiency is a potentially important cause of some forms of familial ataxia and it should be considered when diagnosing this condition," DiMauro said. "Where low levels are found, treatment to replace the missing CoQ10 should be aggressive and begin early."

     

     

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