CoQ10 - Heart failure supplement

CoQ10, also known as coenzyme Q-10, is a vitamin like compound that is found within every cell in the human body and is essential for the production of energy within all cells.

 

CoQ10 works in the human body similarly to Vitamin E, in that it reduces harmful free-radicals, functioning as an antioxidant, thus protecting cells.

 

Our body naturally produces CoQ-10 to produce energy and help protect from potentially harmful chemicals. It is made in our body, within a cell organelle called mitochondria and is most concentrated in the energy–demanding heart, brain and muscle systems. Unfortunately, CoQ10 levels decrease with age (starting at 35 years).

 

Some people advocate use of CoQ-10 supplements for various medical conditions based on its functions in the body. The strongest evidence of benefit for CoQ-10 supplementation relates to effects in heart failure, high blood pressure and reducing side effects of cholesterol-lowering statin drugs, although use is not routinely recommended.

 

Congestive Heart Failure

 

For many years, medical researchers have noticed that patients with heart failure had lower levels of CoQ10. Supplementing with CoQ10 restored their levels and also resulted in clinical improvements. This is because weakening or disease of the heart muscle can lead to congestive heart failure. With this condition, the pumping ability of the heart cannot keep up with the demands of the body. The heart has a relatively high CoQ-10 requirement because of its high energy needs.

 

As the highest concentration of CoQ10 is found in the heart, it has become a tool in the prevention of heart disease and congestive heart failure in at-risk individuals. CoQ10 is also known to play a vital role in other elements of cardiovascular health by lowering blood viscosity, inhibiting the formation of blood clots in the arteries, and keeping blood pressure at a healthy level.

 

According to February 2013 issue of "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition", CoQ10 supplementation from 60 to 300 mg daily for 4 to 24 weeks was found to increase heart pumping capacity and reduce disease severity. The authors concluded, however, that additional larger studies are still needed to determine potential benefits of CoQ-10 supplements for heart failure.

 

Other functions include improving immune system.

 

Immune system cells divide more rapidly than most cells, and they are in constant need of repair and maintenance. All of this work requires energy reserves and CoQ10 is a critical co–factor in our energy–production pathways. In both animal and human studies, CoQ10 has compensated for immune deficiencies caused by aging or disease.

 

Co–Q10 is present in the foods we eat. Rich dietary sources include almonds, ocean salmon, sardines, spinach and certain meats:

 

1. Pork heart, reindeer meat and beef heart are the three foods with the highest amounts of CoQ10. Other meat products with CoQ10 include pork, beef liver, beef, pork liver and ham. Frying meats tends to reduce their coenzyme Q10 levels.

 

2. Soybean, rapeseed, sesame, cottonseed and corn oils all have high amounts of CoQ10. Oils with lesser amounts of it include sunflower, oil and safflower oils.

 

3. Sardine, mackerel, cuttlefish, yellow tail, tuna, herring and pollock have moderate to high amounts of CoQ10. Eel, trout and flatfish also contain a small amount of it.

 

4. Soybeans, peanut, sesame seeds, pistachios, walnuts, azuki beans and hazelnuts contain moderate to high amounts of CoQ10. Almonds and chestnuts have a small to moderate amount of it.

 

5. Chicken has a moderate amount of it. Boiling chicken retains more of it in the meat than frying. Eggs have a small amount of it.

 

6. Several vegetables contain small to moderate amounts of CoQ10, including spinach, broccoli, sweet potato, sweet pepper, garlic, peas, cauliflower and carrots.

 

As a complete understanding of CoQ10 is still a work in progress, scientists are tantalized by the possibilities of the compound as a potential treatment for cancer and AIDS. For example, since 1960s, researchers have been aware that people who suffered from various types of cancers also had significantly lower-than-normal levels of CoQ10 in their systems.