CoQ10 Supplements for Heart Disease
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) or ubiquinone is a vitamin-like substance important for its role in energy synthesis and as an antioxidant.
It is produced by the human body and is necessary for the basic functioning of cells.
A CoQ10 deficiency is thought to be an underlying cause for a slew of different diseases.
This article will focus on the role of CoQ10 supplements in reducing the risk of heart disease.
CoQ10 Deficiency Patients with chronic diseases such as heart conditions, muscular dystrophy, Parkinson's disease, cancer, and diabetes have remarkably low levels of CoQ10 in their bodies.
Low levels are more common in omnivores than vegetarians.
If dietary intake is not sufficient to fix this, CoQ10 supplements are likely necessary.
CoQ10 deficiency can occur because of a variety of reasons.
CoQ10 production naturally declines as we age.
This continues occurring, and at the age of 40 our body's CoQ10 levels have dropped by about 40%.
A 25% drop in CoQ10 levels is considered to be detrimental to our health.
Insufficient dietary CoQ10, an impairment in biosynthesis, or an excessive utilization of CoQ10 are also causes of deficiency.
Statins, drugs used to treat high cholesterol, may also be responsible for CoQ10 deficiencies.
Since cholesterol and CoQ10 both share the same synthesis pathway, satins block the formation of CoQ10 in the body.
Although this can be tolerated by younger patients, those who are elderly or have a pre-existing cardiac dysfunction will be greatly affected.
CoQ10 supplements can balance the deficiency without blocking the cholesterol lowering ability of the drug.
CoQ10 and Heart Disease Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.
Data from 2007 indicates that stroke accounted for 1 of every 18 deaths in the country.
CoQ10's antioxidant properties are important in reducing the accumulation of oxidized fats in blood vessels, keeping blood pressure low and ultimately preventing arteriosclerosis.
CoQ10 is also a catalyst for the production and transportation of ATP, the energy carrying molecule of the body.
In fact, other than the liver, the heart has the highest demand for CoQ10 in the body because of the energy it needs to carry out proper function.
Low levels of CoQ10 can be found in a majority of patients suffering from heart disease.
The heart becomes weaker with low levels of energy, causing palpitations and higher blood pressure.
Several control studies have been conducted studying the role of CoQ10 supplementation in those with heart failure.
As early as the 1960's, a Japanese study showed that patients with myocardial failure showed a significant improvement by taking daily supplements.
The largest controlled trial was published in 1993 in which 641 patients were randomly assigned either a placebo or CoQ10.
118 people in the control group needed to be hospitalized for heart failure in the one year follow-up as compared to 73 people in the CoQ10 treated group.
Other studies have also shown that CoQ10 supplements can be beneficial for people suffering from hypertension and diastolic dysfunction.
This is important to note since diastolic dysfunction is often a precursor to more advanced stages of cardiac problems.
CoQ10 is also used in a hospital setting, improving the recovery of those who have underwent cardiovascular surgery.
Conclusion CoQ10 supplements have several health benefits.
Hopefully this article helped to demonstrate why CoQ10 is so important for cardiovascular health.
If you have a CoQ10 deficiency, you should consider either changing your diet or adding supplements.
It is produced by the human body and is necessary for the basic functioning of cells.
A CoQ10 deficiency is thought to be an underlying cause for a slew of different diseases.
This article will focus on the role of CoQ10 supplements in reducing the risk of heart disease.
CoQ10 Deficiency Patients with chronic diseases such as heart conditions, muscular dystrophy, Parkinson's disease, cancer, and diabetes have remarkably low levels of CoQ10 in their bodies.
Low levels are more common in omnivores than vegetarians.
If dietary intake is not sufficient to fix this, CoQ10 supplements are likely necessary.
CoQ10 deficiency can occur because of a variety of reasons.
CoQ10 production naturally declines as we age.
This continues occurring, and at the age of 40 our body's CoQ10 levels have dropped by about 40%.
A 25% drop in CoQ10 levels is considered to be detrimental to our health.
Insufficient dietary CoQ10, an impairment in biosynthesis, or an excessive utilization of CoQ10 are also causes of deficiency.
Statins, drugs used to treat high cholesterol, may also be responsible for CoQ10 deficiencies.
Since cholesterol and CoQ10 both share the same synthesis pathway, satins block the formation of CoQ10 in the body.
Although this can be tolerated by younger patients, those who are elderly or have a pre-existing cardiac dysfunction will be greatly affected.
CoQ10 supplements can balance the deficiency without blocking the cholesterol lowering ability of the drug.
CoQ10 and Heart Disease Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.
Data from 2007 indicates that stroke accounted for 1 of every 18 deaths in the country.
CoQ10's antioxidant properties are important in reducing the accumulation of oxidized fats in blood vessels, keeping blood pressure low and ultimately preventing arteriosclerosis.
CoQ10 is also a catalyst for the production and transportation of ATP, the energy carrying molecule of the body.
In fact, other than the liver, the heart has the highest demand for CoQ10 in the body because of the energy it needs to carry out proper function.
Low levels of CoQ10 can be found in a majority of patients suffering from heart disease.
The heart becomes weaker with low levels of energy, causing palpitations and higher blood pressure.
Several control studies have been conducted studying the role of CoQ10 supplementation in those with heart failure.
As early as the 1960's, a Japanese study showed that patients with myocardial failure showed a significant improvement by taking daily supplements.
The largest controlled trial was published in 1993 in which 641 patients were randomly assigned either a placebo or CoQ10.
118 people in the control group needed to be hospitalized for heart failure in the one year follow-up as compared to 73 people in the CoQ10 treated group.
Other studies have also shown that CoQ10 supplements can be beneficial for people suffering from hypertension and diastolic dysfunction.
This is important to note since diastolic dysfunction is often a precursor to more advanced stages of cardiac problems.
CoQ10 is also used in a hospital setting, improving the recovery of those who have underwent cardiovascular surgery.
Conclusion CoQ10 supplements have several health benefits.
Hopefully this article helped to demonstrate why CoQ10 is so important for cardiovascular health.
If you have a CoQ10 deficiency, you should consider either changing your diet or adding supplements.
