People all over the globe are realizing the many benefits of CoQ10, but whether it’s seen as an anti-aging beauty product or a health-restoring supplement depends largely on which side of the Atlantic you’re on.
Coemzyme Q10, also called CoQ10 or Vitamin Q, is a natural vitamin-like substance that exists in all cells. It functions in the cellular mitochondria, the “power plant” of the cell, and its job is to help convert fats and sugars to energy.
In the US the supplement is mainly sold as an internal energy booster and promoted for its potent anti-oxidant properties. Retail studies show that most US consumers consider the coenzyme a health product, a perspective that is reinforced by increasing medical usage of the supplement. US physicians have been using the supplement as an adjunct treatment for Parkinson’s disease and to aid in the recovery from heart surgery.
There is also considerable US emphasis on the coenzyme’s potential for preventing a host of aging-related disorders, ranging from adult-onset diabetes and high cholesterol to macular degeneration and even Alzheimer’s disease.
In Europe, however, though important research on the compound’s health potential are underway the main consumer use for CoQ10 is in skin care products. The powerful anti-oxidant properties of the compound make it an effective agent in restoring youthful looking skin and reversing the signs of aging.
So which is it – a beauty product or a health supplement?
The answer appears to be “both”. Since the body’s production of the substance decreases with age, supplementing the natural production appears to create marked improvements in both organ function and skin appearance in older people. A landmark 2003 Italian study confirmed that a combination of CoQ10 and Vitamin E definitely yielded positive results, with topical application (as opposed to oral consumption) making the most difference in skin appearance. Since that time many other studies have confirmed that finding.
At the same time, ongoing research in the US, Japan, and throughout Europe continues to uncover more and more health benefits of supplementing the body’s production of Coenzyme Q10. An increasing body of research focusing on the supplement’s effect on heart and cardiovascular health has shown that it can significantly improve the health, physical performance, and recovery time of patients who have suffered heart failure.
A recent Japanese study also confirmed that sufficient supplements of the substance can result in marked improvements in the physical performance of healthy people, as well as a reduction in the amount of post-exercise fatigue experienced.
