With more and more people taking cholesterol-reducing drugs known as statins, CoQ10 deficiency is becoming a greater risk.

Nearly 60 million people in the US are taking prescription statin medications such as Lipitor, Crestor, Zocol and others to reduce cholesterol levels. High levels of cholesterol can lead to atherosclerosis, a condition in which plaque builds up in arteries and blocks blood flow.

While statin drugs have proven to be very effective at lowering blood cholesterol levels, their action also interferes with the metabolism of coemzyme Q10, also known as CoQ10 or Ubiquinone. A growing body of evidence suggests that the depletion of this crucial substance may pose significant health risks, particularly for individuals with impaired cardiac function.

CoQ10 is a naturally-occurring nutrient that is present in every cell in the body. It’s primary function is the production of energy at the cellular level, but it is also known to be a powerful  antioxidant, capable of reducing and even repairing damage done by free radicals (unstable molecules that are produced when cells interact with oxygen). Free radical damage has been shown to play a major role in a host of diseases and disorders, particularly those associated with aging.

CoQ10 Deficiency Can Negatively Impact Heart Health

Research shows that coenzyme Q10 is absolutely crucial to heart health. It’s energy-producing capabilities enhance the action of the heart muscle, making the heart operate more efficiently. Clinical studies indicate that supplemental coQ10 taken after a heart attack can significantly reduce the risk of subsequent heart attacks, and supplementation before heart surgery is believed to lower risk of arrythmias and other complications and shorten recovery time.

The potential of statin drugs interfering with CoQ10 metabolism is particularly worrying in light of the fact that production of the coemzyme is known to decrease as we age. Statin drugs are most commonly prescribed for patients over 50, who may be already deficient in the coemzyme.

If You’re Taking Statins, Should You Take Supplemental CoQ10?

Though CoQ10 supplements are generally very safe, people taking statin drugs should consult their physicians before making a decision on whether or not supplements are needed. This is particularly important because no standard RDA for the coenzyme has been set. In research and clinical trials “typical” dosage is generally considered to be somewhere between 30 and 90 mgs daily, but some research indicates best results are achieved with much higher dosages.

No official position on the statins-CoQ10 connection has been taken by US authorities, Canadian health authorities require that statins sold in Canada carry a precautionary warning regarding CoQ10 depletion.

Medically defined as a condition in which the pressure of the blood in the arteries is chronically elevated, hypertension or high blood pressure is one of the most common health problems worldwide. It is estimated that one in four adults has hypertension, but since it is largely a symptomless condition it is often undiagnosed and untreated.

Uncontrolled high blood pressure is a major contributing factor in a host of health problems, including strokes, heart attacks, and heart and kidney failure. Though people of all ages may experience hypertension, the risk factor increases sharply with age.

Though drugs such as diuretics and enzyme blockers are frequently prescribed for hypertension, successful treatment generally depends largely on lifestyle changes such as losing weight, smoking cessation, limiting the amount of salt in the diet, and reducing stress levels.

An increasing body of research indicates that supplemental CoQ10 can also play an important role in the management of hypertension. A naturally occurring vitamin-like substance found in every cell, coenzyme Q10 is crucial to the production of energy. It is also a powerful antioxidant, capable of neutralizing or even reversing cellular damage. Studies have shown that both of these functions make CoQ10 a valuable alternative or adjunct therapy for high blood pressure.

Energy Booster for Stronger, More Efficient Hearts
Hypertension makes the heart work harder to pump the blood through the body, and it is a recognized factor in many forms of heart disease. Maintaining adequate CoQ10 levels supplies additional energy to the heart, helping it work better and more efficiently. The coenzyme is also believed to improve membrane fluidity, which in turn lowers blood pressure by reducing blood viscosity.

The coemzyme has long been recognized as a key to improving heart health. Numerous clinical studies have shown that patients who received daily CoQ10 supplements within 3 days of a heart attack were significantly less likely to experience subsequent heart attacks and chest pain, and were less likely to die of heart disease than those who did not receive the supplements.

New research published in the Southern Medical Journal suggests that CoQ10 supplements can actually lower blood pressure. In a clinical trial that monitored 83 people with isolated systolic hypertension, those who took 60 mg CoQ10 supplements daily showed an average 18-point reduction in systolic blood pressure while those who took placebos showed only a 2-point reduction.

Antioxidant Properties Repair and Prevent Cardiovascular Damage
The coenzyme’s antioxidant properties have also been proven effective in the maintenance of cardiovascular health, preventing and even repairing damage. Antioxidants neutralize the effects of free radicals, which are chemically imbalanced molecules created when cells interact with oxygen. Free radical damage has been implicated in almost all age-related diseases and conditions, including cardiovascular problems.

CoQ10′s antioxidant properties are also believed to help maintain the suppleness and flexibility of veins and arteries, making them stronger and more efficient at delivering blood throughout the body.

Experts vary in their recommendations for optimum CoQ10 dosage, with some claiming high amounts are needed to achieve maximum results while others say that smaller amounts are the best and safest route.

Coenzyme Q10 is a naturally occurring substance that is found in every cell and is essential to the biochemical process of energy production.

It is also a powerful antioxidant, capable of preventing and even reversing the negative effects of free radical damage. Free radicals are unstable molecules that scavenge the cells with which they interact. Free radical damage has been implicated in many serious diseases and conditions, including most age-related problems.

Though the body naturally creates the coenzyme, production reaches its peak when people are in their twenties and decreases as we age.

A growing body of research has proven that in many cases CoQ10 supplements can have a huge positive impact, but questions remain about the amount of supplementation needed to achieve maximum CoQ10 benefits. No standard RDA has been set, but while a “typical” dosage is generally considered to be somewhere between 30 and 90 mgs daily, clinical trials have shown the best response with much higher amounts.

For example, clinical trials with Parkinson’s disease patients showed that a daily dosage of 360 mgs provided significant improvement in many symptoms. However the results of a more extensive 16-month trial sponsored by the National Institutes of Health showed that much higher amounts were very beneficial. The study experimented with a range of dosages from 300 to 1200 mgs daily in the treatment of early stage Parkinsons’s disease. The best results were exhibited by the patients who took the largest dose of the supplement

However medical experts warn that many factors come into play when making the decision on the amount of supplementation. There can be broad variations in the degree of absorption, depending on factors that range from the makeup of the supplement itself to what kind of food the person has eaten that day.

So far the best advice is to consult with a health care provider before starting any kind of supplementation, and not to exceed the manufacturer’s recommended the dosage unless your doctor advises you to do so.

CoQ10 supplements become even more important as we age, because the older we get the less we naturally produce.

Improved heart and cardio-vascular health, increased energy, stamina, and alertness, and powerful antioxidant capabilities are all among the most well-known of the coenzyme’s contributions to healthy aging. In addition, research has shown that keeping levels high can be a significant benefit for people with asthma, migraine headaches, diabetes, and periodontal disease. Studies also show that it plays a role in slowing the progress of Alzheimer’s and other neurological diseases, and may even have potential as a cancer preventative or treatment.

Coenzyme Q10 is a naturally-occurring substance found in every cell, and it plays a dual role in maintaining health. Its primary function is to assist in the production of energy within the mitochondria, where it serves as a “messenger link” that sparks the actual biochemical reactions that lead to energy production. Without sufficient levels of the coenzyme the energy producing reactions are not triggered.

It is also a very powerful antioxidant, capable of preventing, neutralizing, and even repairing damage done by free radicals. A byproduct of the natural process of cellular oxidation, free radicals are unstable molecules that scavange and damage the cells with which they interact. Free radical damage is known to be the basis of many health problems, particularly those most associated with aging.

Normal Aging Makes CoQ10 Supplements Essential
But though our need for the coenzyme increases as we get older, the body’s production of this crucial substance decreases substantially as we age. Research indicates that a slowing in the production of the coenzyme may actually start as early as the mid-twenties, and a significantly lower amount of CoQ10 is produced by people over 50.

Food that boost levels the coenzyme are limited; oily fish such as salmon and tuna, organ meats, and whole grains are the only significant dietary sources. Though an ordinary healthy diet may keep levels high enough for young people, some experts say the natural age-related drop in the body’s production of CoQ10 makes supplementation a must for healthy aging.

Though there is currently no official Recommended Dietary Allowance for CoQ10, clinical trials using doses as small as 30 mg per day were associated with measureable improvements in patients with heart failure. However, experts differ in their recommendations. Absorption is variable among individuals, and it’s important to check with your own physician before taking supplements of any kind.

CoQ10 skin care can help reverse damage and aging caused by over-exposure to the summer sun.

Enjoying the great outdoors is part of summer, but if you’ve spent a lot of time in the sun it’s possible that your skin could be paying a price. Though reasonable sun exposure enhances health by stimulating the production of vitamin D, prolonged exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet or UV rays can actually be very damaging to skin.

Too much UV exposure can lead to extensive changes in the texture of the epidermis, or top layer of skin. In some areas, such as the back of the neck, skin that’s overexposed to the sun tends to become thickened and coarse, leading to the development of deeply furrowed wrinkles. At the same time, skin in other areas such as the face tends to become thin and fragile when exposed to UV rays for long periods. This leads to wrinkling, bruising, dryness, and discoloration.

In recent years dermatologists have discovered that most of the skin changes associated with aging can actually be traced back to UV exposure, which breaks down the basic structure of the skin. In extreme cases, this can even lead to cancers of the skin.

A growing body of research indicates that CoQ10 can play a powerful role in maintaining skin health and elasticity, and perhaps even helping repair damage that already exists. A natural compound manufactured by the body itself, coenzyme Q10 is crucial to the production of energy at the cellular level.

Studies have shown that keeping optimum blood levels of the coenzyme strengthens the collagen framework that is structural foundation of the skin. In addition, it can help prevent thinning of the skin and aid in the retention of vital moisture.

CoQ10 is also a powerful antioxidant, which means it can neutralize potentially damaging molecules called free radicals. These unstable molecules scavenge and damage the cells with which they interact, and it is believed that free radical damage plays a substantial role in many diseases, including most age-related health problems. Exposure to UV rays is known to create free radical damage in the skin, which makes sufficient levels of the coenzyme even more important.

Research indicates that the coenzyme plays an increasingly important role as we age, but the body’s production of it drops sharply as we get older. There is no specific RDA for the coenzyme and there are diverse opinions on the amount needed, with typical dosage recommendations ranging from 50 to 200 mgs per day. Studies have tested much higher dosages, but consulting with a physician before adding CoQ10 supplements is suggested.

Studies show a definite CoQ10/blood pressure correlation, indicating that the coenzyme can be a valuable tool for regulating blood pressure and avoiding hypertension.

More than one in four adults has high blood pressure, and every year it is a contributing cause of hundreds of thousands of deaths. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to heart attacks, stroke, kidney failure, and heart failure. One of the most frightening aspects of hypertension is the fact that its basically symptomless and often goes undiagnosed; it is estimated that a third of the people who have high blood pressure don’t know it.

Though high blood pressure can effect anyone at any time, risk factors increase with age. The risk for hypertension raises sharply in post-menopausal women, and high blood pressure is the cause of 3 out of 5 cases of heart failure in women.

Treatments for hypertension include lifestyle changes such losing weight, stopping smoking, decreasing the amount of salt in the diet, exercising regularly, and limiting alcohol intake. Several types of drugs, including diuretics, alpha, alpha-beta, and calcium channel blockers, and certain enzyme inhibitors are commonly prescribed as treatment in conjunction with lifestyle changes.

New research indicates that CoQ10 may be a safe and effective alternate or adjunct therapy for hypertension. A natural vitamin-like substance that is found in every cell, coenzyme Q10 is both a powerful antioxidant and an important factor in the production of energy at the cellular level. In both respects it can play a significant role in managing blood pressure.

Concentrations of CoQ10 are naturally highest in the organs that need it most, including the heart and kidneys. Maintaining adequate blood levels of the coenzyme promotes heart health by providing more energy so the heart works more efficiently. It can also lower blood pressure by improving membrane fluidity, which in turn decreases blood viscosity.

Research indicates that supplementing the coenzyme may enhance the effectiveness of blood pressure medications such as dilatiazem, metoprolol, enalapril, and nitroglycerin. In numerous clinical studies participants taking supplements were able to take lower dosages of the drugs. It has also been shown that some medications tend to lower CoQ10 blood levels, so supplementation is warranted.

If asthma is getting you down, it’s possible that CoQ10 supplements could benefit your breathing as well as your energy and endurance.

Coenzyme Q10 is a natural substance found in the mitochondria of every cell. Its primary function is to assist in the production of energy at the cellular level but it is also a powerful antioxidant capable of neutralizing free radicals, which are chemically unstable molecules formed when the cells interact with oxygen and other substances.

Free radicals scavenge and injure other cells, and the damage they do has been shown to play a large part in a whole host of diseases ranging from cardiovascular problems to metabolic disorders like diabetes and even age-related illnesses like Alzheimer’s disease.

In asthma patients, free radical damage is believed to increase and exacerbate the chronic mucosal tissue inflammation characteristic of the disease. Though research on the link between CoQ10 and asthma is ongoing, preliminary findings appear to not only support this theory, but indicate that raising serum levels of the coenzyme could provide relief to asthma patients.

Clinical Trials Show CoQ10 Supplements Improve Asthma
In numerous studies it has been found that blood levels of the coenzyme tend to be significantly lower in people with asthma. Researchers speculate that sub-optimal concentrations of CoQ10 may very well play a role in the severity of asthma. Small trials have indicated that supplemental dosage of the coenzyme improved the condition.

In addition, researchers have observed a link between low CoQ10 levels and the use of corticosteroid preparations commonly used to treat acute asthma attacks. In a recent open randomized crossover trial, CoQ10 was administered to 41 bronchial asthma patients in conjunction with corticosteroid inhalants for a period of 32 weeks. The results showed that the patients used the inhalants less when they were taking the coenzyme supplements.

Raising the serum levels of the coenzyme could also improve energy and endurance, both of which are commonly adversely effected by asthma. A recent Japanese study showed that as little as a week of regular 300 milligram supplements had a marked positive effect on physical ability during exercise, as well as on the amount of post-exercise fatigue experienced. It was also shown to greatly enhance oxygen utilization and reduce recovery time.

CoQ10 supplements are a dual powerhouse in Alzheimer’s treatment. Working as both an energy producer and a powerful antioxidant, CoQ10 can help slow the progression of one of the most common and most devastating of all age-related illnesses.

More than 4 million people in the US have Alzheimer’s disease, a deadly and progressive brain disorder that impairs memory, cognitive function, and physical ability. Though symptoms differ, Alzheimer’s is characterized by a degree of dementia, which is defined as intellectual impairment significant enough to have an adverse impact on daily activities and social interactions. In fact, Alzheimer’s is the number one cause of dementia in people over 60.

In the past 25 years the number of people with Alzheimer’s has doubled and the incidence of the disease is expected to increase rapidly over the coming years as the baby boom generation ages.

Though research is discovering more clues to the puzzle of Alzheimer’s, it remains frustratingly mysterious. No cause has been identified, and though there are some drugs that are thought to slow its progression, as yet there is no cure. More and more is being learned about the mechanism of the disease, however, and new discoveries are supporting the idea that CoQ10 supplements could play a role in both prevention and treatment.

CoQ10 Supplements May Delay Onset and Progression of Alzheimer’s
Numerous studies have shown that low CoQ10 levels are definitely associated with Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases. Correcting this deficiency is believed to delay both the onset and the progression of the disease, and perhaps even contribute to repair of damaged brain cells.

Two key abnormalities are characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease: a build up of beta-amyloid protein that forms plaque between brain cells, and neurofibrillary tangles, which are twisted bundles of abnormally-shaped protien fibers in neurons. Both plaque and neurofibrillary tangles damage the brain cells and can eventually lead to cell death.

Though it is believed there may be a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer’s, evidence definitely links the formation of both plaque and neurofibrillary tangles to a cycle of inflammation and resulting oxidative stress. This oxidative stress typically creates a flood of free radicals, which are chemically imbalanced molecules that scavenge and damage the cells around them.

CoQ10 works by attacking the disease on two fronts, both as an energy producer that fortifies the cell’s resistance and as an antioxidant that can stop cellular damage before it starts. As a crucial part of the energy-production process, it boosts immune system function and prevents or lessens the damaging inflammation cycle. As a potent antioxidant it is capable of neutralizing free radicals and perhaps even repairing free radical damage.

Numerous animal studies have reported that CoQ10 supplements effectively counteracted deficiencies in the cellular mitochondria, which is the part of the cell that produces energy. It has also been shown to destabilize the beta-amyloid protein that builds up to form intracellular plaque. Researchers from Johns Hopkins concluded that the coenzyme definitely improved memory and cognitive function in animals with Alzheimer’s-like brain conditions, both by inhibiting oxidative stress and increasing the cells’ ability to produce energy.

Is there a CoQ10/cancer connection? The answer is yes, according to the National Cancer Institute, which has recognized the coenzyme’s potential as an adjuvant therapy for cancer.

Coenzyme Q10 is a natural substance produced by the body and found in the mitochondria, or power production center, of every cell. In addition to playing a key role in the production of energy at the cellular level, it is a potent antioxidant capable of neutralizing damaging free radicals (chemically unstable molecules created when cells interact with oxygen and other substances).

Research on CoQ10′s potential as a cancer treatment has been ongoing since the early 1960s, when it was first observed that patients with some types of cancer typically had low blood levels of the coenzyme. Low levels are associated with cancers of the breast, lung, prostate, pancreas, colon, kidney, and head/neck.

The National Cancer Institute says that because the coenzyme may improve immune system function, it has potential as an adjuvant therapy (treatment given following primary treatment to increase the chances of a cure) for cancer. In addition, its antioxidant properties may protect cells against free radical damage that can lead to cancer.

Both animal studies and clinical trials have indicated that increasing levels of the coenzyme stimulates the immune system, making the body more resistant to disease. In addition, animal studies show that CoQ10 helped protect the hearts of animals given anti-cancer drugs capable of damaging the heart and decreasing cardiac function.

Though relatively few clinical trials involving human cancer patients have been conducted, those that have been carried out produced very positive results:

• A randomized clinical trial involving 20 cancer patients taking doxorubicin, an anti-cancer drug known to be capable of producing heart damage, confirmed the findings of the animal studies.
• A Danish study of 32 breast cancer patients who were given supplements of the coenzyme along with conventional treatment reported that six of the patients experienced remission, while all participants took fewer painkillers, lost less weight, and experienced an improved quality of life.
• In followup studies, the Danish research team gave high-dose supplements of the  coenzyme to limited number of patients and observed them for periods ranging from four months to five years. All of the patients given high dosage supplements appeared to experience complete remission.

Though researchers agree that more studies are needed, anecdotal evidence confirms the findings with reports that increased amounts of the coenzyme increased the survival of patients with lung, colon, rectal, and pancreatic cancer.

Though no serious side effects of CoQ10 have been observed, the NCI stresses that it’s important to check with health care providers to confirm that the supplement can be safely used with other drugs.

If your diet isn’t producing the results you’re looking for, maximizing the CoQ10/weight loss connection could be just what you need. Studies show that increased levels of CoQ10 can boost dieting success.

Coenzyme Q10 is a naturally occurring substance found in every cell. Its ability to neutralize and even repair free radical damage has gotten it a lot of press as an effective anti-aging supplement. However its primary function – assisting with the production of energy at the cellular level – also makes it important to achieving and maintaining healthy body weight.

The coenzyme is found in the cellular mitochondria, where it helps with breaking down fats and other nutrients and converting them to energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The body’s immune, digestive, and other systems are powered by this energy.

CoQ10 is known to enhance metabolism, which in turn gives us more energy, greater endurance, and an improved ability to lose body fat. It also maximizes the body’s ability to convert food to fuel, which helps normalize fats and sugars in the blood. These factors are the heart of the CoQ10/weight loss connection.

Though the body naturally manufactures the coenzyme, the ability to produce it decreases with age. It is believed that CoQ10 production may start to drop in early adulthood, which could be one reason that losing weight is often a challenge for older people.

International Study Tracks CoQ10/Weight Loss Connection Among Morbidly Obese
A study published in the International Journal of Complementary Medicine tracked 100 morbidly obese patients, all on a calorie-restricted diet. Blood levels of the coenzyme were found to be low in more than half the the participants.

The participants with low levels of the coenzyme were given a 100 mg daily supplement, while the remaining participants took no nutritional supplements. After two months, the group taking the supplement had lost an average of 30 pounds, while those taking no supplements lost an average of 13 pounds.

While researchers stress that taking supplemental CoQ10 is not a guarantee of weight loss, the CoQ10/weight loss connection is very real. Deficiency of the coenzyme could definitely have an adverse impact on dieting success and weight loss efforts.