Coenzyme Q10 is found in every cell in your
body, and CoQ10 is critical in the production of energy within
each cell in the human body. Co Q10 is essential for the health
of cells, tissues, and organs, and Co Enzyme Q10 acts as part
of another class of substances - enzymes. The role of enzymes
is to facilitate, and act as an catalyst for countless chemical
reactions in the human body.
Coenzymes like COQ10 facilitates the activities
of enzymes. CoEnzyme Q10 has powerful antioxidant effects, and
destroys free radicals in your body. CO Q10's role in energy production
has particular importance for athletes and bodybuilders. CoEnzyme
Q10 helps the body's energy production in the form of ATP.
What Is CoEnzyme Q10?
An Enzyme has 2 parts - a protein and another
part that's either a mineral or a vitamin. When this "other
part" is a vitamin, it's called a coenzyme. Co Enzyme Q 10
has a similar structure to vitamin K, and it acts as a catalyst
in various chemical reactions that leads to the production of
energy - namely ATP. More on ATP
and creatine here.
Your body stores enough ATP that will sustain
rigorous activity for 5 to 8 minutes, and ATP must be constantly
produced. For this to happen, your body needs a good supply of
CoQ10.
The heart and the liver contains the highest
levels of CoQ10 in the body. Quoting Dr. Stephen Sinatra, a cardiologist,
"If there is just one thing you do to help maintain your
heart's health, make sure you're taking CoQ-10 daily." Something
to watch out for is the statin drugs that so many people take
to reduce cholesterol can inhibit CoEnzyme Q10 production in the
body. Statin drugs like Lovacol, Lipitor, and Mevacor inhibit
the production of Co Q10 enzyme, and can be a threat to your health
in general, and particularly heart health - since your heart has
the highest concentration and need for Co Enzyme Q10.
CoQ10 Health Benefits
Supplementing CoQ10 has many health benefits.
Co Enzyme Q10 is not only an antioxidant, it can also help with
a number of diseases such as diabetes, gingivitis, congestive
heart failure, and more. Take a look at some of the CoEnzyme Q10
benefits:
Co Q10 can help weight loss because it helps
stimulate the body's metabolism
CoQ10 is an essential substance in cell respiration,
electron transfer, ATP production, and the control of oxidation
reactions
CoEnzyme Q10 plays a key role in treatment
of cardiovascular illnesses, including congestive heart failure
CoQ10 has show promising results in treatment
of cancer and parkinson's disease, and Co Q10 has show to slow
the effects of parkinson's disease.
Co Enzyme Q10 Studies
Studies have found that as we age, our body's
supply of CoQ10 slowly diminishes. Young and healthy individuals
produces about 300 mg of coenzyme Q10 a day, but levels begin
to decrease after age 30. In a study published in the Oct issue
of Archives of Neurology, effects of high doses of CoEnzyme Q10
on the progression of parkinson's disease was reported.
80 patients with early parkinson's disease took
various doses of CoQ10 or placebo four times daily for up to 16
months. The study found all participants who took Co Enzyme Q10
did better than the placebo group. The results were especially
noticeable in the highest dosed group (at 1200mg a day) - the
study found that the progression of parkinson's in this group
slowed by 44% compared to the placebo group. Participants in the
300 and 600mg dose groups had about 20% slower progression of
parkinson's compared to placebo.
Various other studies have also found supplementing
CoQ10 to help with congestive heart failures, angina, and also
helping to lower blood pressure.
Dietary supplementation for adults taking Coenzyme
Q-10 should be between 30 and 90 mg per day. Higher amounts maybe
prescribed by a physician for more serious illnesses.
