CoQ10 is present in food but not considered a
vitamin because the body is able to make it from raw
materials contained in food. Nevertheless, the body
often cannot make enough for optimal functioning and
therefore CoQ10 supplements may be very helpful.
Because CoQ10 is involved in basic energy
production by every cell in the body, optimal amounts
can be beneficial for a wide variety of complaints,
symptoms and diseases.
To give you a brief idea about what types of
complaints or disorders I am referring to, Co Q10 has
been used successfully for periodontal disease, high
blood pressure, congestive heart failure, angina
pectoris of the heart (chest pain), cardiomyopathy of
the heart,
protection of the heart from the damaging effects of the
chemotherapeutic drug Adriamycin, immune disorders
such as AIDS and most recently cancer.
How Does Coenzyme Q10 Work?
Biological chemical reactions require helper
substances known as enzymes. These enzymes are
catalysts or helpers for the biochemical reactions, but
are not used up or changed during the chemical
reaction. Enzymes are specialized protein molecules,
which generally require a mineral, such as
magnesium or zinc, and a non-protein organic
chemical, called a coenzyme. Examples of coenzymes
are vitamin B6, vitamin B12, folic acid, and coenzyme
Q10.
As mentioned previously, coenzyme Q10 is
specifically utilized in energy production in the cells.
There are approximately 100 trillion cells in the human
body and each must produce its own energy to carry
out its functions. The cells produce energy by burning
primarily fats and carbohydrates. This burning or
oxidation process occurs as a result of oxygen
combining with these foodstuffs to produce carbon
dioxide and water. The energy produced by these
chemical reactions is converted to chemical energy in
the form ATP molecules. These ATP molecules are
available to supply energy to the various chemical
reactions necessary for life. More than 95 percent of
the oxygen we breathe is used solely for the purpose
of making energy through this process of burning the
organic substances.
Where in the cell does this occur and what is the
specific role of coenzyme Q10?
Within each
cell are
small subcellular particles called mitochondria. Here
is where the energy production process takes place.
The mitochondria contain electron transport chains,
which are the fundamental units for energy production
in our cells. Through a series of chemical reactions
along this electron transport chain, the ATP molecules
are produced. Other familiar substances are involved
in this electron transport chain. These include vitamin
C, riboflavin (or vitamin B2), niacinamide (or vitamin
B3), vitamin E and others.
Coenzyme Q10, which is fat-soluble and therefore
mobile in cellular membranes, plays a unique role in
the electron transport chain. It is a mobile messenger
link between the various enzymes of the chain. Each
pair of electrons processed by the chain must first
interact with CoQ10. If you think of the cell as a little
engine, which uses oxygen to burn the organic fuels
that come from the organic foodstuffs, you may think of
CoQ10 as the part of the engine that provides the
spark for this process. No other substance will
substitute for CoQ10. Without CoQ10 there is no spark
and therefore no production of energy for the cell. And,
without energy, there is no life. Optimal electron
transport to generate ATP depends upon there being
optimal levels of CoQ10 in the mitochondrial
membrane.
Antioxidant Function of CoQ10
In addition to its vital role for the cell of an energy
carrier, CoQ10 plays another vital role in cellular
function as an antioxidant. An oxidant is a substance
that tries to take electrons from nearby substances. An
antioxidant is a substance that gives up electrons
easily, and so can function to neutralize oxidants. The
antioxidant nature of CoQ10 derives from its energy
carrier function. As an energy carrier, the CoQ10
molecule is continuously going through an oxidation-
reduction cycle. As it accepts electrons, it becomes
reduced. As it gives up electrons, it becomes oxidized.
In its reduced form, the CoQ10 molecule holds
electrons rather loosely, so this CoQ molecule will
quite easily give up one or both electrons and thus act
as an antioxidant.
Oxygen free radicals are oxidants that are produced
normally in the body during metabolism and also
under various stress conditions. They are called free
radicals because they can combine easily with other
substances to damage cell membranes and lead to
significant pathology and diseases. Antioxidants like
the well known vitamins C and E, as well as beta
carotene are able to neutralize these free radicals.
Coenzyme Q10 also functions as an antioxidant. As
an antioxidant, it appears to help correct dietary
deficiency of vitamin E in animal models, protects
against the toxic effects of adriamycin, protects against
low oxygen states which results in large amounts of
free radical formation and reduce oxidative distress
that often results from surgery.
Although CoQ was discovered in the United States
almost forty years ago, it is still not widely prescribed
in western countries. In contrast, in Japan. where most
of the research has been done in people, it is one of
the most widely used drugs. Human testing began in
Japan in 1963 on a case by case basis, but it was not
until 1974 when sufficient supplies of pure CoQ10
became available, that clinical trials could be carried
out.
The reasons for CoQ10 not being used
more
frequently in the U.S. and other western countries is
the answer to 9 out of 10 questions- money. Being a
natural
substance, CoQ10 is not patentable as a new drug
and therefore profits are severely limited. Not only are
potential profits from CoQ10 limited, but also profits
from competitive patentable drugs with similar actions
are threatened by the potential safety and efficacy of
CoQ10 for a wide variety of disorders. In recent years,
the FDA has attempted to remove CoQ10 from the
shelves of health food stores, but has so far been
unsuccessful.
Beneficial Uses for Heart Conditions
Japanese scientists, as early as 1976, showed that
CoQ10 was helpful in heart conditions. In one study,
seventeen patients with mild congestive heart failure
were given 30 mg/day of CoQ10. Every patient
improved in 4 weeks and 53% became symptom free.
In another, more recent and much larger, randomized
placebo controlled, double-blind study, 641 patients
with more severe congestive heart failure were given
either a placebo or approximately 150 mg/day of
CoQ10 for one year. The number of patients requiring
hospitalization because of worsening failure was 38%
lower in the CoQ10 group. Episodes of life threatening
pulmonary edema (a buildup of fluid in the lungs was
60% less in the treatment group. Patients with life
threatening cardiomyopathy have reduced levels of
CoQ10 in their heart muscles. When CoQ10 was
given to a group of these patients, the strength of their
heart muscle increased significantly, and their survival
time increased three-fold.
Another use for CoQ10 in heart patients is in those
with angina pectoris (chest pain). In one double-blind
study,
treatment with 150 mg/day of CoQ10 for only 4 weeks,
the episodes of chest pain was reduced in the
treatment group by 53%. Also, exercise tolerance was
increased.
One of the chemotherapeutic
drugs used
most by oncologists is Adriamycin. Although
Adriamycin is believed to be effective for many
different cancers, such as breast cancer, it carries a
serious risk of cardiac toxicity and a significant number
of patients treated with this drug die from the
complications of cardiomyopathy associated with
Adriamycin rather than the cancer, itself.
In one small study of 14 cancer patients receiving
Adriamycin, half were given 100 mg/day of CoQ10. All
7 of the patients given Adriamycin alone developed
cardiac toxicity, whereas none of those given CoQ10
developed this complication. Furthermore, the CoQ10
did not interfere with the therapeutic effects of
Adriamycin.
Some studies have also shown
that
CoQ10 can help to lower blood pressure. In one study,
16 people were given 60 mg/day of CoQ10 for 5 to 16
weeks. In all cases there was a drop in either systolic
BP, diastolic BP or both, but these effects did not occur
until the patients had been on the CoQ10 for 4 to 12
weeks. Similarly, in a more recent double-blind
placebo controlled group, subjects either received a
placebo or 100 mg/day of CoQ10 for 10 weeks. No
change occurred in the placebo group, but the CoQ10
group had reduced systolic and diastolic
values.
A most ironic situation occurs with the cholesterol
lowering drugs called statins. These drugs are
given to lower LDL cholesterol levels in order to
reduce risks of a heart attack. However, this drug
clearly lowers CoQ10 levels in the tissues, thus
increasing risk for heart disease. Certainly, anyone
taking a statin should be on a
significant dosage of CoQ10 (usually 100 mg orally
daily). Similarly, the beta
blockers, drugs that are used extensively to treat heart
disease, high blood pressure and other conditions,
also deplete the heart and other tissues of CoQ10.
Other drugs that deplete CoQ10 include:
Glucophage
(Metformin), Glyburide, HCTZ, Gemfibrozil, Doxepin,
Desipramine, Adriamycin, Pheothiazines, Tolazemide,
Chlorpromazine, Protryptyline, Trimipramine,
Imipramine, Haloperidol and Desipramine.
Unfortunately, most cardiologists and other
conventional physicians in the United States are
unaware of this fact and do not give patients on these
drugs supplements of CoQ10.
What other
conditions deplete CoQ10?
Hyperthyroidism
(overactive thyroid), Exercise, Malabsorption ( Celiac
Sprue, fat malabsorption) and a deficiency of taurine
(depleted by stress).
How Safe is CoQ10
Toxicity studies in animals has not shown any adverse
side effects, even at dosages many times greater than
those used in clinical studies. Also, there is no
evidence for fetal abnormalities, distress to the mother
during pregnancy or soon after birth. There is no
evidence of any significant risks to humans taking
CoQ10. There have been cases of insomnia reported
at dosages greater than 100 mg per day. There have
also been cases of elevated liver enzymes reported at
dosages of greater than 300 mg per day.At dosages
over 100 mg per day it can also cause diarrhea, mild
nausea and abdominal upset. As long as it has been
carefully and rigorously
purified, it appears to be safe as a nutritional
supplement.
The recommendation is 100 mg
daily.As a daily supplement to the diet, CoQ10
requires about four to eight weeks to build up to peak
concentration in the body and it often takes several
weeks of daily administration to accomplish effects
that are noticeable.
Benefits in Periodontal Disease, Immune Disorders,
Cancer and Other Conditions
Periodontal or gum disease is very common in the
United States and other Western countries. Plaque-
forming bacteria that live in the mouth appear to be an
important trigger for the disease, which manifests as
inflamed gum tissue that may eventually result in the
loss of teeth, as the teeth become loose in their bony
sockets. Healing and repair of periodontal tissues
requires efficient energy production, which as we have
seen, required sufficient amounts of CoQ10.
As early
as 1971, Dr. Folkers reported that gum tissue taken
from patients with periodontal disease was often
deficient in CoQ10. In 1973, Dr. Folkers and Dr.
Matsumura completed a double-blind study using
CoQ10 for periodontal disease. They reported that it
was superior to the then treatment of choice for
periodontal disease. Dr. Wilkinson reported in the late
70's that at dosages of 50 to 75 mg per day often
halted the deterioration of the gums with healing
sometimes occurring within days. As of 1988, a total of
9 clinical studies involving 304 patients have
confirmed many experimental studies with animals.
CoQ10 can effectively reverse gum disease.
Other conditions for which experimental evidence
exists on the helpful role of CoQ10 are: diabetes
mellitus, obesity, athletic performance, hearing
disorders and muscular wasting diseases. In short,
coenzyme Q10 is an amazing natural substance with
far reaching therapeutic potential and an extremely
low toxicity. It should be used much more extensively
in the treatment of patients.
