CoQ10 Is The Battery Pack In Your Body’s Cells

Mainstream media outlets have historically had a bias against anything not made by Big Pharma, but in a refreshingly candid article in the March issue of Harper’s Bazaar, a women’s fashion and style magazine, coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) was promoted, as one of five noteworthy supplements.

“CoQ10 is a potent antioxidant that helps mitochondria . . . stay charged, giving you energy and fueling your daily functions,” reported Harper’s Bazaar. “CoQ10 also aids in repairing telomeres and helps your heart—which is loaded with mitochondria—function at optimal levels. Your skin will also likely benefit; expect an improvement in wrinkles and firmness. Pop 200 milligrams per day, Barber says.”

Reader’s Digest also promoted CoQ10 on its website:

Coenzyme Q10 has two main roles in the body, first as an important player in the creation of energy within mitochondria, the energy powerhouse of cells. The second role of coenzyme Q10 is as an antioxidant, protecting all cell membranes, including those of the mitochondria, from being damaged by free radicals. Deficiency signs may include fatigue, muscle ache and pain, and gum disease.

Coenzyme Q10 has been thoroughly researched since the 1970s, particularly with respect to its role in protecting against heart disease. One study showed that patients taking coenzyme Q10 prior to heart surgery had a shorter hospital stay and faster recovery time. Other heart-related conditions where coenzyme Q10 has been shown to be useful include high blood pressure, ischemic heart disease, mitral valve prolapse, and congestive heart failure. If you are taking statins, ask your doctor if it might be worth taking coenzyme Q10. Statins are often prescribed to lower cholesterol levels, because they inhibit an enzyme involved in the synthesis of cholesterol. Unfortunately, this same enzyme is involved in the synthesis of coenzyme Q10 in the body. This explains why muscle pain, muscle soreness, and fatigue, which are commonly caused by statins, can be relieved by coenzyme Q10.

Coenzyme Q10 is also recommended for gum disease, with improvement noticed in as short a time as one week. In one small study a supplement of coenzyme Q10 was found to alleviate symptoms of tinnitus in patients who initially had low levels of coenzyme Q10 in their blood.