Coenzyme Q10: Rx for Your Heart
Written by Debra Kirchhof-Glazier
A trip to the health store can be overwhelming. There are hundreds of products, many of which are sold for specific health benefits. One such product is Coenzyme Q10, also known as CoQ10 or ubiquinone, which is reported to be good for the heart. Is there any truth to this claim?
Apparently there is. The science behind CoQ10 reveals some compelling facts that should be considered by anyone suffering from heart failure and by people taking statin drugs to lower cholesterol.
CoQ10 is a vitamin-like fat-soluble substance that is required to activate enzymes that make energy for the cell. All cells can manufacture CoQ10, and we also obtain it from food, particularly organ meats like liver, kidney, and heart, as well as from beef, sardines, soy oil, mackerel, and peanuts. However, to make CoQ10 our body needs adequate amounts of at least 7 vitamins (vitamin C and six B vitamins) and several trace elements, which may be compromised in people with poor diets. Low levels of CoQ10 can be caused by a variety of factors, including decreased intake, decreased synthesis, or excessive utilization, and low levels have been associated with some disease states, especially heart disease.
In 1972 scientists first documented a deficiency of CoQ10 in heart disease. Since then extensive placebo-controlled clinical trials have been done on CoQ10 supplementation in patients with heart failure. The results have been impressive. CoQ10 was shown to improve heart function and to relieve the associated symptoms of fatigue, chest pain, shortness of breath, and palpitations. Patients treated with CoQ10 in the early stages of heart failure showed the most dramatic improvement, with some returning to normal heart size and function. Although those with more established disease did not experience such a positive outcome, they did show clear improvement.
CoQ10 is especially important in treating diastolic dysfunction, a stiffening of heart muscle that often precedes conditions like mitral valve prolapse, high blood pressure, and some fatigue syndromes. Supplementation with CoQ10 helps return stiffened heart muscle toward normal. CoQ10 has also been shown to reduce the need for some heart medications. For example, supplementation with CoQ10 allowed 43% and 51% of patients with cardiovascular disease or hypertension in two different studies to stop between one and three medications.
It is important to know that statin drugs deplete CoQ10 levels. Statins reduce cholesterol by inhibiting the production of an enzyme required for cholesterol formation, known as HMG-CoA reductase. Unfortunately, this enzyme is also required for CoQ10 production, making depletion of CoQ10 a side effect of statins. Some physicians are well aware of this and prescribe CoQ10 supplements for their patients on statins. In fact, one doctor, Julian M. Whitaker, M.D., was so passionate about sharing this information that he was moved to file a citizen petition with the FDA in 2002 to change the labeling on statin drugs to include a recommendation of 100-200 mg/day of supplemental CoQ10. Unfortunately, this petition was not successful, and many physicians remain unaware of this problem.
CoQ10 has no known toxicity or side effects. It is lipid-soluble and is best absorbed if taken with a meal that contains fats or oils. It is prudent to have a doctor monitor the blood levels of CoQ10 if it is being used therapeutically, since different patients vary in their efficiencies of absorbing and utilizing CoQ10.
In addition to its effects on helping the cell make energy, CoQ10 also functions as an antioxidant. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals, which are highly reactive molecules with an extra free electron. Chemical bonds between atoms in a molecule consist of pairs of electrons, and a free radical steals an electron from the bond of a nearby molecule to stabilize itself, causing damage and processes that lead to inflammation, disease, and the acceleration of aging. Because of its antioxidant function, CoQ10 can inhibit the oxidation of LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) and thereby slow the development of atherosclerosis, the clogging, narrowing, and hardening of arteries that can lead to heart attack and stroke.
Because of the essential role of CoQ10 in cellular energy and antioxidant function, there is interest in studying its effects in preventing and treating a wide variety of illnesses. There is some evidence that CoQ10 may help in enhancing overall immune function, and it is used in the treatment of cancer patients on the anti-cancer drug Adriamycin to prevent its toxic side effects on the heart. There is epidemiological evidence that levels of CoQ10 decrease after the age of twenty. However, the proper dosage of supplemental CoQ10 for prevention of illness has not been determined.
The approach of treating disease by supporting the body’s ability to heal itself is the central tenet of naturopathic medicine and is increasingly being realized as a prudent approach by many conventional doctors. Research into understanding the natural mechanisms involved in health and healing will reap rich benefits in our ability to prevent disease, reduce side effects of medications, and cure certain illnesses. In this regard, the Nutrition class at Juniata College is studying various aspects of this topic and will be presenting their findings at a symposium on Food As Medicine on Thursday, November 29th at 7 PM in the von Liebig Center for Science. The event is free and open to the public.
The information presented here was taken largely from a comprehensive article on CoQ10 by Peter Langsjoen, M.D., which provides details and references that you can share with your doctor. See http://faculty.washington.edu/ely/coenzq10.html.
To your health!
The Huntingdon Health and Wellness Association makes no medical claims or recommendations. Check with your doctor about your specific health care needs.