CoQ10: Powerhouse Nutrient

One of CoQ10’s beneficial activities concerns antioxidant protection from free radicals, which cause oxidative damage at a cellular level when the molecule with an unpaired electron tries to gain or lose one to balance its structure. CoQ10 has the unique property of being able to accept or donate an electron without it self becoming a free radical.¹ It thereby neutralizes free radicals—including hydroxyl radical, peroxynitrite, superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide—and the related oxidative damage and stress they cause. In addition, CoQ10 may inhibit certain enzymes involved in the formation of these free radicals.

While its antioxidant activity is formidable, CoQ10’s highest profile research has been in the area of cardiovascular disorders. Oral supplementation of CoQ10 appears to be effective in treating various cardiovascular disorders, including angina.² In one study, patients with a cut emyocardial infarction experienced a significant reduction in angina, arrhythmias (abnormal heartbeat) and poor heart function when supplemented with 120 mg/d of CoQ10.³

Researchers have also found patients with ischemic heart disease/ effort angina experience a faster loss of CoQ10 during exercise than healthy adults, suggesting CoQ10 supplementation may be critical to supporting heart health in this patient population.⁴ Further study showed 150 mg/d of CoQ10 not only increased blood level s of CoQ10 in angina patients, but also their ability to exercise longer.⁵ These results lead the researchers to conclude, “Co enzyme Q10 is a safe an d promising treatment for angina pectoris.” Retailers should be sure to advise customers with acute angina to consult with a physician on an effective and safe exercise plan.

Also in the area of cardiovascular health, some researchers have suggested a lack of CoQ10 is one cause of congestive heart failure (CHF). Whether this is ultimately true, research certainly supports the use of CoQ10 by CHF patients. A meta-analysis of eight controlled clinical trials of CoQ10 treatment in CHF revealed a significant improvement in several important cardiac parameters.⁶ Other research on CHF patients using CoQ10 has shown similar benefits, including improving quality of life as well as survival.^7,8

Finally, research indicates CoQ10 affects blood vessels in a way that should cause a decrease in blood pressure.⁹ In fact, this has been substantiated in a number of studies where CoQ10 significantly lowered blood pressure in people with hypertension.^10,11,12,13 Al l of these studies used at least 50 mg of CoQ10 taken twice daily. It takes up to three months of supplementation to yield results.

Biochemical, biomedical and clinical research on CoQ10 and its relationship to treating cancer has evolved internationally since the early 1970s. Some interesting research published in 1995 discussed three specific breast cancer patients who underwent a conventional protocol of therapy that included 390 mg/d of CoQ10.¹⁴ In one 44-year-old patient, the numerous liver metastases disappeared, and no signs of metastases were found elsewhere.

Another 49-year-old patient revealed no signs of tumor in the pleural cavity after six months, and her condition was excellent. A 75-year old patient with carcinomainone breast showed no cancer in the tumor bed or metastases after lumpectomy and CoQ10 supplementation.

In addition to these positive isolated cases, there have also been positive study results when CoQ10 was given to larger groups of patients. One 18-month study of 32 patients (age 32 to 81 years), who had breast cancer and were classified as “high risk ” because of tumor spread to lymph nodes, used a combination dietary supplement that included vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, selenium, essential fatty acids and 90 mg/d of CoQ10.¹⁵ At the end of the study period, none of the patients had died (the expected number was four); none of the patients showed signs of further distant metastases; quality of life was improved (no weight loss, reduced use of pain killers); and six patients showed apparent partial remission.

Interestingly, in a follow-up study, one of the aforementioned six patients who showed partial remission had her dose increased to 390 mg/d.¹⁶ In one month, the tumor was no longer palpable, and in another month, mammography confirmed the absence of tumor. Another patient who had non-radical surgery still had residual tumor mass in the tumor bed. She was treated with 300 mg/d of CoQ10; after three months, she was in excellent clinical condition and there was no residual tumor tissue.

Some diabetic patients who use diet to control their blood sugar may have a deficiency of CoQ10, which may be further exacerbated by certain commonly used antidiabetic drugs. Such a deficiency of CoQ10 in the pancreas could impair aspects of energy metabolism and the biosynthesis of insulin.¹⁷ Other research has demonstrated CoQ10 levels are lower in diabetic patients, which can cause diabetic cardiomyopathy.¹⁸ That same research, however, showed diabetic cardiomyo pathycanalsobe reversed by CoQ10 supplementation. Studies have further shown CoQ10 has an antiarrhythmic effect (i.e., prevents abnormal hear t beat) in patients with diabetes.¹⁹

Another form of diabetes , maternally inherited diabetes mellitus and deafness (MIDD), is characterized by progressive worsening of insulin secretion, neurosensory deafness and maternal inheritance. A three-year study involving CoQ10 therapy on MIDD patients reported supplementation prevented progressive hearing loss and improved blood-sugar metabolites after exercise.²⁰ Furthermore, there were no side effects during therapy.

On a more consumer-friendly note, in Japan, over half the dentists recommend CoQ10 supplements for periodontal and gum disease. Research has shown patients with periodontal disease have a deficiency of CoQ10 activity in their gums,²¹ and treatment with CoQ10 in periodontal patients may significantly improve their condition.²² Its efficacy may be linked to an ability to inhibit bacterial growth due to improved oxygen metabolism at the cellular level, as bacteria often do not survive in the presence of oxygen.

References

1. Pepping J. Am J Health-Syst Pharm. 1999; 56:519-521.

2. Greenberg S, Frishman WH. J Clin Pharmacol. 1990; 30(7):596-608.

3. Singh RB et al. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther. 1998; 12(4):347-53.

4. Karlsson J et al. Ann Med. 1991; 23(3):339-44.

5. Kamikawa T. Am J Cardiol. 1985; 56(4):247-51.

6. Soja AM, Mortensen SA. Ugeskr Laeger. 1997; 159(49):7302-8.

7. Munkholm H, Hansen HH, Rasmussen K. Biofactors. 1999; 9(2-4):285-9.

8. Sinatra ST. Conn Med. 1997; 61(11):707-11.

9. Digiesi V et al. Curr Ther Res. 1992; 51:668–72.

10. Folkers K et al. Res Commun Chem Pathol Pharmacol. 1981; 31:129–40.

11. Langsjoen P et al. Mol Aspects Med. 1994; 15(Suppl):S265–72.

12. Digiesi V et al. Molec Aspects Med. 1994; 15(Suppl):S257–63.

13. Digiesi V, Cantini F, Brodbeck B, Curr Ther Res. 1990; 47:841–45.

14. Lockwood K et al. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1995; 212(1):172-7.

15. Lockwood K et al. Mol Aspects Med. 1994; 15 Suppl:s231-40.

16. Lockwood K, Moesgaard S, Folkers K. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1994; 199(3):1504-8

17. Kishi T et al. J Med. 1976; 7(3-4):307-21.

18. Miyake Y et al. Arzneimittelforschung. 1999; 49(4):324-9.

19. Fujioka T, Sakamoto Y, Mimura G. Tohoku J Exp Med. 1983; 141 Suppl:453-63.

20. Suzuki S. Diabetologia. 1998; 41(5):584-8.

21. Hansen IL et al. Res Commun Chem Pathol Pharmacol. 1976; 14(4):729-38.

22. Wilkinson EG, Arnold RM, Folkers K. Res Commun Chem Pathol Pharmacol. 1976; 14(4):715-9.

Share this article: Email, Slashdot, Digg, Del.icio.us, Yahoo!MyWeb, Windows Live Favorites, Furl
Add this article feed to: RSS, My Yahoo, Newsgator, Bloglines