By Robert M. Oliva CSW

It is of vital importance that we all get sufficient amounts of Coenzyme Q10.  High levels of this enzyme can prevent or help treat such conditions as heart disease, diabetes, periodontal disease, high blood pressure, obesity, cancer and many neurological diseases.  It can even slow down the aging process.  This incredible, naturally occurring nutrient needs to be considered in everyone’s health regimen.
What is Coenzyme Q10?

According to James Balch in Prescriptions for Nutritional Healing, Coenzyme Q10 is a vitamin like substance produced in the body whose actions closely resemble that of vitamin E.  Q10 is a powerful anti-oxidant that is found in every cell of the body.  For this reason it is also called ubiquinone.  Q10 is essential for the production of energy at the cellular level and increases tissue oxygenation throughout the body.  Although Q10 is produced in the body deficiencies seem to be widespread.  Since food contains only trace amounts of this nutrient, supplementation is necessary.
Coenzyme Q10 and Disease

There have been hundreds of studies attesting to the safety and efficacy of Coenzyme Q10 in the treatment and prevention of the many diseases that afflict those of us living in Western society.  According to the Life Extension Foundation, Q10 is a safe and effective therapy for heart disease, cancer, immune depression, low energy and aging.  Q10 is a mighty force in the natural treatment of serious disease as well as a natural boost to both daily and athletic performance.

Let’s take a look at how Coenzyme Q10 can make an important contribution to the treatment of specific diseases and to enhancing the quality of your life.
Heart Disease

Coenzyme Q10 is found most abundantly in the human heart muscle.   The heart contains about twice the amount of this vital enzyme as any other organ in the body.  Patients suffering from heart disease have been found to have about 25 percent less Q10 than the healthy population.

Robert Atkins, MD states in his book Vita Nutrient Solution that “All organs with high energy demands need a lot of CoQ10, and the most important is the heart.”  As early as 1990, Greenburg and Frishman in the Journal of Clincal Pharmacology indicated that over fifty studies worldwide attested to Q10’s positive impact on numerous cardiovascular conditions including hypertension.  In a study by Landsjoein, et al in the International Journal of Tissue Research, 87 percent of cardiomyopathy sufferers displayed significant improvement in heart function without adverse side effects while using CoQ10.  Additionally, other studies have shown that when Q10 is administered to patients recovering from heart failure 75 percent show marked improvement.

Another important point about Q10 is that it helps the body deal with the causes of atherosclerotic plague buildup in our arteries.  Coenzyme Q10 is such a powerful antioxidant that it prevents the oxidation of LDL cholesterol that is thought to be the form of cholesterol implicated in the arterial clogging process that leads to advanced heart disease.
Hypertension

As a major risk factor for heart disease, hypertension must be controlled and should be mentioned separately from other heart conditions.  Hypertension affects the lives of millions of Americans and those living in industrial societies.  Q10 may be a potent antidote to this plague.  CoQ10 in numerous studies has been found to effectively lower high blood pressure.  Additionally, in about 85 percent of those tested, CoQ10 was able to end their dependence on anti-hypertension medications.  These facts can save the lives of thousands suffering from heart disease each year.  Don’t overlook Coenzyme Q10 if you have high blood pressure.  Consult your physician prior to taking Coenzyme Q10.
Diabetes

Diabetes is at epidemic proportions in the Western world.  Each year millions are diagnosed with this chronic, metabolic disease.  CoQ10 has a role to play in assisting sufferers in managing this potentially fatal illness.  Japanese researchers have found that a dose of CoQ10 as low as 60 mg a day reduces high blood sugar in about six months.  This is a critical finding for the treatment of diabetes but also has implications for the treatment of heart disease.  Since cardiovascular disease is a major complication of diabetes itself this makes CoQ10 of vital importance in maintaining proper heart health for diabetics.  Diabetes very often leads to hardening of the arteries.  By helping people maintain healthy sugar levels the likelihood of developing heart disease is lowered.
Cancer

The Life Extension Foundation states that although scientists have “not yet determined the exact mechanism by which CoQ10 benefits cancer patients.” it is believed that the enzyme may suppress the proliferation of cancer cells and boost immune functions.  In other words, CoQ10 does not attack cancer directly but increases the potency of the immune system that has a protective affect against cancer.  Danish researchers have specifically found the nutrient effective in the treatment of breast cancer.  Although the research is not yet conclusive, it seems apparent that CoQ10 can play an important role in the prevention and treatment of cancer.  If you suffer from cancer, discuss the use of Coenzyme Q10 with your physician and oncologist.
Fatigue

CoQ10 has many every day applications.  It is one of the best fatigue fighters known.  It does this because it helps turn the food we eat into energy.  Endurance athletes may especially benefit from looking into this nutrient to bolster their ability to use energy efficiently and to recover from prolonged endurance training.  CoQ10, being an antioxidant that acts directly on the mithochondria of the cell, is able to stop the damage to that part of the cell caused by the intense oxidation resulting from exercise.

Bedsides athletes, people who are ill also benefit from taking CoQ10.  Dr. Atkins reports on a study by J.H.P Vanfracchi in which two groups were studied for their reaction to Coenzyme Q10 supplementation.  The first group was suffering from chronic lung disease and was administered 90 mg of CoQ10 for about eight weeks.  The second group was made up of healthy but sedentary young men.  Group two was also given 90mgs per day.  The results were that the group suffering disease showed a much more dramatic increase in pulmonary capacity.  So if you are healthy you will notice less improvement from Co Q10 than if you are suffering from illness.
Periodontal Disease

At this point there are only a few clinical trials that have indicated that Coenzyme Q10 is effective in treating gum disease.  More work needs to be done before definitive answers or recommendation can be made.  But I can suggest that you experiment with using this enzyme to create stronger and healthier gums.  I can only offer a personal anecdote.  I suffered with bleeding, swollen and sore gums for years.  It was necessary for me to have gum treatments every three months just to keep my gums status quo.  I then read an article about the potential of Coenzyme Q10 in dealing with gum disease.  I decided to take the plunge.  That was two years ago.  My gums are now in perfect condition.  I now go to the dentist once a year.  My hygienist was originally shocked at the improvement.  I have heard many anecdotes similar to my own.  I’m also aware that anecdotes don’t make science. In this case, however, I believe that science will soon catch up with what we know from our experience.  Try it; see if it works for you.
Supplementing with Coenzyme Q10

Recommendations vary as to the optimal dosage to take of this vital nutrient.  The body’s production of CoQ10 peaks around the age of 20.  There is a steep decline after this.  Another complication for many of us is that with the popularity of high-carbohydrate diets many people are not getting enough Q10.  Why? Because the main source of this nutrient comes from organ meats, red meat and nuts, the very foods people avoid. Many experts recommend 60 to 100 mgs a day for the basically healthy and up to 200 mgs for those seeking therapeutic effects for degenerative diseases.

If you are suffering from any disease at present and taking prescribed medication, please consult with your physician or naturopath before taking Q10.  Drug interactions can occur.

Since Coenzyme is fat soluble, it is best to take it with fat containing foods.
Summary

Think seriously about adding Coenzyme Q10 supplements to your diet.  Since food contains only race amounts, supplementation should seriously be considered.  Although it is rather expensive you may find it worthwhile.  Q10 has many applications.  You can expect improvements in blood pressure, respiration, energy levels, blood sugar levels, lipid peroxidation, heart function and gum health.  There is over forty years of scientific research clearly demonstrating that Coenzyme Q10 is safe and effective.  Don’t turn a blind eye to nature’s revitalizer.

You can learn more about natural living at http://www.healingaction.com.

Robert M. Oliva, CSW is a certified New York State social worker with over twenty years experience in psychotherapy, stress management and wellness. Bob is an internationally known health writer and is the founder and editor-in-chief of the health site HealingAction.com. Presently, Bob is a doctoral candidate in naturopathy at Clayton College. He lives with his wife Mary and his two sons David and Chris on Long Island, New York. Bob also spends a few hours a week playing with his grandson Jonathan.