Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) Benefits

• Angina: CoQ10 has been shown to be effective in the treatment of angina. A Russian study found that patients with specific types of angina tended to have more active oxygen forms by leukocytes, higher concentration of malonic dialdehyde in plasma and lower antiperoxide resistance of plasma. These changes increase with increasing severity of the disease. By combining coenzyme Q10 with antianginal therapy, the doctors were able to suppress the generation of free radicals by leukocytes, allowing antiperoxide plasma resistance to increase.[4]
• CoQ10 and High Blood Pressure (Hypertension): CoQ10 was originally developed as a treatment for high blood pressure over forty years ago. It is still used for that purpose by doctors in Europe and Japan. In the United States, a total of 109 patients with symptomatic essential hypertension (high blood pressure) were observed after adding CoQ10 to their existing antihypertensive drug regimen. These patients were followed closely with frequent clinic visits to record blood pressure and clinical status and make necessary adjustments in drug therapy. After slightly more than four months of using CoQ10, 51% of patients were able to stop taking between one and three antihypertensive drugs.[5]
• Sudden Heart Failure and CoQ10: In a 1998 study of the benefits of CoQ10 in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), or sudden heart failure, researchers found that CoQ10, given along with other antioxidant nutrients, was protective. Singh, R.B., et al., concluded, "The antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E and beta-carotene, which were lower initially after AMI, increased more in the coenzyme Q10 group than in the placebo group. These findings suggest that coenzyme Q10 can provide rapid protective effects in patients with AMI if administered within three days of the onset of symptoms."[6]
• Protecting the Heart from Surgery-Induced Stress: With aging of the population, more elderly patients are requiring cardiac surgery. Researchers have found that Coenzyme Q10 has the potential to improve energy production in mitochondria by bypassing defective components in the respiratory chain as well as by reducing the effects of oxidative stress. We hypothesized that CoQ10 pretreatment prior to stress could improve the recovery of the myocardium after stress.[7] The bottom line is that the hearts of patients who have taken CoQ10 prior to surgery appear to heal more quickly from the surgery.
• Cardiomyopathy and Coenzyme Q10: Cardiomyopathy is an ongoing disease process that damages the muscle wall of the lower chambers of the heart. Peter Langsjoen, M.D., a cardiologist in Tyler, Texas, gives large doses of co[Q.sub.10] (300 to 400 milligrams [mg.]/day) to patients suffering from cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure. By boosting the energy output of heart cells, co[Q.sub.10] makes heart muscles stronger and better able to pump blood. In addition to his own work with CoQ10, Langsojeon reviewed 34 controlled trials and several open-label and long-term studies on the clinical effects of CoQ10 in cardiovascular diseases.[8]
• CoQ10 and Cardiovascular Disease: In another study, Dr. Lansojeon observed 424 patients with various forms of cardiovascular disease over an eight year period (1985-1993). In addition to their prescribed medications, Lansojeon added coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) to their medical regimens. Of the 424 patients, 58 per cent showed a slight degree of improvement (noted as one class of improvement according to the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional scale, 28% by two classes and 1.2% by three classes. These patients were able to reduce the number of medications they were taking to treat their condition. Before treatment with CoQ10, most patients were taking from one to five cardiac medications. During this study, overall medication requirements dropped considerably: 43% stopped between one and three drugs. Only 6% of the patients required the addition of one drug. No apparent side effects from CoQ10 treatment were noted other than a single case of transient nausea. In conclusion, CoQ10 is a safe and effective adjunctive treatment for a broad range of cardiovascular diseases, producing gratifying clinical responses while easing the medical and financial burden of multidrug therapy.[9]
• Parkinson's Disease: (see more information CoQ10 and Parkinson's) Coenzyme Q10 appears to slow the affects of Parkinson's Disease, degenerative neurological disorder for which no treatment has been shown to slow the progression.[10] In a study of eighty patients with early Parkinson's Disease who did not require treatment for their disability, those patients who were given CoQ10 supplements showed signs that the disease was progressing less rapidly than would have been expected. Coenzyme Q10 was safe and well tolerated at dosages of up to 1200 mg/d. Less disability developed in subjects assigned to coenzyme Q10 than in those assigned to placebo, and the benefit was greatest in subjects receiving the highest dosage of the supplement.
• Migraine Headaches: Thirty-two patients (26 women, 6 men) with a history of migraine were treated with 150 mg per day of Coenzyme Q10. A significant number of patients (61.3%) had a greater than 50% reduction in number of days with migraine headache. On average, these patients went from experiencing migraines on more than 7 days per month to experiencing headaches less than 3 days per month after 3 months of treatment. Mean reduction in migraine frequency after 1 month of treatment was 13.1% and this increased to 55.3% by the end of 3 months. There were no side-effects noted with coenzyme Q10. Doctors involved in the study concluded that based on the open label investigation coenzyme Q10 appears to be a good migraine preventive.[14]
• CoQ10 and Immune Function: Research of CoQ10 and the human immune system found that, on a daily dosage of 60 mg of CoQ10 for 3-12 weeks, patients with cardiovascular problems, cancer, and diabetes significantly raised their levels of immunoglobulin G, an antibody which supports immune function.[11]
• Magnetic Field Exposure: CoQ10 was shown to provide protection from magnetic field exposure. In research that may be especially interesting to men and the women who love them, animal studies have found that doses of CoQ10 before exposure to magnetic field caused a significant recovery of mice testes damage induced by high magnetic fields. Exposure of to a magnetic field caused a significant decrease in sperm count, motility, daily sperm production, and LDH-X activity, which was more pronounced than that of acute dose. Mice that had been injected with CoQ10 showed less damage to these vital organs. Treated mice that were harmed by the effects of the magnetic field recovered more quickly than those that had not been pretreated with CoQ10.[12]
• Breast Cancer and Coenzyme Q10: Additional CoQ10 benefits may also include helping the body guard against breast cancer.[15] Research has show a possible connection between Coenzyme deficiency and both carcinomas and non-malignant lesions[16]
• Male Fertility: CoQ10's role in improving male fertility has been the subject of other research as well. In research on human volunteers, seventeen patients with low fertilization rates were given 60 mg of supplemental CoQ10 for 103 days. The sperm's motility rate -- power to move toward the egg -- almost doubled.[13] And their fertilization rate more than doubled. Couples wanting to have a baby may want to consider using CoQ10 supplements as one part of a pregnancy plan. Other research indicates possible CoQ10 benefits to sperm production and that a related molecule, CoQ7, may actually increase the production of healthy sperm. Sperm production requires considerable energy. Due to its role in energy production, CoQ10 has been studied in infertile men.[17]
• CoQ10 and Weight Loss: In a Belgian study of 27 obese patients, Dr. Luc Van Gaal found that over 50% of the obese persons studied were significantly deficient in Co-Q10. Dr. Van Gaal and his colleagues then performed a clinical study on two groups of overweight subjects. Subjects in group A were found to be deficient in Co-Q10 while subjects in group B were not. Both groups were placed on controlled reducing diets and both were given 100 mg. of Co-Q10 daily. After 9 weeks Group A had lost an average of 30 pounds compared to an average of 13 pounds for group B. After 3 months the Co-Q10 deficient group had lost an average of 38 pounds.[22]