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Coenzyme Q10
(Q10 or Ubiquinone)

Coenzyme Q10 is useful for enhancing the health of your heart. People believe that it can boost your energy and protect you cells against aging. If you suffer from any type of heart disease, it is a great idea take this supplement.

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Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10 or ubiquinone) has a low risk of side effects and it is an essential vitamin-like substance with many health benefits. It is proven helpful in treating heart-related problems such as congestive heart failure and to lower high blood pressure. Include Q10 as part of the heart-healthy supplements.

The other two essential heart health herbs worth considering are fish oil and garlic.

Table of Contents

Facts about Coenzyme Q10
Suggested Benefits and Traditional Uses
Side Effects, Toxicity and Warnings
Common Drug & Health Condition Interactions
Dosage & How to Take It

Evidence of Benefits (Leaf Rating System)

See this article for a quick list of all the evidence of the health benefits of coenzyme Q10.

	Coenzyme Q10 deficiency Co Q10 supplement is proven to bring the levels back to normal for those people who are deficient. Deficiency in Co Q10 may lead to weakness, fatigue and seizures.
	High blood pressure (Hypertension) Combining Co Q10 with prescription blood pressure medications brings blood pressure down more than by just taking the prescription drugs. On average, taking CoQ10 lowers systolic blood pressure by 11 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure by 7 mm Hg.
	Congestive heart failure (CHF) Research studies show Co Q10 when combined with other prescription medications to treat congestive heart failure (CHF) significantly improves the symptoms, reduces edema (swelling), insomnia and shortness of breath (dyspnea).
	Migraine Headaches Studies in humans suggest that Coenzyme Q10 can reduce the number and severity of migraine headaches in both children and adults. Studies show that this herb can reduce headaches by up to 30%. You may need to take Co Q10 for up to three months to show benefits.
	HIV / AIDS There is research evidence in human studies to show that taking Co Q10 enhances the immunes system in those suffering from HIV / AIDS.
	Heart attack (Myocardial infarction / MI) A study conducted in humans showed that by taking Co Q10 within three days of a heart attack and continuing for one year, it reduced the risk of another heart event and possible death.
	High Cholesterol One clinical study showed that taking Co Q10 increased the "good cholesterol" (HDL) but had no affect on the "bad cholesterol" (LDL). Moreover, another study showed it improves the blood flow in those suffering from diabetes who are taking a "statin" cholesterol lowering medication. Note: If you are taking a "statin" prescription medication for lowering high cholesterol (such as Lipitor or Crestor), they are known to deplete CoQ10. Taking a supplement becomes essential in this case..
	Male infertility / Fertility enhancement There are several studies that showed that taking Co Q10 supplement increases sperm count and motility. Taking Co Q10 increases the amount in the semen. It is believed that higher concentration in the semen will improve sperm function, leading to increased fertility.
	Enhance athletic performance Some studies show Co Q10 to improve exercise performance while others show no benefit at all. Better designed studies will be required to prove if Co Q10 is actually helpful.
	Alzheimer's Disease (AD) / Dementia Research studies show that taking coenzyme Q10 seems to slow down the memory loss of those suffering from Alzheimer's disease.
	Muscular Dystrophy Some people suffering from muscular dystrophies seem to perform better physically when they are taking Co Q10.
	Parkinson's Disease Taking doses of Co Q10 in the range of 300 to 2,400 mg daily seems to help slow the worsening of the early stages of Parkinson's disease or dementia. This promising result needs further research studies for verification.
	Antioxidant Benefits Co Q10 possesses antioxidant properties and have been suggested for slowing down the aging process and protecting the brain against oxidative damage by free radicals. Using a cream containing CoQ10 is believed to prevent skin wrinkles and reverse photo-damage caused by UV ray exposure.
	Asthma Studies suggest that Co Q10 might be helpful in treating asthma when combined with prescription medications.
	Angina (Chest Pain) Taking Co Q10 may help with reducing chest pain from angina.
	Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) Some studies suggest that Co Q10 supplements may help reduce the symptoms of chronic fatigue.
	Ringing in the ear (Tinnitus) One study suggests that people suffering from tinnitus who have low Co Q10 levels might benefit from taking this supplement.
	Breast cancer / Cancer (General) Studies will be required to see if Co Q10 supplement is effective in treating and curing breast and other forms of cancer.
	Prostate cancer - Probably Not Effective Taking Co Q10 does not seem have an affect on prostate cancer or the prostate serum antigen (PSA) levels in the blood.
	Diabetes - Probably Not Effective Co Q10 supplement does not seem to change blood sugar levels.

Facts about Coenzyme Q-10

What is it?

It is vitamin-like chemical that is found in practically all the cells in our body, especially the heart. It shows antioxidant properties and the body uses it the generate ATP, a storage form of energy. Coenzyme Q-10 levels drops after the age of 20 and after 80 years old, it can be lower than the levels found in you at birth.

Is has been used in Japan since 1974 to treat congestive heart failure.

Coenzyme Q10 is used extensively in Europe, Russia and Japan. The Japanese uses it to treat heart disease and is approved for use in treating congestive heart failure.

Some prescription medications are thought to lower the Co Q10 levels in our body. These includes:

antipsychotic medications
beta blockers
diabetic drugs
"statins" for lowering cholesterol such as Zocor, Mevacor and Crestor
Alzheimer's disease medications
heart medications
cancer drugs
"water pills" (diuretics)

What happens when you are having a Coenzyme-Q10 deficiency?

Research studies suggest that low levels of Co Q10 are found in people with heart disease, Parkinson's disease, cancer, diabetes, muscular dystrophy and HIV/AIDS.

As well, low levels of coenzyme Q10 might interfere with the energy production pathway in our body. The benefits of taking Co Q10 have not been clearly shown in research studies in humans.

Suggested Benefits and Traditional Uses

Orally

age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
anti-aging benefits
antioxidant benefits
Alzheimer's disease / dementia
angina
asthma
breast cancer
coenzyme Q10 deficiency
congestive heart failure
diabetes
enhance athletic performance
enhancing the immune system
extending life
heart attack (myocardial infarction / MI)
heart disease
high cholesterol
HIV / AIDS
hypertension (high blood pressure)
kidney disease and failure
male infertility / enhances fertility
migraine headaches
muscular dystrophies
Parkinson's disease
reduces risk of high cholesterol medication use (statins)
tinnitus

Topically (on the skin)

photo-damaged skin
wrinkles

Side Effects, Toxicity and Warnings

Co Q10 has very little side effects. Most are mild and disappears with stopping this supplement or lowering the dose.

Possible side effects of taking this supplement include heartburn, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, skin rash, insomnia, headache, fatigue, irritability and flu-like symptoms.

Co Q10 may lower blood pressure. Monitor your blood pressure when starting or stopping this supplement.

Safety - Research studies have been done on Q10 lasting up to 30 months with no strong evidence of danger. It has been used in children for up to 9 months with minimal risks.

Pregnancy and Lactation - There is no information available on using CoQ10 during pregnancy or lactation.

Common Drug & Health Condition Interactions

Warfarin / Blood Thinners / Bleeding Disorder - caution

There has been some reports of Co Q10 increasing the risk of bleeding in those people taking blood thinners.

High Blood Pressure Medication / High Blood Pressure - caution

Co Q10 is suspected to lower blood pressure. Monitor your blood pressure when you are starting or stopping this supplement.

Blood Sugar Medications / Diabetes - theoretical

Coenzyme Q10 is suspected to lower blood sugar levels, but current research does not show this effect. Monitor your blood sugar when you start or stop this supplement just in case.

Cholesterol Medications - theoretical

Co Q10 may lower cholesterol levels. Have your doctor monitor your blood cholesterol levels if you are planning to take Co Q10.

Thyroid Medications - theoretical

Co Q10 is suspected to change thyroid levels, especially if you are taking thyroid supplements (such as Eltroxin, Synthroid, Levothroid, Levoxyl or Unithroid).

Dosage & How to Take It

Orally

There is no "standard" dose of Q10 that a person requires.

In adults, typical dose used is 50 to 1,200 milligrams daily (in two or three divided doses). 100 mg is a commonly used dosage. Start with a low dose and slow increase to reduce chance that side effects that might appear.

For increasing sperm count, dosage of 200 mg daily has been used for 6 months.

Topically (on the skin)

Creams containing various concentrations of Co Q10 are used to help treat wrinkles and signs of the aging skin.

Heart Disease - Natural ways to prevent this deadly disease

High Blood Pressure - Natural Remedies to lower high blood pressure

Return to Natural Remedies List

Selected References
Updated: July 6, 2010

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