CoQ10: why it's essential to heart health

Today, your heart will beat 100,000 times.

So what is the source of power for this most tender and valiant of muscles?

Well, first, it's got to be love, of course.

But for the more scientifically minded, here's an explanation: Inside each cell of your body is a microscopic energy factory that uses chemicals and electrical charges to keep all systems operating. One of the keys to the process is coenzyme Q10. While it's not fire only chemical required to produce energy, what makes CoQ10 unique is that it's the only coenzyme that's present in every single cell in the body. And it is found in the greatest concentration in the heart muscle.

Those facts have intrigued scientists ever since CoQ10 was discovered in 1957. A chemical found in such abundance in the body, they surmised, must carry significant healing properties. Because CoQ10 is such a basic source of energy, some advocates--doctors, nutritionists, body builders and cancer researchers--believe it is a miracle substance. Based on hundreds of studies conducted around the world, claims have been made that CoQ10 can be used to treat a wide variety of maladies: heart disease, gum disease, breast cancer, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, migraines, high blood pressure, infertility in males, skin diseases, fibromyalgia and more. Some even claim it can enhance athletic performance.

Take with Statins

Here's one thing that's known for sure: Experts agree that CoQ10 should be used as a nutritional supplement by people who are taking medications for heart-related problems. Those drugs-statins that lower cholesterol and others that help control blood pressure-are known to block production of CoQ10, which can eventually lead to a decrease in muscle function.

"This is a supplement that is helpful for cardiovascular health," says Roberta Anding, a registered dietitian and the resident nutritional expert for the Houston Texans football team. "It deserves the press it gets for heart health."

One prominent advocate who believes CoQ10's broader benefits have been proven is Andrew Weil, MD, the internationally known physician and author of Spontaneous Healing. As BN reported last mouth, Weil takes CoQ10 every day. He recommends 30 milligrams (mg) per day for most everyone and an additional 60 mg per day for anyone with the following conditions: people with a personal or family history of heart disease, people taking statin drugs, and people with high cholesterol, angina, diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance and breast cancer.

Safe to Use

Expressing a bit more caution is Ira Zunin, a medical doctor who runs the Manakai O Malama Integrative Health Care Group and Rehabilitation Center in Honolulu. He recommends CoQ10 to heart patients, people who are obese and those with diabetes. Studies have shown that it can help diabetics control their blood sugar levels, he says.

Yet, even though Zunin doesn't suggest it as an everyday supplement to all Iris patients, he does take it himself--100 mg per day for the past 10 years. He believes it gives him extra energy, and he likes its antioxidant properties, especially in relation to heart health.

One thing that is clear is CoQ10's safety record. Researchers have found no side effects associated with its use, and there appear to be no adverse reactions when it's taken with pharmaceuticals. While that's no guarantee that there will never be any negative findings, it provides enough assurance for Zunin.

"More research needs to be done," he says. "But the downside is low, and the potential upside (of CoQ10) is great."

Joe Lewandowski is a freelance writer specializing in health and the environment. He can be reached at worddog@comcast.net.

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