What is its history?
CoQ10 was discovered by Dr. Frederick Crane, a plant physiologist at the University of Wisconsin Enzyme Institute, in 1957. Utilizing specialized fermentation technology developed by Japanese manufacturers, cost-effective production of CoQ10 began in the mid-1960s. To this day, fermentation remains the dominant production method around the globe.
In 1958, Dr. D.E. Wolf under Dr. Karl Folkers PhD first described the chemical structure of coenzyme Q10. Dr. Folkers later received the 1986 Priestly Medal from the American Chemical Society for his research on coenzyme Q10.
During the 1980's Japan's medical technology finally allowed scientists to measure CoQ10 levels in blood and tissues, leading to a surge in further research. It was during this time that a Swedish researcher, Lars Ernster, drew attention to CoQ10's role as a free radical-scavenging antioxidant. Today a multitude of research supports CoQ10's health benefits. The Japanese were the first to approve widespread use of CoQ10, granting market approval for it in 1974 and it is still widely used today.
Reports written by approximately 200 different physicians and scientists from 18 countries found that CoQ10 significantly improved heart muscle function while producing no adverse effects or drug interactions.
How does it help?
CoQ10 supplementation has helped some people with congestive heart failure(CHF), but the beneficial effects of CoQ10 may not be seen until after several months of treatment. Discontinuation of CoQ10 supplementation in people with CHF has resulted in severe relapses and should only be attempted under the supervision of a doctor.
Research has shown people with cardiomyopathies, a group of diseases affecting heart muscle, have seen improvement with the use CoQ10. People with heart arrhythmias can also benefit from CoQ10. Preliminary research in this area reported improvement after approximately one month in people with premature ventricular beats (a form of arrhythmia) who also suffer from diabetes.
Furthermore, it has been confirmed that angina patients taking 150 mg per day of CoQ10 report a greater ability to exercise without experiencing chest pain. Problems resulting from heart surgery occurred less frequently in people given CoQ10 compared with the control group.
Muscle mitochondria lack adequate CoQ10 in people with muscular dystrophy. In a double-blind three-month trial, four of eight people with muscular dystrophy had improvements in heart function and sense of well-being when supplementing CoQ10. Similarly, CoQ10 (along with iron and vitamin B6) appears to have helped several people with Alzheimer's disease who reported it slowed the progression of the disease.
CoQ10 also modulates immunity. This could be why women with metastatic breast cancer (cancer that had spread to other tissues) had a regression of their cancer after treatment with a very large amount of CoQ10 (390 mg per day). CoQ10 appears to modulate blood pressure as well. Several trials have reported that supplementation with CoQ10 significantly reduced blood pressure in people with hypertension.
Where is it found?
CoQ10 is found primarily in fish, meat, and in some vegetables such as spinach and broccoli. Supplementation offers higher levels.
Who is likely to be deficient?
It is unsure whether CoQ10 deficiency is caused by synthesis problems in the body or an insufficiency in the diet. Low blood levels have been reported in people with heart failure, cardiomyopathy, gingivitis(inflammation of the gums), morbid obesity, hypertension, muscular dystrophy, diabetes, AIDS, and in some people on kidney dialysis. People with phenylketonuria(PKU) may be deficient in CoQ10 because of dietary restrictions. CoQ10 levels are also generally lower in older people.
Benefits
• may beneficially affect the aging process
• improves heart muscle function
• reduces blood pressure in people with hypertension
• boosts overall immune function
