The Truth About Co-Q10

In my career to date, I have worn a number of hats. I’ve been a sought-after strength and conditioning coach for athletes, a coach, trainer, and diet-guru for bodybuilding, fitness, and figure competitors, a boot camp instructor, and a nutritionist for all of my clients. Today I'm going to tell you the truth about Co-Q10.

Nutrition for my clients generally involves education on how foods affect the body and how to construct their ideal diet for their individual circumstances—that have generally been about getting stronger, faster, muscular, and leaner.

I’ve also had a few clients who weren’t in great health and have counseled them on nutritional practices that have significantly improved their health.

Ninety-nine percent of the time, the nutritional changes do not involve nutritional supplements because improved and varied whole-food consumption solves most people’s problems.

As with anything, there are exceptions, and this article will provide you with the Truth About Co-Q10.

Co-Q10 is a vitamin-like substance present in the mitochondria (furnace) of every cell of the body. It is a co-enzyme involved in a number of key energy production pathways and has important anti-oxidant properties. Our bodies naturally produce it, and it is found in many foods we eat.

Interestingly Co-Q10 is found in the highest concentrations in heart muscle tissue. When the heart has sustained damage, or where heart disease is present, there is a significant drop in Co-Q10 content.

Many studies have shown a beneficial effect of Co-Q10 supplementation in people with compromised heart function, however, the unfortunate effect of politics in medicine and science to this day prevents a positive conclusive stance by any major medical association or institution. That there is no profit for big pharma in the equation is the leading reason for the lack of backing of Co-Q10.

There have been enough studies showing significant positive results to merit further research, unfortunately while science must do further studies to prove it’s effectiveness, many people will miss out on the benefits of this very safe compound.

Of all the research done, a number of factors are well agreed upon:

1. Vegans and those avoiding consumption of red meats often have very low Co-Q10 levels.
2. Statin and beta-blocker medications can lower Co-Q10 levels by as much as 40%.
3. Low levels of Co-Q10 are often found in high-volume endurance exercise trainees.
4. Heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and low HDL cholesterol, are common conditions in those with low Co-Q10 levels.
5. Low levels of Co-Q10 are common in people forty and over.
6. People in their twenties and younger generally have healthy Co-Q10 levels.


Considering that optimal function of all cells requires sufficient Co-Q10, and that deficiencies in this extremely important compound are commonplace in those taking medications for so many conditions that reduce Co-Q10 levels in the first place, it just makes plain sense to supplement with this important compound.

Additionally, the safety of Co-Q10 is indisputable.


In the end, it might be decades before Co-Q10 is endorsed by any medical association as a potent tool in the arsenal against many diseases. Fortunately, it is low cost, very safe, and you have the right to exercise your own choice to take it if you fit into any of the categories where deficiencies are common.


If you have any comments, I would love to hear them!


References:





1. Söderberg, M. (1990). "Lipid Compositions of Different Regions of the Human Brain During Aging". Journal of Neurochemistry 54: 415–419


2. Sarter B. ”Coenzyme Q10 and cardiovascular disease: a review”. J Cardiovasc Nurs. 2002 Jul; 16(4):9-20. Review.


3. Kishi T, Watanabe T, Folkers K. Bioenergetics in clinical medicine XV. “Inhibition of coenzyme Q10-enzymes by clinically used adrenergic blockers of beta-receptors”. Res Commun Chem Pathol Pharmacol. 1977 May;17(1):157-64.


4. Ghirlanda G, Oradei A, Manto A, Lippa S, Uccioli L, Caputo S, Greco AV,
Littarru GP. “Evidence of plasma CoQ10-lowering effect by HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study”. J Clin Pharmacol. 1993 Mar; 33(3):226-9.


5. Kalén A, Appelkvist EL, Dallner G. “Age-related changes in the lipid compositions of rat and human tissues”. Lipids. 1989 Jul; 24(7):579-84.


6. Thibault A, Samid D, Tompkins AC, Figg WD, Cooper MR, Hohl RJ, Trepel J, Liang B, Patronas N, Venzon DJ, Reed E, Myers CE. “Phase I study of lovastatin, an inhibitor of the mevalonate pathway, in patients with cancer”. Clin Cancer Res. 1996 Mar; 2(3):483-91.