Most people understand that CoQ10 benefits heart health. Even the pharmaceutical industry understands this especially as it applies to the effects of statin drugs in interfering with your liver’s ability to naturally produce CoQ10.
For example, the 1989 patent application by pharmaceutical giant Merck revealed the need for CoQ10 since statin drugs deplete this needed energy compound in your body. Here’s a quote from part of their patent application:
“Since CoQ10 is of benefit in congestive heart failure patients, the combination with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) should be of value in such patients who also have the added risk of high cholesterol levels.”
Most statins effectively interfere with your liver’s ability to create cholesterol. Unfortunately they also interfere with your liver’s ability to create CoQ10, which is a needed coenzyme for proper energy production.
Why Merck, and other pharmaceutical companies, didn’t create a drug that combined a statin with CoQ10 is a mystery.
And, as statins were promoted by the pharmaceutical industry for the control of cholesterol, little was done to counter the side effects caused by these statin drugs.
Fortunately physicians are finally acknowledging this need for CoQ10. It’s reported that approximately 70% of cardiologists will prescribe CoQ10 for their heart disease patients.
But the purpose of this post is to help you understand that CoQ10 benefits go beyond heart health.
Why?
Because CoQ10 is a coenzyme that helps facilitate the creation of energy for all cells. And current research is revealing that CoQ10 can benefit brain, bone, and metabolic health while also reducing mortality.
What is CoQ10?
Before we list all the benefits of CoQ10 it’s important to understand what this molecule is. Within every cell are mitochondria. Mitochondria are the batteries or power generators. They convert the stored energy of the nutrients you consume into an energy form that your cells can use to perform their function.
CoQ10 is a critical component in the process of converting stored energy in your food into energy compounds your cells can use to do the work they are designed to do.
Without CoQ10 your cellular energy systems will fail and your cells will not function properly.
As the pharmaceutical industry has observed, the use of statins (which interfere with CoQ10 production in the liver) leads to an increase in congestive heart failure.
Additionally, CoQ10 is also a powerful antioxidant to help protect your cells and cell membranes from harmful free radicals. This protects your cells from oxidative stress that causes inflammation, which then contributes to cellular dysfunction and most diseases.
CoQ10 Benefits Multiple Organ Systems
A good CoQ10 supplementation program can go a long way in helping your body address its energy needs. As well as protecting your cells from oxidative stress. This is especially important in preventing oxidized LDL, which is the real cause of plaque formations within the vascular system.
CoQ10 Benefits Heart Health – There is extensive literature that clearly shows how CoQ10 benefits cardiovascular health. A recent study showed that taking 120 mg of CoQ10 daily decreased blood pressure by an average of 7%, triglycerides by 20%, and LDL cholesterol by 7%.
For those with a history of heart disease, the use of CoQ10 decreased mortality rates. This was especially noted in a long term study where people who supplemented daily with 200 mg of CoQ10 and 200 mg of selenium had a 41% reduction in cardiovascular-related mortality 12 years later.
CoQ10 Benefits Brain Health – Your brain requires a lot of energy to keep it healthy and functioning properly. So it would reason that CoQ10 would be beneficial in brain health.
In recent studies on rats, who were exposed to head injury, CoQ10 helps to protect the mitochondria from damage. This reduced cell death as well as oxidative stress and inflammation, which are also a part of head trama.
Rodent models of stoke are also showing CoQ10 benefits in helping to reduce brain trauma
And animal models are also showing how CoQ10 helps to protect against disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Specifically, CoQ10 protects mitochondrial function and limits brain inflammation, which all contribute to declining cognitive function.
CoQ10 Benefits Metabolic Function – Metabolic dysfunction is a contributing factor to the epidemic increase of both obesity and diabetes. CoQ10 supplementation has now been linked to the prevention of both obesity and diabetes.
Specifically CoQ10 helps to improve sugar and fat metabolism, which makes sense when you understand how critical CoQ10 is in energy production through your mitochondria.
CoQ10 Benefits Kidney Function – In a promising study, where CoQ10 was a part of the treatment program, there was a 7% to 21% improvement in kidney function.
CoQ10 Benefits Bone Health – Several studies are now showing how CoQ10 helps to prevent age-related decline in bone density, while boosting new bone formation, and helping to stimulate the growth of cells that form new bone.
Other Benefits of CoQ10 – There are current clinical trials that range from the treatment of depression to healthy reproductive function.
As you can see CoQ10 has multiple benefits to your overall health and wellness. And if you’re on a statin drug, then talk with your physician about incorporating an effective CoQ10 supplement into your daily routine.
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