Coenzyme Q10 is one of the more effective nutrients you can consider taking, which isn’t too expensive but produces results. And I can say this without reserve because I’ve just started testing it, but the difference in the way I feel is noticeable, even after just a short while taking it.
So here is my review of coenzyme Q10 or CoQ10, which I hope to write follow ups in future. To be honest, I used to think that coenzyme Q10 was just a minor nutrient in the anti aging puzzle, but how mistaken I was! It turns out that this fat soluble vitamin-like substance performs a wide variety of functions in the body, but so far has not been accorded proper recognition.
History
Surprisingly for a substance that exists in virtually every cell of the body, coenzyme Q10 was only discovered in 1957 (which wasn’t very long ago). A scientist from the University of Wisconsin, Dr Frederick Crane first identified and isolated it from the cells of beef heart. Subsequent work by scientists around the world managed to decipher its formula, synthesize, and mass produce it only a few years later. Because it was found in every cell of the body, it was also called ubiquinone.
Today, CoQ10 is still being tested in numerous lab tests. All tests have confirmed its role and importance in the vital processes of the human body, and demonstrated its efficacy.
Why is coenzyme Q10 so important?
Coenzyme Q10 is involved in cell metabolism and respiration, being an integral part of the ATP (adenosine triphosphate) generation process. Since all of our living cells produce energy via ATP, you can begin to appreciate why coenzyme Q10 is needed all the time, by the body.
More precisely, coenzyme Q10 is most needed by heart tissue, since the constant pumping of blood requires a vast amount of energy on a constant basis.
Coenzyme Q10 deficiency
CoQ10 deficiency is more widespread than previously believed. As we get older, the ability of the body to synthesize it becomes increasingly diminished. While CoQ10 is found in many types of foods we eat, the quantity which is present isn’t much in most cases. Also, the absorption rate isn’t good to start with. Some people may have mitochondrial disorders which also impair their body in producing enough CoQ10. Therefore, supplementation of coenzyme Q10 is not only beneficial, but needful in many cases.
It seems that just to get a minimum amount of CoQ10 into the body requires consumption of large amounts of foods that are already supposed to be rich in it.
Food sources of CoQ10
Some foods contain more CoQ10 than others. These include mackerel, herring, and sardine fish, animal heart and organs, soybean oil, and eggs. Grains also contain CoQ10, although the amount is much less than in meats. Therefore, vegetarians may need supplementation on a regular basis. Some of the lethargy symptoms frequently reported by vegetarians may actually be due to CoQ10 deficiency.
Benefits of coenzyme Q10
There have been many clinical trials, not all of which were thoroughly conclusive. You could say that the jury is still out on many counts, but taking additional CoQ10 appears to be beneficial “most of the time” anyway. Just some of the benefits of coenzyme Q10 may include:
- Improving chronic fatigue syndrome
- Improving heart health
- Improving exercise performance and tolerance
- Help in chronic recurring migraine
- Improve skin elasticity and tone
- Help in muscular dystrophy
- Diminish the effects of Parkinsons disease
- Help in AMD (Age related Macular Degeneration)
- Assist the body during anti cancer treatment
- Improve the overall immune system
Note that I used the word “may” in describing the benefits of coenzyme Q10, since many of the tests were not conclusive, or systematically done. Also, some of the benefits attributed to coenzyme Q10, were inferred from lab tests involving mice (which lived longer).
The anti aging effects attributed to CoQ10 may be due to CoQ10 going to work rapidly on the skin. Improvements may even be noticed within days, as CoQ10 gets rapidly taken up by energy hungry cells in order to fuel their growth and activities.
Many beauty products are now incorporating CoQ10 to be applied onto the skin, where it is believed to be absorbed by the skin cells directly, although I think the best way of getting more CoQ10 is simply to consume CoQ10 supplements internally.
Optimal dosage
Although CoQ10 overdosage may produce some unpleasant side effects, it is still considered one of the safest nutrients to take. I notice 30 mg being a “standard” dose, although these days, it is not uncommon for some people to take hundreds of miligrams without experiencing any negative side effects. A typical daily dosage is 30-100 mg a day.
In the meantime
It seems that coenzyme Q10 is a great antioxidant, and that alone qualifies it as an anti aging agent that is highly needed in today’s stress filled environment, laden to the brim with cell damaging free radicals. It is a great adjunct to any HGH or anti aging therapy, providing cells with an easily utilizable energy source. The less strain imposed on cells, the longer they live. The longer cells live, the longer we can live.
