By: Elna Botes van Schalkwyk
What is COQ10?
CoQ10 is an enzyme that occurs naturally in the mitochondria of every cell in your body. It plays a key part in metabolizing energy from food. Coenzyme Q10 was first isolated in 1957. Since then, scientists have studied its effects on a wide variety of illnesses and conditions. CoQ10 is essential in the production of energy in your body, and is found in large concentrations in tissues that use a lot of energy, like your heart. Please check the post by Esther Vasa on CoQ10 and Energy.
Research has shown that CoQ10 is essential for heart health because it helps lower cholesterol, discourages atherosclerosis and lowering high blood pressure.
The amazing health benefits of CoQ10:
- CoQ10 prevents migraine. A 2002 study reported that 61% of patients treated with CoQ10 as a migraine preventive reported 50% fewer migraines at the end of three months.
- CoQ10 increases energy. Studies on the effect of CoQ10 supplements in people with chronic fatigue syndrome showed that those with higher levels of CoQ10 reported higher levels of energy than those with deficient levels of the enzyme.
- CoQ10 helps reduce inflammation. A 2004 study reported in Lancet magazine showed that higher levels of CoQ10 were associated with enhanced benefits from treatment with vitamin E .
- CoQ10 can reduce high blood pressure. Patients treated with CoQ10 showed the same reduction of blood pressure as those being treated with traditional pharmaceuticals - which have far more damaging side effects.
- CoQ10 reduces the damage caused by Parkinson's Disease. One very promising avenue of research suggests that CoQ10 substantially reduces the damages caused by Parkinson's disease. In a small study, the patients treated with the highest levels of CoQ10 showed significantly less impairment to their motor functions than those on lower doses.
- CoQ10 can help people who are waiting for heart transplants. In a study undertaken in 2004, doctors found that that "the administration of CoQ10 to heart transplant candidates led to a significant improvement in functional status, clinical symptoms, and quality of life."
