CoQ10 is an enzyme naturally present in almost all of the cells of your body and primarily found in the mitochondria (tiny membranes that metabolize energy from food and aid in aerobic cellular respiration, generating 95% of your body’s energy! So CoQ10 benefits organs which have the highest energy requirement such as your heart, liver and kidneys. Research has proven this, with countless studies suggesting that CoQ10 is essential for heart health, lowers cholesterol and lowers blood pressure. The majority of research into CoQ10 benefits has been focused on heart disease, however there have been studies which highlight other health benefits of CoQ10:
- Used to treat rare mitochondrial diseases. While rare, patients not capable of producing enough CoQ10 may suffer from mitochondrial and other metabolic diseases. In these cases, it will be prescribed by a physician to help prevent some very serious symptoms such as visual and hearing problems, learning disabilities, heart, liver and kidney disease, respiratory diseases and more.
- Promotes a healthy heart. Evidence suggests that there is often a CoQ10 deficiency in heart failures and CoQ10 plasma concentrations have also been used as a predictor of mortality in heart failure. Oxidation of the circulating LDL is thought to play a key role in causing heart attacks and strokes and ubiquinol (a form of Coenzyme Q10) in human LDL provides protection against the oxidation process, resulting in a healthy heart for you.
- Prevents migraines. In a recent study, 61% of patients who took Coenzyme Q10 as a migraine preventive reported 50% fewer migraines during the three month study. A dose of just 15mg a day is enough to ensure a significant reduction in migraines and headaches.
- Increases energy. Studies have shown that CoQ10 benefits those suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome. Because chronic fatigue is a symptom of mitochondrial failure, CoQ10 provides your body, and the mitochondria cells, with the energy it needs. Higher doses of Coenzyme Q10 are required for this, with doses ranging from 200-600mg per day.
- Lowers blood pressure. Clinical trials found that the benefits of CoQ10 are the same as traditional pharmaceuticals when treating blood pressure. They also showed that they lower blood pressure without the damaging side effects that most pharmaceuticals can bring.
- Reduces inflammation. A study published in Lancet magazine has shown that when combined with natural vitamin E, Coenzyme Q10 can significantly reduce inflammation and oxidative stress – two components involved in the progression and development of vascular diseases.
- Slows the progression of Parkinson’s disease. In what could be a major medical breakthrough in the future, a study into Parkinson’s patients taking 1400mg of CoQ10 daily found that this slowed progression of the disease by 44%.
- Helps patients waiting for a heart transplant. Another of the many CoQ10 benefits is that it can improve the overall health of a patient in preparation for a heart transplant. A recent study concluded that the administration of CoQ10 to heart transplant candidates led to a significant improvement in functional status, clinical symptoms, and quality of life.
Because CoQ10 is a natural ingredient which your body requires to function properly, there are little if any Coenzyme Q10 side effects. In higher doses of 1000mg+ per day, it has been known to restlessness and insomnia in some patients. To really maximize the benefits of CoQ10 without any negative side effects you should aim to keep the dosage at around 15mg per day. This will be enough to not only give you the main CoQ10 benefits, but also to stimulate your body’s own production of this vital nutrient.