the wonders of coenzyme Q10

Alberto says: Coenzyme Q10 (also known as ubiquinone, ubidecarenone, coenzyme Q, and abbreviated at times to CoQ10 (pronounced "ko-cue-ten"), CoQ, Q10, or Q) is a 1,4-benzoquinone, where Q refers to the quinone chemical group, and 10 refers to the number of isoprenyl chemical subunits in its tail.

This oil-soluble substance is present in most eukaryotic cells, primarily in the mitochondria. It is a component of the electron transport chain and participates in aerobic cellular respiration, generating energy in the form of ATP. Ninety-five percent of the human body’s energy is generated this way.

Therefore, those organs with the highest energy requirements—such as the heart, liver and kidney —have the highest CoQ10 concentrations.

CoQ10 is found in the membranes of many organelles. Since its primary function in cells is in generating energy, the highest concentration is found on the inner membrane of the mitochondrion. Some other organelles that contain CoQ10 include endoplasmic reticulum, peroxisomes, lysosomes, and vesicles. In its reduced form (ubiquinol), Coenzyme Q10 acts as an important antioxidant in the body.

Coenzyme Q10 is the 3rd most sold dietary ingredient in the United States after omega-3 and multivitamins.
According to the Mayo Clinic "CoQ10 has been used, recommended, or studied for numerous conditions, but remains controversial as a treatment in many areas." Further clinical results are needed to determine whether supplementation with coenzyme Q10 is beneficial for healthy people.

Supplementation of coenzyme Q10 is a treatment for some of the very rare and serious mitochondrial disorders and other metabolic disorders, where patients are not capable of producing enough coenzyme Q10 because of their disorder. Coenzyme Q10 is then prescribed by a physician.

Supplementation with coenzyme Q10 is beneficial in treatment of patients with congestive heart failure. However, The American College of Cardiology published in 2005 an expert consensus document concluding that the value of coenzyme Q10 in cardiovascular disease has not been clearly established. The Mayo clinic says that there is not enough scientific evidence to recommend for or against the use of CoQ10 in patients with coronary heart disease.

Supplementation of coenzyme Q10 has been found to have a beneficial effect on the condition of some sufferers of migraine headaches. So far, three studies have been done, of which two were small, did not have a placebo group, were not randomized, and were open-label, and one was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, which found statistically significant results despite its small sample size of 42 patients. Dosages were 150 to 300 mg/day.

And most importantly, coenzyme Q10 reduces oxidation and DNA double-strand breaks, and a combination of a diet rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids and coenzyme Q10 supplementation leads to a longer lifespan in humans.  IN addition, multiple studies have found no increase  in aging in humans supplemented with coenzyme Q10. Another study demonstrated that coenzyme Q10 extends the lifespan of humans.