Coenzyme Q10 Benefits and Side Effects
(CoQ 10; ubiquinone)                         zhion@zhion.com              March 2008
What is Coenzyme Q10?
Coenzyme Q10 (or CoQ 10)  is a compound that is produced in most
animals including human being. CoQ10 plays an important role in our
energy production, such as production of ATP. ATP is used in the energy
transfer between mitochondria and cells. Coenzyme Q10 helps
mitochondria to metabolize fats and carbohydrates. It also helps maintain
cell membrane flexibility.

What happens with Coenzyme Q10 when we age?
As we age, our body' Coenzyme Q10 production may decline by as much
as eighty percent. Consequently, some people believe that Coenzyme Q10
may beneficially affect the aging process.

What are its health benefits?
Animal studies and clinical trials have shown that a decrease in Coenzyme
Q10 levels is related to a wide variety of diseases. Coenzyme Q10, an
antioxidant or a free radical scavenger, inhibits lipid peroxidation. Lipid
peroxidation is a normal aspect of the aging process however it also
implicates certain age-related diseases.

How was Coenzyme Q10 discovered?
In 1957, Dr. Frederick Crane, The University of Wisconsin, discovered
Coenzyme Q10. One year later, Merck scientists identified its structure,
and produced Coenzyme Q10 through fermentation. In 1960s, Japanese
used Coenzyme Q10 in cardiac insufficiencies. In 1972, Dr. Folkers and
Gian Paolo Littarru found that people suffered from cardiac insufficiencies
had very low levels of CoQ10. Supplementation increased Coenzyme Q10
levels and positively affected heart health. In 1974, Japanese approved
the use of Coenzyme Q10. And now, Coenzyme Q10 is one of the most
widely used products in the Japanese pharmaceutical industry.
[angsjoen,
Peter H. Introduction To Coenzyme Q10; , Internet source]

CARDIAC PROTECTION Russian researchers at Ministry of Health of
Russian Federation, Moscow, isolated a rat heart and studied the changes
in myocardium during oxidative stress induced by infusion of hydrogen
peroxide in the coronary vessels. They found that coenzyme Q increases
resistance of the myocardium to oxidative stress in two ways- (1) direct
antioxidant protection and (2) protection of antioxidant enzymes.

[Lakomkin VL et al, Biochemistry (Mosc). 2005 Jan; 70 (1):79-84].

Researchers have suggested to use Coenzyme Q10 as a supportive
therapy for certain conditions. For instance, preoperative oral Coenzyme
Q10 therapy in patients undergoing cardiac surgery increases myocardial
and cardiac mitochondrial Coenzyme Q10 levels, improves mitochondrial
efficiency, and increases myocardial tolerance to in vitro
hypoxia-reoxygenation stress.
[J Rosenfeldt F et al, Alfred Hospital, Baker
Heart Research Institute , Melbourne, Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2005
Jan;129(1):25-32]
Furthermore, Coenzyme Q10 may provide some
protection against cardiotoxicity or liver toxicity during cancer treatment
[Roffe L et al, University of Southampton, Southampton, J Clin Oncol. 2004
Nov 1;22(21):4418-24]

COENZYME Q10 SIDE EFFECTS
CoQ10 appears to be safe and well-tolerated in most patients. In a study,
researchers supplied 150 mg of coenzyme Q10 to a patient suffered from
maternally-inherited diabetes and deafness (MIDD). They couldn't find any
side effects.  [2] In another study, reasearhers treated a patient with 75
mg of coenzyme Q10 twice a day for 1 year. They also couldn't find any
side effects. [3] However, high doses of CoQ 10 may cause various
unwanted side effects. In a 6-month open-label study, researchers offered
600-1200 mg coenzyme to 10 patients suffered from Huntington's disease
daily. Though telephone interview, researchers assessed the associated
adverse events - side effects.  Four subjects reported mild side effects
such as headache, hearburn, fatigue and increased involuntary
movements. [1]

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The above information is for your reference only. The effect of a product depends
on its dosage form, method of preparation, chemical origin and extraction. If you
have any question, please, consult with your doctor.

[NOTE 1] The the coenzyme Q10 supplements mentioned in the article  are used as
examples for "what" in the market. Zhion does not recommend any particular
brands of commercial supplements nor taking
high dose of vitamin E. Consult with
your doctor before taking any health supplements.

[1] Feigin A et al, Assessment of coenzyme Q10 tolerability in Huntington's
disease. Mov Disord. 1996 May;11(3):321-3. [2] Salles JE et al, Myocardial
dysfunction in mitochondrial diabetes treated with Coenzyme Q10, Diabetes Res
Clin Pract. 2005 Oct 24. [3] Angeli SI et al, Coenzyme Q-10 treatment of patients
with a 7445A--->G mitochondrial DNA mutation stops the progression of hearing
loss. Acta Otolaryngol. 2005 May;125(5):510-2.
Coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinone)  is  one of the top best sellers in the health supplement market. Almost all the major health supplement
manufacturers or suppliers carry this product.
COENZYME Q10 SUPPLEMENT PRODUCTS IN THE MARKET
There are a lot of coenyzme Q10 supplements in the market. Most manufacturers also add vitamin
E into the products. Here are some examples:
Now Foods adds rice bran oil and vitamin E (as d-alpha tocopherol) into their coenzyme Q10
product. Such that, each serving contains 30 IU of vitamin E and 100 mg of coenzyme Q10. They
recommend users to take 1 softgel 1-2 times a day, preferably with meals. In their advertisement,
they claims that they use pharmaceutical-grade natural form of CoQ10, imported from Japan. And,
this coenzyme Q10 is produced through a natural fementation process. [NOTE 1]

Natural Factors, Canada, also incorporate vitamin E into their product - ClearQ (Clear Base e). One
serving of this product contains 400 IU of vitamin E (as d-alpha tocopherol & d-alpha tocopheryl
acetate) and 50 mg of CoQ10. Note,
this amount of vitamin E is equivalent to 1330%DV. In their
advertisement, Dr. Murray N.D.  recommended this formula.[NOTE 1]

Jarrow Formulas uses coenzyme Q10 manufacturered by Kaneka. They claim that their coenzyme
Q10 is pharmaceutical grade and derived from yeast fermentation. They also claim their product
consisting only of the natural trans configuration, the same as syntehsized by humans. One serving
contains 100 mg of coenzyme Q-10 (ubiquinone).[NOTE 1]
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