First discovered in 1957, Coenzyme Q10, or simply CoQ10, is also called ubiquinone, a name that signifies its ubiquitous (widespread) distribution in the human body. As a coenzyme, this nutrient aids mitochondria, the powerhouses of cells, in the complex process of transforming food into ATP, the energy on which the body runs. Coenzyme Q10 is a nutrient which has been found to be beneficial for a surprising variety of health problems: CoQ10 is an abbreviation for a nutrient called Coenzyme Q10- also called Ubiquinol and Ubiquinone. And because of these studies, CoQ10 for heart failure has been put to the test as a safe and effective helper treatment for the debilitation long-term problem of chronic Congestive Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathy. In fact, there is such a large amount of evidence for the use of CoQ10 and Heart Failure that studies show that including it as a part of Congestive Heart Failure Nutrition can:Measurably Strengthen the Heart MuscleDecrease Abnormally Thickened AreasImprove Cardiac Cell CoQ10 LevelsImprove Blood PressureIncrease Survival even in the sickest patientsPossibly decrease or eliminate Statin Side EffectsCoenzyme Q10 is a fat-soluble antioxidant that is found in virtually all cell membranes, hence its alternative name "ubiquinone." The antioxidant activity of vitamin E requires the CoQ10 to be available, to which vitamin E will pass on the unpaired electron (free radical) that it has scavenged. CoQ10 also acts as an anti-oxidant independently, protecting against DNA damage and other forms of oxidative damage caused by the consumption of excess polyunsaturated fatty acids. Rich sources of dietary coenzyme Q10 include mainly meat, poultry, and fish. Other relatively rich sources include soybean and canola oils, and nuts. Fruits, vegetables, eggs, and dairy products are moderate sources of coenzyme Q10.Approximately 14%-32% of coenzyme Q10 was lost during frying of vegetables and eggs, but the coenzyme Q10 content of these foods did not change when they were boiled".The primary site of free radical damage is the DNA found in the mitochondria. Mitochondria are small membrane-enclosed regions of a cell which produce the chemicals a cell uses for energy. Mitochondria are the "energy factory" of the cell. Every cell contains an enormous set of molecules called DNA which provide chemical instructions for a cell to function.Co–Q10 is also a very powerful antioxidant. It is made in our bodies, within a cell organelle called the "mitochondria", and is most concentrated in the energy–demanding heart, brain and muscle systems. Unfortunately, Co–Q10 levels decrease with age (starting at 35 years).Coenzyme Q10 is also an essential component of the mitochondria (the "power-house" of the cell), playing a critical role in the formation of ATP, the body's fundamental energy unit, from carbohydrate and fatty acid metabolism.It appears that Coenzyme Q10 might be involved in maintaining the proper pH of lysosomes, which are a digestive component of cells, as well.2
Co–Q10 in Vegetables Several vegetables contain small to moderate amounts of coenzyme Q10, including spinach, broccoli, sweet potato, sweet pepper, garlic, peas, cauliflower and carrots." peanuts and wheat germ, Also, it is important to note that these foods must be raw, fresh and unprocessed - no milling, canning, preserving, freezing, etc."3) the germs of whole grains. The most concentrated sources of coenzyme Q - like heart or kidney - contain about 2-3 milligrams of coenzyme Q per ounce of heart or kidney. The germs of grains, while containing less coenzyme Q per ounce, also contain vitamin E in amounts of 5-10 IU per ounce, and this vitamin E works together with coenzyme Q in the body." Our bodies are able to produce some of the CoQ10 that we need. The rest is synthesized from the foods we eat. Statins Inhibit Coenzyme Q10 Synthesis. In fact, the use of statins can decrease the body's synthesis of coenzyme Q10 by as much as 40%! Functions of Coenzyme Q10: According to Dr. Sears, coenzyme Q10 prevents arteriosclerosis by reducing the accumulation of oxidized fats in blood vessels, eases high blood pressure, regulates the rhythm of the heart, and improves chest pain and exercise toleration in angina patients. With CoQ10 for Heart Failure study after study shows that the use of this commonly available fat-soluble antioxidant may show "Extraordinary Clinical Improvement" for even the sickest patients by repairing the Cause of Congestive Heart Failure. And while doctors almost never do a Blood Level of CoQ10, it is as simple as a blood test to see who might be able to use this super safe nutrient that gets glowing reviews from the researchers - as one of the treatments for heart failure
What are Statin DrugsThe frequency of Statin Side Effects, which have been reported in up to 20% of people taking them in some studies, should make ANYONE who is taking these drugs designed to reduce the cholesterol level sit up and take notice. If you are taking any statin drugs to reduce cholesterol level, then you should be aware of the function that these drugs have on your body and which of the many and sometimes dangerous and even deadly side effects of statin drugs should concern you.Statin drugs work by blocking the substances that help to produce cholesterol in the body. With the end result of lowering cholesterol levels these drugs have been hailed as an important step in the prevention of heart disease and stroke. However, there is much Research on Statin Drugs that say that while these drugs DO reduce cholesterol levels,the beneficial effects of reduced cholesterol has never been confirmed and may even be harmful! The problem of Statin Drugs Muscle Weakness and/or muscle pain is a condition that is technically known as 'Statin Induced Myopathy' and occurs in a certain percentage of people that take the Cholesterol lowering 'Statin medications'. Also known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, these cholesterol lowering medications go by names such as Lovastatin, Pravastatin and many others that end in 'statin' and are widely prescribed for their purported ability to significantly lower cholesterol levels.
While no one is debating that they DO effectively decrease cholesterol levels, only that there is a heated debate about whether high cholesterol is actually responsible for an increase in heart disease and, therefore, whether the risk of side effects such as Statin Drugs Muscle Weakness, liver problems, muscle pain, muscle damage, poor memory and other Statin Side Effects are worth the small benefit in heart disease that they apparently give. And in fact, one statin drug, cerivastatin (Baycol), has been recalled after a significant number of deaths from a condition called Rhabdomyolysis, a severe form of Statin Induced Myopathy with massively elevated CPK Blood Test indicating large amounts of muscle death!
Congestive Heart Failure Nutrition has been studied extensively with the conclusion by many researchers that patients with congestive heart failure can benefit- sometimes GREATLY from improved nutrition. Researchers use the word 'malnourished' to describe heart failure patients, and with the increased nutritional demand on the body during such a stressful chronic condition as heart failure, patients are bound to feel better with improved nutrition.
But even though researchers are clear that Congestive Heart Failure Nutrition is important, if you asked most doctors, they would tell you not to eat salt- and that would be the end of it. The while the vast majority of doctors still just do not believe that Congestive Heart Failure Nutrition is important, research clearly shows that they are just plain wrong.
Researchers have explored the effects of coenzyme Q10 supplementation in people with periodontal disease, which has been linked to coenzyme Q10 deficiency. Double-blind studies show that people with gum disease given coenzyme Q10 achieve better results than those given a placebo.(1) coenzyme q10 and gums
Virtually every cell in the human body contains coenzyme Q10. The mitochondria, the area of cells where energy is produced, contain the most coenzyme Q10. The heart and the liver, because they contain the most mitochondria per cell, contain the greatest amount of coenzyme Q10. Coenzyme Q10 has helped some people with congestive heart failure (2) - an effect reported in an analysis of 8 controlled trials (3) and found in some (4), although not all double-blind studies.(5,6) Coenzyme Q10 may take several months to show beneficial effects. People with congestive heart failure who are taking coenzyme Q10 should not stop taking it suddenly, because sudden withdrawal may temporarily aggravate the symptoms of congestive heart failure.Coenzyme Q10 and Parkinson's disease
Results of the first placebo-controlled, multi-center clinical trial of the compound coenzyme Q10 suggest that it can slow down disease progression in patients with early-stage Parkinson's disease. While the findings must be confirmed in a larger study, they provide hope that coenzyme Q10 may ultimately provide a new way of treating Parkinson's disease."This trial suggests that coenzyme Q10 can slow the rate of deterioration in Parkinson's disease," says Dr. Shults. "However, before the compound is used widely, the results need to be confirmed in a larger group of patients."
The researchers believe that coenzyme Q10 works by improving the function of mitochondria (10), the 'powerhouses' which produce energy in cells. Coenzyme Q10 is an important link in the chain of chemical reactions which produces this energy. It's also a potent antioxidant - a chemical that "mops up" harmful free radicals generated during normal metabolism. Previous studies carried out by Dr. Shults, Richard Haas, M.D., of UCSD and Flint Beal, M.D., of Cornell University have shown that coenzyme Q10 levels in mitochondria in Parkinson's disease patients are reduced and that mitochondrial function in these patients is impaired.
Animal studies have shown that coenzyme Q10 can protect the area of the brain which is damaged in Parkinson's disease. Dr. Shults and his colleagues also conducted a pilot study with Parkinson's disease patients which showed that consumption of up to 800 mg/day of coenzyme Q10 was well tolerated and significantly increased the level of coenzyme Q10 in the bloodstream.
Dr. Denham Harmon became very famous for having "discovered" free radicals or, more accurately, for developing the "free radical concept of aging."The nucleus of an atom is surrounded by a cloud of electrons. These electrons surround the nucleus in pairs, but occasionally an atom loses an electron, leaving the atom with an "unpaired" electron. The atom is then called a "free radical", and it is very reactive. When cells in the body encounter a free radical, the reactive radical may cause destruction in the cell. According to Dr. Harmon's free radical theory of aging, cells continuously produce free radicals, and constant free radical damage eventually kills the cell. When free radicals kill or damage enough cells in an organism, the organism ages.(1)
What is a free radical?
A free radical, in my mind, was simply an atom which had an odd number of electrons in its outer ring.In summary, you should be comfortable with understanding what a "free radical" is. It is an atom with an unpaired electron in the outer ring. It is lacking an electron. Does a free radical always have to be just one atom? No. It can also be a molecule, made up of 2 or more atoms.
free radicals are atoms or molecules which contain unpaired electrons. Since electrons have a very strong tendency to exist in a paired rather than an unpaired state, free radicals indiscriminately pick up electrons from other atoms, which in turn converts those other atoms into secondary free radicals, thus setting up a chain reaction which can cause substantial biological damage.r. Harmon's theory implies that antioxidants such as vitamin C and vitamin E, which prevent free radicals from oxidizing (removing electrons from) sensitive biological molecules, will slow the aging process. Dr. Harmon launched his theory by showing, for the first time, that feeding a variety of antioxidants to mammals extended their life spans.
