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| chemical structure of Ubiquinone (Coenzyme Q) (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
If you
have been reading the Plain Truth or Your Health Today, you know that we
have shown our readers that there are benefits of tobacco that the
media and the government do not want you to know about! For example, if
your doctor has you on a Statin (Lipitor for example) and not on Q10, he should be arrested! Q10 and statins are mandated in Europe! So guess where most Q10 comes from? Read on for the answer!
Coenzyme Q10 is also known as Coenzyme Q10, ubiquinone-50, ubiquinol-10, and ubidecarerone. It belongs to a class of molecules known as ubiquinones.
The different coenzyme molecules consist of a head and a tail, each
responsible for specific actions. There are 12 different coenzymes.
The number of units on the tail designates the number of a given
coenzyme.
Coenzyme Q10
is an essential cofactor involved in the electron transport chain,
accepting electrons in both Complex I and Complex II. Without Coenzyme Q10, ATP (energy), could not be made. Coenzyme Q10 is also a potent antioxidant, primarily affecting the mitochondria and cell membranes. Like Vitamin E and Vitamin A, CoQ10 is also a lipid soluble anti-oxidant. This ubiquinone protects the cell membrane and other components of the cell against lipid peroxidation.
Coenzymes occur in the majority of aerobic (oxygen using) bacteria, plants, and animals. Coenzyme Q10
is the most prominent form in humans. It is biosynthesized by the
human body in the liver. Interestingly, the pathway used to create
Coenzyme Q10 is also the pathway used to make cholesterol.
Coenzyme Q10 is absorbed in the small intestine. Only 40% of ingested Coenzyme Q10 is absorbed and used by the human body. Once it enters the blood the different cholesterol molecules, LDL, HDL, and VLDL, provide carriers for its movement throughout the body. Because it is bound to cholesterol, any unabsorbed Coenzyme Q10 is excreted in the bile.
Coenzyme Q10 is believed to be cardioprotective, cytoprotective, and neuroprotective. It is an anti-oxidant and an important metabolic cofactor for the production of energy.
The main sources of supplemental Coenzyme Q10 are tobacco leaf extracts, and fermented beet and sugar cane. [1] There are no therapeutic dosages of Coenzyme Q10 available from any food source. Additionally, tthe amount of Coenzyme Q10 made by the human body does not meet the dosages for therapeutic value in the treatments of chronic disease.
Coenzyme Q10
is an effective adjunct treatment for various conditions of the
cardiovascular system. Its most well recognized and studied uses lie
within the conditions of congestive heart failure, hypertension, and
angina.
-
For individuals with congestive heart failure, Coenzyme
Q10 has been shown to increase the quality of life. In study,
CoQ10
has yielded improvements in the common symptoms of congestive heart
failure such as; cyanosis, edema, breathing abnormalities, enlarged
liver, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, sweating, insomnia,
vertigo, and
arrhythmias. [
2] Coenzyme
Q10 was also able to increase the exercise capacity in individuals with heart failure. [
3]
-
Coenzyme Q10 may improves symptoms in patients with high blood pressure,
mitral valve
prolapse, and angina. Studies have documented reduction in the amounts of medications needed by individuals with those conditions. [
4]
-
Coenzyme Q10 is also protective against the development of
atherosclerosis, by inhibiting the oxidation of
LDL [
1] and by increasing
HDL levels. [
5] Coenzyme
Q10 has also been shown to reduce the number of cardiac events following a heart attack, including the development of
atherosclerosis. [
5]
-
Coenzyme Q10
may be an effective addition to any cancer treatment protocol. Numerous
studies have highlighted its ability to decrease the cardiac toxicity
of a popular anti-cancer drug,
doxorubicin; also known as
Adriamycin. [
6]
Doxorubicin is an
anthracycline antibiotic that is commonly used for leukemia and lymphoma, but is very toxic to heart tissue.
-
There are also reports that Coenzyme
Q10
may be a useful adjunctive treatment for individuals with breast
cancer. However, more studies are needed to confirm this preliminary
finding. Coenzyme
Q10 can reduce oxidative stress via its anti-oxidant action. It is theorized that by reducing oxidative stress,
CoQ10
can protect against cardiovascular and neurological disease; among the
many other conditions that may be related to free radical damage and
oxidative stress. [
7]
-
Coenzyme Q10
can be helpful for individuals with early onset Parkinson's disease.
It may slow the progression of disease and deterioration of cognitive
function. [
9] In one particular controlled study, individuals taking Coenzyme
Q10 had less disability over time than those not taking Coenzyme
Q10. Supplemental
CoQ10 was well tolerated with few side effects in very high doses.
-
Individuals with Type II diabetes may benefit from taking Coenzyme
Q10 as well. Marked improvements in
glycemic control caused by
CoQ10's ability to positively affecting Hemoglobin
A1C levels have been noted. It has also been effective at lowering the blood pressure of individuals with Type II diabetes. [
8] However,
CoQ10 is not thought to be effective in controlling the
glycemic response of those people with Type I diabetes.
-
Coenzyme Q10
can effectively lower blood pressure in both essential hypertension
(not caused by another disease) and secondary hypertension (caused by
another disease). [
10]
-
Coenzyme Q10 may improve exercise performance and recovery. [
11] It may be helpful for individuals with high endurance sports activities such as swimming, marathon runners, and cyclists.
-
Topical Coenzyme Q10 can be an effective treatment alone, or in combination with non-surgical therapy for peridontitis. It has been shown to improve symptoms of the disease and reduce the progression. [12] Topical CoQ10 creams are also becoming popular in many cosmetic formulations.
