CoQ10 may reduce mortality rates by half in patients with moderate to severe heart failure.

The antioxidant energy nutrient CoQ10 may reduce mortality rates by half in patients with moderate to severe heart failure, according to the conclusions drawn following the Q-SYMBIO Study. 

Q-Symbio, a double blind, placebo-controlled study gave 420 European and Asian patients either 100mg of CoQ10 three times per day (202 people) or placebo (218). After two years 25% of patients in the placebo group had a major adverse cardiovascular event, compared to 14% in the study group.

Mortality and hospital stays were also lower in the study group. Over the two-year period 18 patients died in the CoQ10 group (9%) compared to 36 (17%) in the placebo group.

These results are strong enough to be guideline changing, suggesting that CoQ10, a natural substance be considered as part of the maintenance therapy for all patients with chronic heart failure.

The author of the study concluded: “CoQ10 is the first medication to improve survival in chronic heart failure since ACE inhibitors and beta blockers more than a decade ago and should be added to standard heart failure therapy.”

About CoEnzyme Q-10

Inside the cells are little organelles called mitochondria that produce cellular energy (ATP) from carbohydrates and fat.  Coenzyme Q-10 works inside the cell to facilitate the process that converts your foods to energy.  Coenzyme Q-10 helps you produce ATP (energy).

The process of adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) production through the electron transport chain, also known as the respiratory chain, is called oxidative phosphorylation.1–4 NAD+ = nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide; NADH = reduced form of NAD+; FAD+ = flavin adenine dinucleotide; FADH = reduced form of FAD+; CoQ = coenzyme Q; Cyt c = cytochrome c; O₂ = oxygen; H₂O = water; ADP = adenosine 5'-diphosphate; P = phosphate; IMM = inner mitochondrial membrane.

CoEnzyme Q-10 for healthy teeth and gums!

CoEnzyme Q-10 for healthy teeth and gums!

Keeping your smile healthy may depend on antioxidants!

A new study on periodontal disease shows the importance of using the energy supplement CoEnzyme Q-10 on a daily basis. 

Researchers have found that coenzyme Q10 when applied topically to teeth for 28 days can reduce plaque induced gingivitis. 

The authors conclude "Promising results were obtained after the application of coenzyme Q10 as well as when it was used as an adjunct to scaling and root planing for treatment of plaque induced gingivitis".

Periodontal disease is an inflammatory disease process resulting from the interaction of a bacterial attack and host inflammatory response. Arrays of molecules are considered to mediate the inflammatory response at one time or another, among these are free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Periodontal pathogens can induce ROS overproduction and thus may cause collagen and periodontal cell breakdown. When ROS are scavenged by antioxidants, there can be a reduction of collagen degradation.

Ubiquinol (a highly absorbable form of coenzyme Q-10) serves as an endogenous antioxidant which increases the concentration of Coenzyme Q-10 in the diseased gingiva and effectively suppresses advanced periodontal inflammation.

The pharmacology of coenzyme Q-10 indicates that it may be an agent for treatment of periodontitis. On the basis of on new concepts of synergism with nutritional supplements and host response, coenzyme Q-10 may possibly be effective as a topical and/or systemic role or adjunctive treatment for periodontitis either as a stand-alone biological or in combination with other synergistic antioxidants (i.e., vitamins C and E).

Read about the study here.

Taking statins? Also take Coenzyme Q10 and Vitamin D

An experimental study involving statin-treated mice found that coenzyme Q10 could reverse atorvastatin-related mitochondrial dysfunction. atorvastatin-treated mice developed muscular mitochondrial dysfunction due to ubiquinone deficiency and a decrease in exercise endurance. The findings of this study in mice suggest that coenzyme Q10 supplementation may benefit those taking statin drugs by reversing some of the adverse effects induced by these medications. But coenzyme Q10 is not the only supplement that may be beneficial for those taking statins to control cholesterol. Vitamin D in a separate study was found to reverse the muscle pain and weakness associated with statin use, even when patients continued taking the statins.

Coenzyme Q10 reverses mitochondrial dysfunction in atorvastatin-treated mice and increases exercise endurance," Muraki A, Miyashita K, et al, J Appl Physiol, 2012

Ahmed W, Khan N, Glueck CJ, Pandey S, Wang P, Goldenberg N, et al. Low serum 25(OH) vitamin D levels (<32 ng/mL) are associated with reversible myositis-myalgia in statin-treated patients. Transl Res 2009;153:11-16