The Benefits of Coenzyme Q10
Posted by Lewis Olden on
*Scroll down to the bottom of the article to find your discount code for ALL Cannacares CBD Products
Coenzyme Q10 is a compound that is commonly used in supplements to help generate energy in your cells. The human body produces Coenzyme Q10 naturally, however the amount of Coenzyme Q10 produced gradually declines with age. This is why Coenzyme Q10 is a great supplement to take to ensure you always feel energised and are ready to attack the day. Coenzyme Q10 can be consumed naturally through specific foods or by taking supplements such as Coenzyme Q10 formulated with CBD.
There are certain health conditions such as brain disorders, diabetes, cancer and heart disease that have been associated with low levels of Coenzyme Q10. It is not clear if the decreased levels of Coenzyme Q10 are a causation factor in the diseases or a result of the diseases.
What is Coenzyme Q10?
Coenzyme Q10 or CoQ10 is a compound made by the human body and is stored in the mitochondria of your cells. The mitochondria are the driving force within the body for the production of energy. The mitochondria also protect cells from viruses, disease carrying bacteria and oxidative damage. Coenzyme Q10 production in the body typically declines as you age, this is why the elderly tend to be more likely to be deficient in Coenzyme Q10.
There are other factors that can cause a Coenzyme Q10 deficiency, such as:
- Side effects of statin treatment
- Mitochondrial diseases
- Increased demands of tissues due to disease
- Nutritional deficiencies such as a B6 deficiency
- Genetic defects in Coenzyme Q10 synthesis
Studies have shown that Coenzyme Q10 plays an integral role in your body. One of the primary functions is to generate energy in your cells and Coenzyme Q10 is involved with making adenosine triphosphate (ATP) that is involved with the transfer of energy within cells.
CoQ10 also plays a crucial role in serving as an antioxidant to protect cells from damage caused by oxidation.
Too many free radicals can cause oxidative damage, and this has the potential to then interfere with the functioning of cells. Given that adenosine triphosphate is involved to carry out all bodily functions, this could be an explanation as to why sufferers of many chronic conditions have been linked to low levels of Coenzyme Q10.
Coenzyme Q10 is present in every single cell within the human body. The highest concentration of CoQ10 is found in organs that demand the most energy such as the liver, heart and kidneys.
Coenzyme Q10 may help treat Heart Failure
Heart failure often occurs as a result of other heart conditions like coronary artery disease or high blood pressure. These heart diseases lead to increased oxidative damage and cause the arteries and veins to become inflamed.
Heart failure often happens when the heart cannot regularly contract or pump blood through the body due to the respective disease inhibiting it. Some treatments for heart failure have extremely undesirable effects such as low blood pressure and other medications can reduce CoQ10 levels even more.
Coenzyme Q10 helps to treat heart failure by increasing heart function, improving ATP production and limiting oxidative damage.
Coenzyme Q10 Could Help with Fertility
Fertility in females decreases with age because of the decline quality and quantity of available eggs. Coenzyme Q10 is directly involved in the production of eggs. Coenzyme Q10 production slows as you age and the body becomes less effective at protecting the eggs from the oxidative damage. Taking supplements containing CoQ10 seem to help and could even reverse this age-related decline in egg quality and quantity.
Male sperm is also susceptible to the effects of oxidative damage which may result in reduced sperm count, infertility and the poor quality of sperm. The have been several studies carried out which illustrate that Coenzyme Q10 can improve sperm quality, concentration and activity by increasing antioxidant protection.
Coenzyme Q10 can Help Keep Your Skin Young
The skin is the largest organ in the human body. It is widely exposed to damaging factors that contribute to the skin ageing. The agents that cause ageing can either be internal or external factors. The internal factors that can damage your skin include hormonal imbalances and cellular damage. UV rays are an example of how an external factor can age the skin. Diet also plays a huge factor in the health of your skin.
When Coenzyme Q10 is applied to the skin, it can reduce the damage inflicted by direct sunlight to the skin and it can also enable more antioxidant protection.
Coenzyme Q10 could Reduce Migraines and Headaches
Mitochondria functioning in an abnormal manner may potentially lead to an increased calcium uptake in the cells, the over production of free radicals and decreased antioxidant protection. This has the capacity to result in low energy in the brain cells and sometimes even migraines. CoQ10 mainly exists on the mitochondria of the cells and Coenzyme Q10 has been shown to improve the mitochondrial function of the entire body and helps to decrease the inflammation that may occur during migraines.
Using Coenzyme Q10 supplements can help to prevent and treat headaches and migraines. This is because Coenzyme Q10 increase mitochondrial function and causes a reduction in inflammation.
Coenzyme Q10 Could Optimise Sporting Performance
Performance during sport or exercise can be affected by oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. CoQ10 is known to lower oxidative damage and Coenzyme Q10 can promote exercise capacity and decrease fatigue.
Coenzyme Q10 Could Help with Diabetes
Oxidative stress can induce cell damage and in turn, this cell damage can result in metabolic diseases such as diabetes. An abnormal mitochondrial function has also been linked to an increase in the resistance to insulin.
Coenzyme Q10 can improve insulin sensitivity and regulate blood sugar levels. Using Coenzyme Q10 supplements may also increase the Coenzyme Q10 concentrations in the blood by up to three times in those who suffer from diabetes who typically have very low levels of Coenzyme Q10.
Coenzyme Q10 Can Protect the Lungs
The lungs encounter the most oxygen of any organ in the human body. This means that the lungs are extremely susceptible to oxidative damage. The increase in oxidative damage in the lungs and the limited antioxidant protection which includes the low level of Coenzyme Q10, can cause lung diseases like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
It has been shown that asthma sufferers typically present lower levels of Coenzyme Q10.
A study that was undertaken demonstrated that supplementing with Coenzyme Q10 caused a reduction in inflammation in those who had asthma while also decreasing the need for steroid medications to treat asthma.
Other Benefits of Coenzyme Q10
Coenzyme Q10 may also have a critical role in the protection of DNA and the survival of cells. These factors are both strongly linked to cancer prevention and the recurrence of Cancer.
Coenzyme Q10 has exhibited that it can protect the brain cells from oxidative damage. This results in a reduction of the action of harmful compounds that can lead to brain disease.
Side Effects of Coenzyme Q10
Coenzyme Q10 is either in one of two forms, ubiquinol or ubiquinone. Ubiquinol accounts for around 90% of the Coenzyme Q10 in the blood and it is the most absorbable form.
The standard daily dose of Coenzyme Q10 can be anywhere from 90mg up to 200mg. Doses up to 500mg per day seem to be well tolerated and studies have used even higher doses without any evident side effects.
Coenzyme Q10 is fat soluble and this is why it is often recommended that it is taken with food or in a combination with oils to improve its absorption.
Food Sources of Coenzyme Q10
While Coenzyme Q10 can be easily consumed as a supplement in conjunction with a substance like CBD. Coenzyme Q10 is also found in certain foods. The evidence suggests that Coenzyme Q10 is absorbed in a similar via foods as it is in capsule form.
The below foods all contain Coenzyme Q10:
- Meats such as liver and kidney
- Some muscle meats such as pork, beef and chicken
- Fatty fish like trout, mackerel and sardines
- Vegetables such as broccoli, spinach and cauliflower
- Fruit like oranges and strawberries
- Peanuts
Conclusion
Coenzyme Q10 is fat soluble and is similar to a vitamin compound. It is apparent that Coenzyme Q10 has many health benefits. It is involved in the production of cellular energy and acts as an antioxidant. Coenzyme Q10 can preserve cells and can be used to prevent and treat certain chronic diseases. Coenzyme Q10 may improve heart health and the regulation of blood sugar within the body. Coenzyme Q10 can also help during cancer treatment and reduce the quantity and severity of headaches and migraines.
Coenzyme Q10 may also cause a decrease in the oxidative damage that leads to muscle fatigue and lung diseases.
Whether you consume Coenzyme Q10 by using a supplement or through the foods you eat, Coenzyme Q10 could benefit your health.
