Do I need to take a CoQ10 supplement to age positively?
By Janet Ryan, Wellness Consultant
I’m often asked ‘what the heck is CoQ10?’ followed by ‘why do I need to take it?’
Like any other supplement there should be a reason you take them. Keep in mind that there’s always a possibility that your body uses more of a certain nutrient without any explanation.
And sometimes there is an explanation.
Perhaps after reading this article, you’ll have better insight into what CoQ10 does in your body, and how it can help you protect the damage that aging creates, naturally.
Beneath most chronic disease is ‘inflammation’. It may be created differently for each of us or can result from a faulty ‘auto- immune’ system, food allergy, toxins, abuse, poor diet, stress or even genetic factors.
As a wellness and nutraceutical consultant, I’d like to share with you some basic knowledge. Keep in mind that there’s plenty of good sources to learn more, and I have provided a few regarding CoQ10.
I urge you to never stop learning. Research is ongoing and uncovers new findings that can help us age positively.
WHY DO WE AGE?
The body ages. We break down.
Our bodies stop producing various nutrients, antioxidants, etc. Of course stress plays its part as well.
You may have heard the term ‘FREE RADICAL DAMAGE. Eek, what does that mean? Is it a term from the 60’s or something??
No, it’s not! It’s happening every day, throughout your body, aging you and your cells.
There are some processes in the body we can’t stop, and sometimes there are processes we can start. It could be genetic, it could be lifestyle, it could be stress related.
Nevertheless, we age. Oxidative stress is inevitable, but we can address it. and we can FUEL our cells with proper nutrients they need to FIGHT the aging process.
That’s where CoQ10 comes in.
Without analyzing genetics or going into a long winded ‘science based’ conversation, I’d like to point out a few facts about CoQ10, and why it might benefit you as you age or deal with a chronic condition.
ABOUT Co-Q10- Ubiquinol
Ubiquinol is also a strong antioxidant that helps reduce damage to healthy cells in the body.
And it all starts to happen around the age of 30. Whether we like it or not.
A fat-soluble nutrient that acts as an antioxidant within your cells
An ‘enzyme’ that supports energy process in the mitochondria (energy factory of cells)
Your body produces CoQ10 naturally.
Production tends to decrease with age.
Exercise helps your body produce CoQ10- (think ENERGY!)
Lacking in diet (small amounts in meat and shellfish- oysters)
Anti-Aging/ anti-oxidant - fights Free Radical damage/ repairs cellular damage
Some cholesterol meds decrease production of CoQ10 (statins)
Ubiquinol = Ubiquitous means ‘EVERYWHERE’. COQ10 is everywhere in your body!
CoQ10 affects the expression of genes involved in human cell signaling
Helps protect heart, brain, muscle and bone health
WHY WOULD I BE DEFICIENT? CoQ10 production decreases as you age. Other causes of CoQ10 deficiency can include:
Nutritional deficiencies, such as vitamin B6 deficiency
Genetic defects in CoQ10 synthesis or utilization
Increased demands by tissues as a consequence of disease
Mitochondrial diseases
Oxidative stress due to aging
Side effects of statin treatments
THE ‘ENERGY’ ENZYME
CoQ10 is one of the most important Co-enzymes in our bodies. It plays a critical role in the creation of cellular energy. Maybe you remember the ‘Krebs; cycle or ATP process from High School science class.
Without COQ10, the ‘energy’ cycle just doesn’t perform well. CELLULAR ENERGY means energy for EVERY CELL in your body, especially in your muscles.
Guess which muscle is your hardest working?
Your heart. No joke.
Lots of CoQ10 is found inside the tissue of energy-demanding organs such as the heart, brain, liver and kidneys.
SHOULD I TAKE COQ10?
In general, most of us don’t make change unless we have a need. Not enough energy, a chronic condition, poor sleep, etc.
What we may not realize is that as we age, there are many factors at play.
Increasing CoQ10 intake has been linked to protection from cardiovascular disease, neurological conditions, age-related bone loss, metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes and more.
Heart Health- Our hearts have the highest concentration of COQ10. Loaded with Mitochondria creates a very high demand for CoQ10. Since aging reduces access to CoQ10, it plays a role in the development of various cardiovascular conditions.
Brain Health-may protect against Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases by limiting brain inflammation and beta- amyloid protein build up; brain plaque. The brain is very susceptible to oxidative damage due to its high fatty acid content and its high demand for oxygen. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/coenzyme-q10#section9
Diabetes Support- Oxidative stress can induce cell damage. This can result in metabolic diseases like diabetes. CoQ10 has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity and regulate blood sugar levels https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24586567
Muscle and Exercise Recovery- helps fight the oxidative stress created by exercise (Free Radical damage)
Several studies have found that CoQ10 supplementation (60–100 mg/day for 4–8 weeks) improves aerobic power, anaerobic threshold, exercise performance, and/or recovery after exercise in trained athletes and
untrained individuals. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2315638/
Chemo/Radiation Support
‘Some studies have suggested COQ10 may be a useful adjunct to chemo and/or radiation in the management of cancer. (2)
Gum Health
CoQ10 aids in generating energy and is found in every cell of your body, especially the heart and gums. Low levels of this essential enzyme have been linked to periodontal disease. In one study a periodontal specialist discovered that people with diseased gums had an unusually large deficiency of coenzyme Q-10.
WILL MY BODY USE COQ10?
There are 2 forms of COQ10; conventional CoQ10 (Ubiquinone) must be converted in your body into Ubiquinol (the active or ‘reduced’ form of CoQ10).
You may have a problem converting, either due to a genetic factor or other health reasons. Your body’s ability to convert it also becomes less efficient with age. It’s especially important for those over 40 to take the UBIQUINOL form.
CAN MY BODY CREATE COQ10?
It does help a lot to exercise. You can actually ‘create’ energy in your cells by stimulating them with exercise. It’s kind of like a spark plug- a conduit to make everything ‘energize’ in your body and mind.
SpectraSpray’s CoQ10 TRIFECTA!
1. Ubiquinol- the active form; ready to be used by your body
2. Kaneka™ brand Ubiquinol- for even better absorption
3. Spray delivery with nutrients only in a water- soluble form that’s ready to absorb
Please note: although the 40IU dose may seem low, it can deliver 4-5x the amount of Ubiquinol in a dose than capsules. (Therefore, our dose of 40 IU can be equivalent to 160-200IU of other products that are not in an emulsion/spray formula)
More than 10 clinical trials with CoQ10 are registered with NIH - National Institutes of Health (ClinicalTrials.gov) ranging from treatment of depression to healthy reproductive function.
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Summary:
It supports the energy process of every cell. We cannot live without it.
Our heart cannot function without consistent amounts.
CoQ10 is a key nutrient needed for healhty aging; fighting free radical damage and oxidative stress that naturally starts to occur over age 30.
Since it is difficult to abstract it from food, there’s a very good chance you should be supplementing with it to support OPTIMAL HEALTH and POSITIVE AGING, especially if you are dealing with one of the chronic health issues mentioned in this article.
Your levels can be measure by micronutrient testing like SpectraCell, which measure intracellular nutrients inside the cell) rather than simply in the blood. Please speak to a nutritionist, Registered Dietician or health professional trained and certified in FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE.
Food Sources of CoQ10
· Organ meats: Heart, liver and kidney.
· Some muscle meats: Pork, beef and chicken.
· Fatty fish: Trout, herring, mackerel and sardine.
· Vegetables: Spinach, cauliflower and broccoli.
· Fruit: Oranges and strawberries.
· Legumes: Soybeans, lentils and peanuts.
· Nuts and seeds: Sesame seeds and pistachios.
Further Suggested Reading:
These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to treat, prevent, cure or diagnose any disease.
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