CoQ10 sounds more like a play shouted out on the football field than what it really is—a vitamin-like substance found in nearly every cell of the body. CoQ10 is the abbreviated version of its more formal name, Coenzyme Q10. A coenzyme is sort of like an assistant that helps complete chemical reactions in the body. CoQ10 has an important job working in the mitochondria, a fancy name for the energy-producing part of cells, where it assists in the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP is what cells use for energy to make chemical reactions and muscle contractions. In addition to assisting with the vital job of energy production, CoQ10 also functions as an antioxidant.

The Heart Helper
Although it’s an important substance to every cell, there are a few vital organs that have especially high concentrations of CoQ10, including the heart, liver, kidneys, and pancreas. It’s in matters of the heart where CoQ10 has generated the most excitement concerning its potential, but other areas of use are emerging, too.

Research that has found CoQ10 supplementation can be of great benefit to certain groups of people, especially those with lower than normal levels of CoQ10. One such group at risk for suboptimal levels is people with congestive heart failure, or CHF. CHF occurs when the heart has trouble pumping enough blood to all the organs. Studies have found that adding oral CoQ10 supplements to the current medication regimen of CHF patients, but not alone, seems to help improve their quality of life. These patients require fewer visits to the hospital and also report improvements in their CHF symptoms. Those with the lowest levels of CoQ10 initially tend to have the best results after correcting those low levels with supplements. In Japan and in many parts of Europe, CoQ10 is part of the standard treatment plan for CHF and other heart-related problems. Most studies have used dosages of 100 milligrams per day.

In other studies, heart attack sufferers who begin taking 120 milligrams of CoQ10 per day appear to significantly reduce their risk of having additional cardiac events, including having another heart attack.

Statin Drugs and CoQ10 Depletion

Statin drugs, commonly prescribed to lower high cholesterol levels, appear to deplete natural CoQ10 levels in the body. Many health-care professionals recommend supplementing with CoQ10 while on these statins or the dietary supplement red yeast rice, which works like a statin, to replenish potentially depleted stores. Some popular statins are Lipitor, Zocor, and Crestor. Beta blockers taken for high blood pressure can also lower natural CoQ10 levels. Some research has found that taking CoQ10 in addition to prescribed blood pressure medication can further reduce blood pressure, decreasing the need for higher drug doses and sometimes eliminating the need for medication altogether.

Additional Areas of Interest
Higher doses of CoQ10 appear to improve immune system function in those with HIV, and delay the decline associated with Parkinson’s when given in the beginning stages of the disease. Researchers have also studied CoQ10’s effect on migraines, breast cancer, and athletic performance.

Manufacturers not only offer stand-alone CoQ10 supplements, but they also include the compound as an ingredient in some of their products, such as Nature’s Way’s cholesterol control formula Sytrinol with CoQ10 and CytoSport’s meal replacement powder Cytomax Pre-Formance.

Always talk to your doctor before adding more supplements to your current regimen. Although CoQ10 is generally considered safe with few side effects, it could interact with certain medications, including Coumadin (warfarin), a commonly prescribed blood thinner, and some chemotherapy drugs.

—Megan Witt