Co-Enzyme Q-10 - The Other Vitamin Have you ever heard of "Vitamin Q" or "Vitamin Co-Enzyme Q-10"? The startling fact is that Co-Enzyme Q-10 is a vitamin essential to our very lives, yet very few of us have ever heard about it until recently. Discovered in 1957 by Dr. Fred Crane at the University of Wisconsin, Co-Enzyme Q-10 is a nutrient necessary to the functioning of every cell in our bodies. Levels of Co-Enzyme Q-10 begin to decline around age 30 and steadily decrease with age, making supplementation increasingly important. Our bodies could not survive without Co-Enzyme Q-10. If body levels start dropping, so does our general health. Scientists have estimated that once body levels of Co-Enzyme Q-10 drop below the 25% deficiency levels, many health problems begin to flourish, including high blood pressure, heart attacks, angina, immune system depression , periodontal problems, lack of energy, weight gain, and even early death! A 75% drop in Co-Enzyme Q-10 levels is fatal. Preventative Value of Co-Enzyme Q-10 (Co-Q10) Numerous studies have shown that pre-treatment with Co-Q10 helps heart patients come through open heart surgeries in better health and with shorter recovery times than those who have not been so treated. This is because Co-Q10 possesses the ability to protect the heart during periods of aschemia, or oxygen deprivation. Miraculously, Co-Q10 has helped cardiomyopathy patients to live well beyond their usual life expectancies! In a study performed in 1998, Co-Q10 was shown to halve the total number of subsequent cardiovascular incidents in patients who had suffered myocardial infarctions (heart attack), as long as the Co-Q10 was begun within three days of the infarction. Perhaps more importantly, supplementation with Co-Q10 has a preventative effect
preventative against lack of oxygen, poor Vitamin and mineral supplementation, and against certain heart medications . Yes, heart medications . Strange as it may seem, certain heart medications that are prescribed to reduce cholesterol levels actually block the production of Co-Q10! Additionally, researchers believe that Co-Q10 prevents the oxidation of low-density lipoproteins (LDL; i.e., the "bad" cholesterol), making it an important supplement for anyone with high cholesterol. It is bound to the LDL by Vitamin E. How Does Co-Enzyme Q-10 Work? Co-Enzyme Q-10 is also known as ubiquinone, a member of the quinone cyclic compounds such as Vitamins E and K. Co-Enzyme Q-10 can supply or remove oxygen from biologically active molecules. Every cell in your body contains many intercellular components called mitochondria, which produce 95% of the total energy of the body. Co-Enzyme Q-10 is an integral part of the membranes of the mitochondria where it is involved in the production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the basic energy molecules of the cell. Supplementing Co-Enzyme Q-10 aids in the body's cellular respiration and energy production; it's that simple. Why Haven't I Heard Of Co-Enzyme Q-10? The answer is there's no money to be made from non-patentable substances. No money, no promotion. Learn this dictum of health education in the US, because what it means is that you, the consumer, must be proactive in maintaining your health. You must also be vigilant in your research, so as to avoid the pitfalls. Recommended Supplementation: Recent research indicates optimal daily supplementation should be in the amount of 1 mg of Co-Enzyme Q-10 per every pound of body weight. For example, a 150 pound person should supplement with 150 mg per day.
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