A few decades ago, most people—even cardiologists—did not have a deep knowledge of, or appreciation for, coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). But now, CoQ10 is recognized as one of the premier antioxidants for heart health and overall anti-aging benefits.
There are many reasons why CoQ10 should be part of your daily supplement regimen. Understanding what CoQ10 does in the body can help explain why it’s so important.
What Is CoQ10 and What Does It Do?
CoQ10 is an essential component in your body’s production of energy. The majority of the CoQ10 in your body resides in your heart, but it’s also in the brain and liver. Considering these are three of the hardest-working organs in the body, it’s only natural they need as much energy as possible.
CoQ10 has two main functions.
First, CoQ10 is the “gasoline” that fuels your mitochondria—the tiny organelles in every single cell that function as “energy factories.” CoQ10 escorts electrons from the foods you eat to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP)—a molecule that contains a readily available form of energy. All this activity takes place in the mitochondria, where up to 95 percent of the body’s ATP is produced.
Second, CoQ10 protects the heart and arteries from oxidative stress and inflammation by neutralizing free radicals. This function becomes even more critical considering ATP production generates a lot of free radical byproducts.
In addition to its well-documented heart-protective properties, CoQ10 has been shown to fight periodontal disease, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, macular degeneration, and other conditions associated with aging and free radical damage.
Symptoms Of CoQ10 Deficiencies
The biggest problem with CoQ10 is that our natural production of it starts declining pretty early in life—in many cases as early as our 30s.
Signs of CoQ10 deficiency include fatigue, muscle weakness, lack of energy, difficulty concentrating, and/or memory lapses.
Knowing this, is it any wonder so many people feel just plain “blah” by middle age?
To tell if you truly have low levels of CoQ10, your doctor can order bloodwork. But it’s pretty safe to say that most people over the age of 40 have lower-than-optimal levels. As you age, you produce less CoQ10, yet your body’s demand for it never goes down. That’s a sure formula for deficiency!
Another major cause of CoQ10 deficiency is the use of certain medications. Statin drugs (used to lower cholesterol) and beta blockers (used to treat hypertension) are the biggest culprits. Considering statins and blood pressure drugs are two of the top prescribed medications in the US, it would be a fair assumption that CoQ10 deficiencies are very common.
Natural Sources of CoQ10
Some foods provide dietary CoQ10. Sardines, salmon, broccoli, and spinach are good, but organ meats (like heart and liver) are some of the most concentrated food sources. These aren’t always the most popular cuts of meat, but they are by far the most nutrient dense!
If you’re not a fan of liver or heart, you’re in luck. CoQ10 supplements are a reliable (and taste-free) way to enjoy the benefits of this nutrient.
These days, CoQ10 supplements are readily available…but finding a high-quality brand that delivers what it promises may be challenging. You see, some forms of CoQ10 aren’t easily absorbed by the body. So you could be taking the prescribed dose, but not experiencing any benefits.
The most effective CoQ10 you can buy should be formulated for enhanced bioavailability (absorption). Newport Natural Health’s CoQMax is one such brand. It is made with HydroQsorb, which is 300% more absorbable than the ordinary CoQ10 you’d find at the drug store.
Recommended Dosage Of CoQ10
Recommended doses for CoQ10 are:
- 100 mg daily for healthy adults
- 200 mg for healthy adults taking beta blockers, statins, or other drugs known to deplete CoQ10
- 300 mg daily for adults with heart disease, hypertension, congestive heart failure, or another heart condition
Higher doses may be required for people with Parkinson’s disease or serious conditions.
Remember, these are general guidelines. Dosages vary from person to person, which is why it’s important to work with your doctor to figure out how much you should be taking, based on your lab results, pre-existing health conditions, and symptoms.
The Added Benefit of Curcumin
Even better, the CoQMax formulation includes 500 mg of curcumin.
Curcumin, the active ingredient in the culinary spice turmeric, is one of Mother Nature’s most powerful natural anti-inflammatories. According to a report in the journal Advanced Experimental Medical Biology: “Curcumin has been shown to exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer activities and thus has the potential against various malignant diseases, diabetes, allergies, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, and other chronic illnesses.”1
Not only has curcumin been shown to significantly lower systemic inflammation (a major driver in some of the deadliest health conditions), it has been studied as a preventive and therapeutic agent for cancer, arthritis, depression, neurodegenerative problems, cardiovascular disease, and more.2
Like CoQ10, curcumin is notoriously difficult for the body to absorb. This is why Newport Natural Health uses Cavacurmin, a specially formulated curcumin that is 40 times more bioavailable than standard curcumin.
Together, CoQ10 and curcumin help to fight fatigue and inflammation, allowing you to feel revitalized and reenergized. Together, they offer ultimate protection to your heart, brain, joints, and other organs.
And by taking CoQMax, you can be assured that your body is truly absorbing and benefitting from these nutrients.
References
- Aggarwal B, et al. Curcumin: the Indian solid gold. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2007;595:1-75.
- Wongcharoen W and Phrommintikul A. The protective role of curcumin in cardiovascular diseases. Int J Cardiol. 2009 Apr 3;133(2):145-51.
List Edit: July 30, 2021
