Coenzyme Q10 Increases Post-CPR Survival

[Guest guest]

Coenzyme Q10 Increases Post-CPR Survival

JoAnn Guest Mar 20, 2005 14:22 PST

======================================================================

 

By Maureen Williams, ND

 

Healthnotes Newswire (February 24, 2005)—Combining coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)

supplementation with hypothermia therapy increases survival and might

prevent neurological damage in people who have received CPR

(cardiopulmonary resuscitation) after a heart attack, according to

Circulation (2004;110:3011–6).

 

CPR is a technique used to restore the heartbeat and breathing

immediately after events such as a heart attack or a major trauma.

Despite its lifesaving potential, about 88% of people who have been

resuscitated with CPR die before they are able to leave the hospital; of

those who survive, more than 90% have permanent brain or nerve damage

that leaves them partially or completely disabled. The injury to nerve

tissues can occur both during the time when there is no blood flow

(before CPR) and during the time immediately following the restoration

of blood flow (after CPR), a phenomenon known as “reperfusion injury.”

Two studies have found that keeping the person in a state of mild

hypothermia (subnormal body temperature) for 24 hours after

resuscitation can reduce nerve damage from reperfusion injury and

increase the likelihood of recovery.

 

CoQ10, a nutrient found throughout the body, is an antioxidant involved

in producing energy in cells. It is widely known for its beneficial

effects on heart health, including protecting the heart muscle from

damage due to lack of oxygen. CoQ10 has recently received attention for

its apparent benefit in neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s

disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s chorea, and Lou Gehrig’s

disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). It is proposed that CoQ10 might

similarly protect nerve tissues from damage in people who have received

CPR.

 

Forty-nine people who had received CPR after experiencing sudden loss of

heartbeat (cardiac arrest) were included in the current study. All

participants arrived for treatment within six hours of their cardiac

arrest and were treated with mild hypothermia therapy for the 24 hours

immediately following. During hypothermia therapy, a cooling mattress

was used to maintain a body temperature of 35 to 36°C (95 to 96.8°F);

after 24 hours, the body was slowly warmed to a normal temperature of

37°C (98.6°F).

 

Participants were randomly assigned to receive either CoQ10 (250 mg upon

entry to the study followed by 150 mg three times per day for 90 days)

or placebo. Neurological testing was performed on each participant upon

entry to the study, as well as 1,3, 5, and 90 days after entry.

Significantly more of the people receiving CoQ10 (68%) than receiving

placebo (29%) were still alive at the end of the study. Furthermore,

more people using CoQ10 (36%) had good neurological function at the end

of the study than those receiving placebo (20%).

 

The results of this study suggest that CoQ10 combined with mild

hypothermia therapy increases survival and might reduce neurological

damage in people who received CPR after a heart attack. Future studies

are needed to verify these findings, and the optimal amount and timing

for CoQ10 supplementation needs further investigation.

 

Maureen Williams, ND, received her bachelor’s degree from the University

of Pennsylvania and her Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr

University in Seattle, WA. She has a private practice in Quechee, VT,

and does extensive work with traditional herbal medicine in Guatemala

and Honduras. Dr. Williams is a regular contributor to Healthnotes

Newswire.

 

2005 Healthnotes, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or

redistribution of the Healthnotes® content is expressly prohibited

without the prior written consent of Healthnotes, Inc. Healthnotes

Newswire is for educational or informational purposes only, and is not

intended to diagnose or provide treatment for any condition. If you have

any concerns about your own health, you should always consult with a

healthcare professional. Healthnotes, Inc. shall not be liable for any

errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance

thereon. HEALTHNOTES and the Healthnotes logo are registered trademarks

of Healthnotes, Inc.

 

http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/centers/int/article.jhtml?relativePath=%2Fcontent%2\

Fnewswire%2Fcurrent%2Fnewswire_2005_02_24_1.htm & title=Healthnotes+Newswire%3A+Co\

enzyme+Q10+Increases+Post-CPR+Survival & description=

 

 

 

 

AIM Barleygreen

" Wisdom of the Past, Food of the Future "

 

http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Diets.html