Can Coenzyme Q-10 Lower Blood Pressure?

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Can Coenzyme Q-10 Lower Blood Pressure?

JoAnn Guest

Dec 12, 2003 13:29 PST

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Today's Question

What is Coenzyme Q and why do you take it?

-- Don Woods

 

Today's Answer

Coenzyme Q, also known as Co-Q-10, is a natural substance found in

most foods, that assists in oxygen utilization and energy production

by cells, especially heart-muscle cells.

 

Many medical papers demonstrate coenzyme Q's usefulness as a

preventive as well as a treatment. In general, coenzymes work with

enzymes to help them in their various biochemical functions.

 

Coenzymes are smaller than proteins, and so can survive digestion

and pass into the system.

 

Coenzyme Q was approved in Japan in 1974 to treat congestive heart

failure, and has also been approved in Sweden, Italy, Denmark, and

Canada.

 

I often recommend it to help stabilize blood sugar in people who

have diabetes, and to slow heart disease.

 

It also maintains the health of gums and other tissues.

 

There is evidence that coenzyme Q can prolong survival in women with

breast cancer, too.

 

Your body makes coenzyme Q, and you take it in when you eat cold-

water fish and the oils from non-gmo soybeans and sesame seeds. The

supplement form is imported from Japan.I take 100 milligrams once a

day with food as a general health-booster.

 

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Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) –

 

CoQ10 is a powerful antioxidant that has been shown to be beneficial

for heart health by protecting LDL cholesterol from oxidation and

re-energizing the mitochondria in the heart cells, which is where

energy metabolism occurs.

 

This nutrient is very important for the heart cells of patients with

heart failure. CoQ10 may also help lower blood pressure.

 

Coenzyme Q10 is an essential component of the metabolic process

involved in energy (ATP) production. In addition, CoQ10 has been

linked to protection of the brain.

 

Researchers believe it is important for protecting the cells

mitochondria, which may result in helping prevent 'degenerative'

diseases.

 

Unfortunately, the body's production of CoQ10 begins to decline

around age twenty, often leaving people seriously deficient by

middle age, when the body needs to fight off aging diseases.

 

The recommendation is usually 30 to 60 mgs a day for healthy people.

 

90 to 120 mgs are suggested for those who want to prevent signs of

aging or have high blood pressure problems.

 

One of the best aspects of CoQ10 appears to be that it has virtually

no side effects.It is one of the safest substances ever tested, even

at very high doses.

 

No significant toxicity in animal or long- term human studies

have ever been recorded.

 

Summary-

 

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is an essential component of the mitochondria -

the energy producing unit of the cells of our body. CoQ10 is

involved in the manufacture of ATP, the energy currency of all body

processes.

 

A good analogy for CoQ10's role is similar to the role of a spark

plug in a car engine. Just as the car cannot function without that

initial spark, the human body cannot function without CoQ10.

 

Although CoQ10 can be synthesized within the body, there are a

number of circumstances where the body simply does not make

sufficient amounts.

 

As the heart is one of the most metabolically active tissues in the

body, a CoQ10 deficiency affects the heart the most and can lead to

serious problems there.

 

Deficiency could be a result of impaired CoQ10 synthesis due to

nutritional deficiencies, a genetic or acquired defect in CoQ10

synthesis, or increased tissue needs.

 

Examples of diseases that require increased tissue levels of CoQ10

are primarily heart and vascular diseases including high cholesterol

levels and high blood pressure. In addition, people over the age of

50 may have increased CoQ10 requirements as CoQ10 levels are known

to decline with advancing age.

 

 

Are there food sources of CoQ10?

Yes, but the level of CoQ10 in food is relatively low.1 For example,

the typical daily intake of CoQ10 from dietary sources is only about

3-5 mg per day - nowhere near the level required to significantly

raise blood and tissue levels when CoQ10 supplementation is needed.

 

 

What are the principal uses of CoQ10?

 

CoQ10 supplementation is used primarily in the treatment of

cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure, congestive

heart failure, cardiomyopathy, mitral valve prolapse, coronary

artery bypass surgery, and angina.

 

Considerable scientific studies have validated these uses.

 

2-4 CoQ10 has also been shown to be helpful in diabetes; periodontal

disease; immune deficiency; cancer; as a weight-loss aid; and

muscular dystrophy.

 

Since the response of CoQ10 can take time, a noticeable improvement

might not occur until 8 or more weeks after therapy is begun.

 

How does CoQ10 improve heart function?

 

By improving energy production in the heart muscle and by acting as

an antioxidant.The therapeutic use of CoQ10 in cardiovascular

disease has been clearly documented in both animal studies and human

trials. CoQ10 deficiency is common in patients with heart disease.

 

Biopsy results from heart tissue in patients with various

cardiovascular diseases showed a CoQ10 deficiency in 50-75% of cases.

 

Correction of a CoQ10 deficiency can often produce dramatic clinical

results in patients with any kind of heart disease.

 

Can CoQ10 lower blood pressure?

 

Yes. CoQ10 deficiency has been shown to be present in 39% of

patients with high blood pressure. This finding alone suggests a

need for CoQ10 supplementation.

 

However, CoQ10 appears to provide benefits beyond correction of a

deficiency. In several studies CoQ10 has actually been shown to

lower

blood pressure in patients with hypertension.

 

The effect of CoQ10 on blood pressure is usually not seen until

after 4-12 weeks of therapy.

Typical reductions in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure

with CoQ10 therapy in patients with high blood pressure are in the

10% range.

 

 

How does CoQ10 help periodontal disease?

 

Periodontal disease (gum disease) affects 60% of young adults and

90% of individuals over age 65. Healing and repair of periodontal

tissue requires efficient energy production, a metabolic function

dependent on an adequate supply of CoQ10.

 

CoQ10 deficiency has been reported in gingival tissue of patients

with periodontal disease.

 

The frequency of CoQ10 deficiency in several studies ranged from 60

to 96%. The beneficial effect of CoQ10 in periodontal disease may be

the result of an improvement in the energy-dependent processes of

healing and tissue repair.

 

 

How does CoQ10 boost the immune system?

 

Tissues and cells involved with immune function are highly

energy-dependent and therefore require an adequate supply of CoQ10

for

optimal function. Several studies have documented an immune-

enhancing

effect of CoQ and a benefit in cancer patients.

 

Also, CoQ10 should definitely be used by cancer patients taking any

chemotherapy drug that is associated with heart toxicity (e.g.,

adriamycin, athralines, etc.).

 

Since CoQ10 is needed for the burning of fat, can it promote weight

loss? Yes.

 

Since CoQ10 is an essential cofactor for energy production, it is

possible that CoQ10 deficiency is a contributing cause of some cases

of

obesity. Serum coenzyme Q10 levels were found to be low in 52% of

the

obese subjects tested.

When the subjects with low CoQ10 levels were given 100 mg/day of

CoQ10

significant weight loss was achieved.

 

What is the best form of CoQ10?

 

Coenzyme Q10 is available primarily in tablet or capsules. Based on

bioavailability studies, the best preparations appear to be soft-

gelatin

capsules that contain CoQ10 in an oil base or in a soluble form.

In order to further enhance absorption, CoQ10 should be taken with

food.

 

In order to enhance the absorption and utilization of CoQ10,some

manufacturers dissolve CoQ10 in its purest form- natural vitamin E

(Vitamin E; 100% natural d-alpha tocopheryl acetate).

 

The result is that the CoQ10 is biologically enhanced due to

increased

absorption, utilization, and function.

By providing the CoQ10 dissolved in the vitamin E, absorption is not

only enhanced, but also the likelihood that the CoQ10 will remain in

its

active form.

CoQ10 is present in the blood in both oxidized (inactive) and

reduced

(active) form. During times of increased oxidative stress or low

vitamin

E levels, more CoQ10 will be converted to its oxidized (inactive

form).

Thus, by providing high levels of pure vitamin E the biological

activity

and function of CoQ10 is enhanced.

 

In addition, the CoQ10 actually enhances vitamin E activity as well.

 

How much CoQ10 should I take?

 

While the usual dosage recommendation for CoQ10 is 50 to 150 mg/day,

there are a lot of variables to consider when trying to determine

whether this amount is really ideal.

First of all, it appears that the ultimate judge of whether CoQ10 is

going to be effective is whether or not CoQ10 blood levels rise

above

2.5 mcg/ml and are maintained at this level for a prolonged period.

Since the normal blood level for CoQ10 is roughly 1 mcg/ml, it is

often

difficult to achieve this therapeutic blood level especially if

using

poorly absorbed forms of CoQ10. Here are my recommendations for

getting

the most out of CoQ10.

Use a loading dosage of four capsules with a meal. This loading

dosage

will provide 200 mg CoQ10 and 1600 IU vitamin E. I would recommend

that

it be in a soft gelatin capsule and that you take 300 mg of CoQ10 as

a

loading dosage and be sure that the meal includes at least one

tablespoon of oil ( olive oil, flaxseed oil, non-hydrogenated peanut

butter, etc.). After the loading dosage, I would recommend taking

two

capsules for one week followed by a maintenance dosage of one

capsuledaily thereafter for people weighing up to 250 pounds; and

two

capsules per day for people over 250 pounds.

 

Is CoQ10 safe?

 

Coenzyme Q10 is very safe and there have been no serious adverse

effects

ever reported even with long-term use. Because safety during

pregnancy

and lactation has not been proven, CoQ10 should not be used during

these

times unless the potential clinical benefit (as determined by a

physician) outweighs the risks.

 

Does CoQ10 interact with any drugs?

 

There are no known adverse interactions between CoQ10 and any drug

or

nutrient.

 

While there are no adverse drug interactions many drugs adversely

affect

CoQ10 levels or CoQ10 is able to reduce the side effects of the

drug.

 

In addition to adriamycin (discussed above), CoQ10 supplementation

has

been shown to counteract some of the adverse effects of certain

cholesterol-lowering, beta-blocker, and psychotrophic drugs.

 

The drugs lovastatin (Mevacor), pravastin (Pravachol), atorvastatin

(Lipitor) and simvastatine (Zocor) are widely used to lower blood

cholesterol levels.

They work by inhibiting the enzyme (HMG CoA reductase) that is

required

in the manufacture of cholesterol in the liver.

 

Unfortunately, in doing so these drugs also block the manufacture of

other substances necessary for body functions including CoQ10.

 

Supplementing CoQ10 (50 mg per day) is necessary to prevent the

depletion of CoQ10 in body tissues while on these drugs.

 

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in

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