Your body produces its own arsenal of health boosters and natural cures like CoQ10. Find out more about CoQ10 benefits, side effects, and health applications.
Since its discovery in 1957, Coenzyme Q10 or ubiquinone continue to surprise drug researchers and medical practitioners alike with its ever-expanding application in medicine and health. CoQ10’s health benefits are well-researched, and although more than fifty years has passed since it was first isolated by Dr. Frederick Crane from beef heart, CoQ10 still holds promise. Here are the top health benefits you can get from Coenzyme Q10:
1. CoQ10 Promotes Cardiovascular Health
The incidence of cardiovascular problems rose in the mid-20th century, owing mostly to lifestyle changes that included vices, unhealthy habits, and sedentary living. The medical community launched several independent research studies on cardiovascular diseases in response to the alarming death rate caused by heart disease. One observation that kept popping up over years of study and research is that Coenzyme Q10 or ubiquinone is significantly lower than normal in diseased hearts, lungs, and arteries. Further studies revealed that CoQ10 can help treat heart failure and prevent heart attacks when combined with the standard medication given to heart failure patients. Another clinical study revealed that people who took CoQ10 supplements after a heart attack reduced their chances of experiencing another bout. Their chances of survival are considerably higher compared to patients who did not take CoQ10 supplements as part of their drug therapy. CoQ10 is now a part of drug therapies for patients suffering from heart and blood vessel conditions such as congestive heart failure, chest pain, heart attack, and stroke.
2. CoQ10 Normalizes Elevated Cholesterol Levels
CoQ10 deficiency is present in patients with high cholesterol. To reverse the adverse effects of elevated cholesterol levels in the blood, researchers are now testing CoQ10 supplements to combat high cholesterol. This line of research into CoQ10 benefits and high cholesterol is promising, since successful results would mean that CoQ10 – a naturally-occurring vitamin-like substance that has very minimal and minor side effects and no adverse side effects documented to date – can replace standard medication for high cholesterol such as statins which are proven to cause CoQ10 deficiency.
3. CoQ10 Benefits High Blood Pressure
Researches into high blood pressure medication and treatment involved testing CoQ10’s effectiveness in lowering blood pressure. Results of these clinical studies show that CoQ10 does promote normal blood pressure, although it takes longer to take effect compared to conventional high blood pressure drugs. However, the benefits outweigh this waiting time; CoQ10, it appears, has the potential of lowering systolic blood pressure by up to 17 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure by 10 mm Hg. No side effects were recorded under this dosage.
4. CoQ10 Brings Relief from Other Drugs’ Side Effects
All drugs come with side effects. Statins cause CoQ10 deficiency and muscle problems while chemotherapy presents a host of health risks to cancer patients. Fortunately, one of many CoQ10 benefits is to help buffer the body from adverse side effects caused by cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and high cholesterol treatment.
5. CoQ10 Treats Periodontal Diseases
CoQ10 deficiency is present in all cases of periodontal diseases. Clinical trials successfully made use of CoQ10 in improving symptoms of gum and oral health problems while reversing the damage to the gums caused by periodontal diseases.
The Future of CoQ10
CoQ10 holds promise, and by promise we mean that it is currently being considered/studied/researched/tested for its possible health benefits with regard to this long list of health problems:
- Diabetes
- Weight Loss (due to its ability to lower high cholesterol levels)
- Breast Cancer
- Huntington’s disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- Lyme disease
- Migraine/Headache
- Muscle pain
- Male infertility
- HIV/AIDS
Most of these applications remain in the experimental phase so it would be wise to seek your doctor’s advice first before altering your drug therapy. Remember that CoQ10 is not a miracle drug and should not be treated as one. While CoQ10 has no adverse effects, you may not be utilizing CoQ10’s benefits as well as you could if you were profiled by your health care provider and assessed for CoQ10 deficiency and other health risk factors that qualify you for regular CoQ10 medication.