Coenzyme Q10 and the Heart Part 1

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These days many people turn to health supplements to help reduce their heart disease risk. There are countless supplements widely sold in many health food stores and in cyberspace that have been touted to reverse or prevent heart disease. One of these health supplements is Coenzyme Q10 or CoQ10 for short.

CoQ10 is naturally produced in the body and is required for cell function. The exact role of CoQ10 remains speculative, but it is known to be a high energy compound found in tissues where energy requirements are high. The highest concentrations of CoQ10 are found in the brain, liver and kidney.

Some studies have shown that CoQ10 levels do decline with age. Other studies have shown that CoQ10 levels are lower in individuals who have heart disorders, Parkinson’s disease, some cancers, diabetes and some muscle disorders. There are also some drugs and some nutrients that may lower CoQ10 levels. However, in the majority of cases there has been no relationship to levels of CoQ10 and disease. There are individuals who have heart problems and have normal levels of CoQ10 and then there are individuals who have low levels of CoQ10 and have no heart problems.

Despite this lack of correlation, CoQ10 has been used and recommended for the prevention and treatment of many types of heart disorders like ischemic heart disease, coronary vessel disease, atherosclerosis and angina.

There is some evidence that CoQ10 can cause a slight decrease in blood pressure. In some individuals with high blood pressure low levels of CoQ10 have been found. What is not known is if lower CoQ10 levels are the cause of high blood pressure.

There are also some anecdotal reports that daily consumption of CoQ10 can reduce angina and improve exercise tolerance in people with ischemic heart disease. However, there are no controlled randomized trials to determine the validity of these claims. Further safety and effectiveness of CoQ10 has not been clinically proven.

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