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All About Coenzyme Q10

Coenzyme Q10 is classified to be a benzoquinone. It is synonymous to ubiquinone, coenzyme Q, and ubidecarenone, with abbreviations at CoQ10, Q10, Q, or CoQ. The Q is the chemical group Quinone while the 10 denotes the number of isoprenyl subunits.

Coenzyme Q10 is often located in the mitochondria of cells therefore the only two places that this substance is not present in the body is in red blood cells and the lens cells of the eyes. The substance, which has vitamin like properties, is responsible for producing energy for the body. In each cell, the conversion of food to energy occurs in the mitochondria together with Coenyzme Q10. In fact, around 95% of the ATP energy requirement of the body is produced using CoQ10. For this reason, the parts of the body that needs the highest energy are those with the most concentration of CoQ10.

Coenzyme Q10 shares the same biosynthetic pathway as with cholesterol. Therefore, its activity and metabolism can be affected also by the presence of beta-blockers wherein the activity of mevalonate, the precursor of Coenzyme Q10 is stopped. Other ingredients that can cause a lowering in blood pressure include statins. Statins can in fact bring down the serum levels of Coenzyme Q10 by 40%.

Coenzyme Q10 can be found in the fresh heart tissue of species of herring and mackerel in increase concentration. It is used as an antioxidant since it has the ability to make electron transfers. It is also used as a vitamin supplement for geriatric patients since their ability to produce Coenzyme Q10 is already diminished with age.

When there are serious disorders that target the mitochondria of cells as well as other disorders of the metabolism where patients have a diminished or diseased function of producing their own Coenzyme Q10, taking Coenzyme Q10 supplements may be prescribed as treatment.

Giving of Coenzyme Q10 supplements have also been found to be beneficial for those people suffering from migraine headaches. In fact, based on studies done about it, they were able to get significant results from it to show that taking supplements of about 150mg to 300mg daily can decrease the frequency of getting migraine headaches as well as diminish the pain felt during those migraine episodes. This is probably due to the effect that Coenzyme Q10 supplements can give on increasing the blood flow to the site of pain.

The beneficial effects of Coenzyme Q10 is also being looked into as a form of treatment for cancer patients since it acts as an antioxidant as well as giving relief from the side effects that occurs when cancer patients are being treated with chemotherapy and radiation.

Present research has also shown that Coenzyme Q10 can benefit the brain through its antioxidant properties. It shows potential in protecting the central nervous system from developing neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s disease although symptoms were not relieved. Other studies have shown an increased chance of survival for patients undergoing cardiac arrest if Coenzyme Q10 is given while commencing an active cooling of about 34 degrees Celsius.