Since the 1960???s there have been numerous controlled clinical trials concerning the relationship between congestive heart failure and Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). As its name implies CoQ10 is a coenzyme that is necessary for the proper functioning of other substances, one of the most important of which is ATP (adenosine triphosphate). ATP is necessary for the production of cellular energy. By proxy CoQ10 is likewise essential for this process.
Clinical trials have attempted to study the relationship between CoQ10 and many chronic diseases including, but not limited to, heart disease, cancer and AIDS. But heart disease has gained the most attention; congestive heart failure being one of the primary subjects. Because heart muscle cells require so much energy to function and CoQ10 is at the core of the cellular energy process it makes sense to suspect that congestive heart failure might be linked to CoQ10 deficiency. With that theory in mind many studies like the ones that follow have been conducted. These trials have been presented in this essay in thumbnail format.
One early Japanese trial (1972) involved 197 patients with varying levels of severity of cardiac failure. The study reported significant improvement of cardiac function supplementing with 30 mg per day of CoQ10. Another Japanese study demonstrated similar results with 38 patients also supplementing with 30 mg. In 1985 a U.S. clinical study prescribed daily supplementation with 100 mg of the coenzyme for treatment periods of three months for patients with low ejection fraction measurements. The ejection fraction is the measure of the heart???s ability to pump blood. A low ejection fraction is a classic symptom of congestive heart failure. Again, significant improvements in heart function were reported. Other clinical trials followed prescribing the same level of supplementation with similar results.
Studies in the early 1990s showed improvement for patients suffering from ischemic cardiomyopathy (a low oxygen state usually due to obstruction) with supplemental levels of 200 mg per day. Supplementing with 100 mg per day demonstrated improvement for patients suffering from idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, an enlarged heart syndrome of unknown cause.
One of the largest trials of the 1990s involves 641 patients randomly divided into two groups. The first group received a placebo. The other group received CoQ10 supplements. During the one-year follow-up period 118 patients in the placebo group were hospitalized for heart failure compared to 73 in the group that received the supplements.
All of the preceding trials were relatively short-term studies. The level of improvement among patients varied depending on how long they had been suffering from some aspect of congestive heart failure. Through the years it has become increasing clear that the greatest improvements were shown in patients that had suffered from their condition the least amount of time.
In other words, the longer a person had been suffering from the disease before he or she received CoQ10 treatments the less improvement was demonstrated. People who had received treatments early in the development of the disease showed the most dramatic improvement often returning to normal heart function. Long-term sufferers received less relief and were less likely to return to full heart function. Whatever the reasons for this disparity in health improvement, it demonstrates the importance of receiving treatment as early as possible.
But what about long-term studies? Do they show the same marked improvement with similar treatment? In the short-term trials it was apparent that even high level supplementing with CoQ10 seemed to produce no ill effects. In order to determine if this is only true for short durations a number of long-term studies were conducted.
In 1990 observations were published concerning 126 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. Unlike previously noted studies this one followed the patients??? progress for six years. Long-term benefits from CoQ10 supplementing were noticed with no harmful side effects. Similar observations were made in a trial involving 2,664 patients treated with CoQ10 at levels up to 150 mg per day.
A 1994 study involving 424 patients with a variety of myocardial (refers to the heart's muscle mass) diseases. Among these conditions were the following: Valvular heart disease (pertaining to dysfunction of heart valves), hypertension, diastolic dysfunction (failure of the heart to properly refill itself with blood), dilated cardiomyopathy (group of disorders where the heart muscle is weakened and enlarged and cannot pump effectively) and ischemic cardiomyopathy (low oxygen state usually due to obstruction of the arterial blood supply).
Patients were treated with an average of 240 mg of CoQ10 daily during their treatment period. They were then followed-up for up to eight years with an average follow-up period of 18 months. Overall results demonstrated measurable cardiac improvements in one month with maximum improvements at about six months. With continued CoQ10 treatment the improvement in most patients was sustained. However, discontinuing the treatment usually resulted in a decline of cardiac function with eventual return to pre-treatment conditions.
As always in the medical community many more studies will need to be conducted to determine the future of CoQ10 treatment. However, the research to date seems to support CoQ10 as a viable treatment for many diseases that are caused or exacerbated by inadequate production of cellular energy.
Greg holds degrees in science, divinity and philosophy and is currently an I.T. developer.
http://www.optimal-heart-health.com/coq10.html
detailed home cleaning Lake Forest ..Nutritional Supplement ? what is it?So what is a nutritional... Read More
In a 2002 study, a group of researchers used oral... Read More
Over the last 2 years, the link between weight gain... Read More
Vitamins and Minerals Can Improve SleepTaking proper vitamins and minerals... Read More
If you suffer from arthritis pain, chances are you've heard... Read More
The skeletal muscle component known as creatine is not only... Read More
At the rate it's going, Saw Palmetto will soon be... Read More
Vitamins is something people been using for a while and... Read More
As I mentioned in Part 4 of my Real Health... Read More
The Connection Between Brain Inflammation, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's DiseaseThe evidence... Read More
Over the past few years, Coral Calcium has received a... Read More
Iron is a mineral that is essential to the health... Read More
Those who start eating lemons at first symptoms of the... Read More
The more I study health and fitness, the more convinced... Read More
During the past few years, I've become more interested in... Read More
I've been feeling a tired and slow lately. Just don't... Read More
Nutritional supplements can play a key role in the health... Read More
Herbal Supplement ? what is it?So what is an herbal... Read More
Vitamins are the stars of the nutrition scene. Nutrition, the... Read More
Did you know that when you take vitamins and minerals... Read More
Since coral calcium is one of he hottest products on... Read More
How many pills do you have to take every morning?... Read More
Over the years, amino acid usage has become more and... Read More
Rhodiola rosea is available commercially as a supplement and rhodiola... Read More
A ranch house, a zip lock bag and some ordinary... Read More
trusted cleaning company Des Plaines .."High-dose pharmaceutical-grade fish oil is as close to a medical... Read More
Nutritional Supplement ? what is it?So what is a nutritional... Read More
If you suffer from arthritis pain, chances are you've heard... Read More
Numerous studies and surveys have consistently shown that a majority... Read More
It's unfortunate but many people have digestive systems that find... Read More
Have you ever purchased something thinking you had bought a... Read More
Vitamin smoothies are a great way to enjoy a cold... Read More
L-tyrosine is a non-essential amino acid that plays a role... Read More
AMLA ( EMBLICA OFFICINALIS ) FOR HEALTH AND BEAUTYAMLA, proudly... Read More
Food is one of our most basic needs. However, in... Read More
It is clearly evident that hyaluronic acid in its oral... Read More
I know protein is good for me, but do I... Read More
There is a generation called the baby boomers that make... Read More
With all of the exciting things people are seeing in... Read More
Fish oil is oil derived from the tissues of fatty... Read More
Undoubtedly calcium has become a hot topic of controversy. We... Read More
Will common sense ever prevail? We've all seen stories on... Read More
Nitric oxide is a free form gas produced by the... Read More
The last year hasn't been a good one for vitamin... Read More
You Need Probiotics For Better Digestion and Overall HealthInside your... Read More
It would seem that everyone is looking to squeeze the... Read More
The malabsorptive nature of the gastric bypass system prohibits adequate... Read More
Part 1:A "better nutritional program" means the introduction of foods... Read More
Over the past few years, Coral Calcium has received a... Read More
Hyaluronic acid has received much press lately as a natural... Read More
Nutritional Supplements |