Since its discovery in the late 1950???s Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) has received much attention as a necessary compound for proper cellular function. It is the essential coenzyme necessary for the production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) upon which all cellular functions depend. Without ATP our bodies cannot function properly. Without CoQ10, ATP cannot function. This connection has made CoQ10 a very important object of study in relation to chronic disease.
In many cases the presence of chronic disease is associated with inadequate levels of CoQ10. But no area of study has received more attention than the relation between CoQ10 and heart disease. That is because CoQ10 is believed to be of fundamental importance in cells with high metabolic demands such as cardiac cells. A further reason the connection of heart disease and CoQ10 has gained so much attention is because heart conditions of many kinds are associated with chronically low CoQ10 levels.
CoQ10 is highly concentrated in heart muscle cells because of their high energy requirements. Add this to the fact that heart disease is the number one killer in developed and developing countries and one can see why the bulk of scientific research on CoQ10 has been concerned with heart disease. Specifically, studies on congestive heart failure have demonstrated a strong correlation between the severity of heart failure and the degree of CoQ10 deficiency. The lower the levels of CoQ10 in the heart muscles the more severe the heart failure. If indeed CoQ10 deficiency is a primary cause of congestive heart failure then, in such cases, the remedy is simple and cost effective; CoQ10 supplementation.
Congestive heart failure is a condition where the heart does not pump effectively resulting in an accumulation of fluid in the lungs. Symptoms may include shortness of breath, difficulty breathing when lying flat and leg or ankle swelling. Causes include chronic hypertension, cardiomyopathy (primary heart disease) and myocardial infarction (irreversible injury to heart muscles). Heart muscle strength is measure by the ejection fraction which is a measure of the fraction of blood pumped out of the heart with each beat. A low ejection fraction indicates a weak heart.
Several trials have been conducted involving patients with enlarged weak heart muscles of unknown causes. For those of you who like difficult phrases this condition (or variety of conditions) is known as idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. In these trials CoQ10 supplementation was compared to placebo effects. Standard treatments for heart failure were not discontinued. The results were measured by echocardiography (a diagnostic test which uses ultrasound waves to make images of the heart chambers, valves and surrounding structures).
The overall results of CoQ10 supplementation demonstrated a steady and continued improvement in heart function as well as steady and continued reduction in patient symptoms including fatigue, chest pains, palpitations and breathing difficulty. Patients with more establish and long-term cases showed gradual improvement but did not gain normal heart function. Patients with newer cases of heart failure demonstrated much more rapid improvement often returning to normal heart function.
Papers numbering in the hundreds from eight different symposia have been written and presented on the effects of CoQ10 on heart disease. International clinical studies have also been conducted in the United States, Japan, Germany, Italy and Sweden. Together these studies and the papers that have been derived from them demonstrate significant improvement in heart muscle function while causing no adverse effects.
One particular area of study involves diastolic dysfunction which is one of the earliest signs of myocardial failure. Diastole is the phase of the cardiac cycle when the heart is filled with returning blood. Because this phase requires more cellular energy than the systolic phase (when the blood is pushed out of the heart) it is more dependent on CoQ10. Diastolic dysfunction is a stiffening of the heart muscle which naturally restricts the heart???s ability to pump. This condition is associated with many cardiac disorders. Hypertension is among these disorders. As the heart muscles become stiff there is often a corresponding rise in blood pressure. When the diastolic dysfunction is reversed, blood pressure tends to lower as well.
In one study involving 109 patients with hypertension, CoQ10 supplementation was added to normal hypertension treatments. In an average of 4.4 months 51% of the patients were able stop using at least one blood pressure lowering medication. Some were able to stop using up to three medications. Another study produced similar results. In that study 43% of 424 patients were able to stop using between one and three cardiovascular drugs because of CoQ10 supplementation.
These examples are just a drop in the bucket. Diastolic dysfunction (and by proxy, hypertension) includes only a small sampling of heart conditions that respond favorably to CoQ10 supplementation. Other areas of research show great promise for CoQ10 treatments. Among these are cancer and AIDS. But such conditions are beyond the scope of this essay. CoQ10 is essential to the proper functioning of all cell types. It is not surprising, therefore, to find a diverse number of diseases that respond favorably to CoQ10 supplementation. Since all metabolically active tissues are highly sensitive to CoQ10 deficiency, we can expect to see CoQ10 research expand to many other areas of chronic diseases.
Greg holds degrees in science, divinity and philosophy and is currently an I.T. developer.
http://www.optimal-heart-health.com/coq10.html
recurring cleaning service Mundelein ..The growing numbers of health conscious people today living more... Read More
1. Most of the modern western diets contain way too... Read More
Vitamins is something people been using for a while and... Read More
As with most nutrients and minerals, zinc is often ignored... Read More
What Is Thiamin?Known as Vitamin B1, thiamin was the very... Read More
Vitamin C may be the most famous vitamin. Tens of... Read More
Over the years, amino acid usage has become more and... Read More
Since the release of a book called" beat chronic fatigue... Read More
With all of the exciting things people are seeing in... Read More
Did you know that there are free radical biochemical "terrorists"... Read More
During the past few years, I've become more interested in... Read More
Considering that the Health and Wellness industry is currently a... Read More
Your body produces over 20 separate digestive enzymes that are... Read More
If I read 1 good valid murder mystery book, would... Read More
Vitamin B3 is one of the vitamins that make up... Read More
In part one of this series, titled "Take Back Your... Read More
1. Do not refrigerate vegetables and fruits (raw and uncut)... Read More
Carbohydrate blockers seem to have come and gone with the... Read More
In September 2004 Orange County, California published an article "OC... Read More
Folic acid is actually just one of the many vitamins... Read More
At the moment we are in the grip of an... Read More
Taking vitamin and mineral supplements is perhaps one of the... Read More
One of the most apparent influences modern times has brought... Read More
A 2002 study reported, funded by the Swiss National Science... Read More
HGH is produced naturally, in everyone, by the pituitary gland.... Read More
tidy up service Buffalo Grove ..One of the most apparent influences modern times has brought... Read More
Vitamin smoothies are a great way to enjoy a cold... Read More
Have you heard of the herbal supplement with the very... Read More
Do you ever wonder why the experts keep saying that... Read More
The multi-vitamin market is rich with choice. It's also very... Read More
Calcium Supplement ? why calcium.Why is calcium supplement so important?... Read More
Perhaps you first read riboflavin at the back of a... Read More
Did you know that when you take vitamins and minerals... Read More
There is a lot of confusion about weight loss supplementation,... Read More
Hormones are chemical messengers made up of amino acids and... Read More
Vitamins and Minerals Can Improve SleepTaking proper vitamins and minerals... Read More
Vitamin B3 is one of the vitamins that make up... Read More
Everyone has an occasional sleepless night, and this is not... Read More
Mineral Supplement ? be healthy.Why is mineral supplement so important?... Read More
To supplement or not to supplement ? that is the... Read More
How can I improve my health and lifestyle beyond diet... Read More
If you suffer from arthritis pain, chances are you've heard... Read More
Are you concerned about taking care of your body before... Read More
PART TWOFor those of you that read my previous article... Read More
Many years ago I became convinced of the need to... Read More
While HA has dramatically increased in popularity and use within... Read More
Vitamins are organic compounds that our bodies use, in very... Read More
"They", the "experts" all say how important vitamins are -... Read More
Currently, there are no known side effects for most hyaluronic... Read More
As I mentioned in Part 4 of my Real Health... Read More
Nutritional Supplements |