Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10): Benefits and how it supports Heart Health?

By Dr. Sonam Bhatia, MS (Pharm.) Ph.D.

If you want a healthy heart, you need to exercise, eat a well-balanced diet, and maintain healthy weight. Today, more research is proving that a common supplement can improve the health of your heart and blood vessels.

Source: NIFS.Org

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a naturally occurring substance in the body that is also found in foods such as organ meats (eg liver or kidneys), sardines, mackerels, chicken, cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, and asparagus. Its job is to convert food into energy and to protect cells from damage. A deficiency in CoQ10 may increase the chances of developing heart disease.

Research has shown that CoQ10 can improve the symptoms of congestive heart failure. Findings of the effectiveness of CoQ10 in lowering blood pressure are mixed. According to some research, CoQ10 might also aid in recovery of people who've undergone bypass and heart valve surgery when combined with other nutrients.

The effects of CoQ10 supplements on C-Reactive Protein (CRP) were examined in a recent review study. A high CRP level in the blood is a biomarker that indicates inflammation somewhere within the body. Studies have shown that people with even slightly elevated CRP levels are at a greater risk for problems such as heart attacks and strokes.

The results of the experimental study showed that CoQ10 decreased CRP levels as well as levels of IL-6, another substance in the body that increases with inflammation. It can be hard to know what dosage is right for supplementation and so before starting any such supplement, always check with your doctor.

Source: www.healthydirections.com

Moreover, new research examined the effects of a special version of CoQ10 on blood vessels that transport blood to the heart. In the study, 20 adults between the ages of 60 and 79 participated. Half of the participants took the supplement for six weeks, while the other half took a placebo pill that didn't contain CoQ10. After the study, researchers examined how well blood flowed through the arteries of the participants.

The results were encouraging. Researchers hypothesized that CoQ10 lowered heart disease risk by 13% by improving blood vessel health by approximately 42%.

CoQ10 has already been shown to benefit the heart in many other ways. It can lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of death from heart failure, and lower the risk of a second heart attack. Some studies suggest that CoQ10 may even reduce statin side effects, such as muscle pain and weakness. This effect alone may allow you to take your statin medication more often, which can be lifesaving.

How does CoQ10 affect Heart Health?

The following conditions may benefit from CoQ10, either alone or in combination with other therapies. To make sure CoQ10 is right for the patient, they should consult their medical provider before consuming it.

·  Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) - CoQ10 supplements have been shown to significantly increase HDL-C levels and ApoA1 levels, even in people consuming statins and may reduce CVD risk. Additionally, CoQ10 supplementation reduces levels of biomarkers of inflammation associated with CVD, including high-sensitivity C-Reactive Protein. Lastly, low CoQ10 levels have been associated with greater tissue damage to the heart during a heart attack and to the brain during a stroke.

·  Statin-related Muscle Symptoms - Although statin therapy has been shown to reduce heart attack and stroke risk significantly, up to 25% of patients stop taking it within six months due to side effects, such as muscle aches and weakness. As a result of a 2014 randomized clinical study trial published in Medical Science Monitor, 75% of statin users with muscle symptoms reported reduced pain after taking CoQ10 twice a day for 30 days, compared to zero improvements in the placebo group. The researchers concluded that combining statin therapy with CoQ10 supplements could lead to higher compliance with treatment.

·  Heart Failure - The study found that taking CoQ10 reduced heart failure mortality in patients by half, compared with a control group, in a multi-center randomized trial of 420 patients. This is the first new drug to improve heart failure mortality in over a decade. The study tracked the patients over two years with the results being presented at the Heart Failure 2013 Congress in Lisbon and published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology Heart Failure.

·  After a Heart Attack - In a randomized clinical trial, patients who received CoQ10 soon after a heart attack had a much lower rate of subsequent cardiac events over the next year than a control group (24.6% vs 45%). The researchers also reported that half of the patients in both groups were also taking a statin medication, which led them to conclude that, "treatment with CoQ10 in patients with recent [heart attack] may be beneficial in patients with a high risk of atherothrombosis, despite optimal lipid-lowering therapy."

·  High Blood Pressure - Based on analyses of 12 clinical studies, researchers discovered that CoQ10 has the potential to reduce systolic blood pressure (the top number in a blood pressure reading) by as much as 17 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure by as much as 10 mm Hg without significant side effects.

How much CoQ10 should I take?

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There is no established ideal dose of CoQ10. Studies have used doses of CoQ10 ranging from 50 mg to 1,200 mg in adults, sometimes split into several doses over the course of a day. A typical daily dose is 100 mg to 200 mg. However, the permitted range for CoQ10 as per FSSAI is 60-300 mg/day. Follow the instructions on the bottle or get advice from your doctor or dietitian. Keep in mind that different supplement brands might have different ingredients and strengths.

Side effects of Consuming CoQ10

If taken as recommended, CoQ10 supplements are safe and produce few side effects.

Mild side effects of CoQ10 are related to digestive ailments such as:

·         Pain in the upper abdomen

·         Loss of appetite

·         Nausea and vomiting

·         Diarrhea

There may also be other side effects, such as:

·         Headaches and dizziness

·         Sleeping troubles

·         Fatigue

·         Skin rashes and/or an allergic reaction

·         Irritability or agitation

The safety of using CoQ10 during pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been established. Consult your doctor before using CoQ10 if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Final Thoughts

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a natural supplement found in many foods. Studies show that CoQ10 can improve the symptoms of congestive heart failure and may also aid in the recovery of people who've undergone bypass and heart valve surgery when combined with other nutrients. Few studies suggest that CoQ10 may reduce statin side effects, such as muscle aches and weakness. The supplement is good in lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of mortality from heart failure. There is no established ideal dose of CoQ10. Studies have used doses ranging from 50 mg to 1,200 mg in adults. However, as per FSSAI 60-300 mg/day is the permitted range for a CoQ10 dose. The supplement should be taken after proper consultation with your doctor or healthcare provider.

Sources

1. Coenzyme Q10. IBM Micromedex. https://www.micromedexsolutions.com. Accessed May. 24, 2022.
2. Pizzorono JE, et al., eds. Coenzyme Q10. In: Textbook of Natural Medicine. 5th ed. Elsevier; 2021. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed May 24, 2022.
3. Arenas-Jal M, et al. Coenzyme Q10 supplementation: Efficacy, safety, and formulation challenges. Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety. 2019; doi:10.1111/1541-4337.12539.