Coenzyme Q-10

[michael obrien]

HI EVERYONE,just a quick question does anyone take coenzyme q-10 and is it good for people with hcm.Iwas reading a magazine article and it was recommended for people with heart problems thanks mike

[RPMelia]

Coenzyme Q-10

I take 100 mg daily. No ill effects. My nutritionist recommends, chiropractor endorses, physician agrees.

My understanding is that for best effect it should be taken with a small amount of fat and perhaps Vitamin E.

There have been a number of studies of the benefits of Q-10, including some in relation to the heart.

One study stated:

Treatment of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with coenzyme Q10.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is manifested by severe thickening of the left ventricle with significant diastolic dysfunction. Previous observations on the improvement in diastolic function and left ventricular wall thickness through the therapeutic administration of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in patients with hypertensive heart disease prompted the investigation of its utility in HCM. Seven patients with HCM, six non-obstructive and one obstructive, were treated with an average of 200 mg/day of CoQ10 with mean treatment whole blood CoQ10 level of 2.9 mg/ml. Echocardiograms were obtained in all seven patients at baseline and again 3 or more months post-treatment. All patients noted improvement in symptoms of fatigue and dyspnea with no side effects noted. The mean interventricular septal thickness improved significantly from 1.51±0.17 cm. to 1.14±0.13 cm, a 24% reduction (P<0.002). The mean posterior wall thickness improved significantly from 1.37±0.13 cm to 1.01 ±0.15 cm, a 26% reduction (P<0.005). Mitral valve inflow slope by pulsed wave Doppler (EF slope) showed a non-significant trend towards improvement, 1.55±0.49 m/sec2 to 2.58+1.18 m/sec2 (P<0.08). The one patient with subaortic obstruction showed an improvement in resting pressure gradient after CoQ10 treatment (70 mmHg to 30 mmHg).

[[b]b]Source: Langsjoen PH, Langsjoen A, Willis R, Folkers K.
Mol Aspects Med. 1997;18(S):s145-s151

Another study reported:

The literature concerning the importance of coenzyme Q10 in health and disease has been reviewed. Usual dietary intake together with normal in vivo synthesis seems to fulfil the demands for Q10 in healthy individuals. The importance of Q10 supplementation for general health has not been investigated in controlled experiments. The literature allows no firm conclusions about the significance of Q10 in physical activity. In different cardiovascular diseases, including cardiomyopathy, relatively low levels of Q10 in myocardial tissue have been reported. Positive clinical and haemodynamic effects of oral Q10 supplementation have been observed in double-blind trials, especially in chronic heart failure. These effects should be further examined. No important adverse effects have been reported from experiments using daily supplements of up to 200 mg Q10 for 6-12 months and 100 mg daily for up to 6 y.

Eur J Clin Nutr. 1999 Oct;53(10):764-70.
Coenzyme Q10 in health and disease.
Overvad K, Diamant B, Holm L, Holmer G, Mortensen SA, Stender S.
The Danish Nutrition Council, Soborg, Denmark.

Dick Melia

[Pam Alexson]

Mike ,

Hi , I think if you do a search you will find that several have spoken of taking Coq10 and how they feel it has helped them or not. This is a topic that does come up from time to time.

Pam