Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
CoEnzyme Q10 is a vitamin essential to
our very lives as it is a necessary nutrient to the functioning
of every cell in our bodies. Levels of CoQ10 begin to decline
around age 30 and this makes supplementation increasing important
as it continues to decrease with age. CoEnzyme Q10 is necessary
in the synthesis of ATP, thus meaning that our bodies can
not survive without it. If levels of CoQ10 start to drop below
the 25% deficiency levels, many health problems begin including
immune system problems, cardiovascular problems, periodontal
problems, lack of energy, possible depression and weight gain
which could all be contributing factors to the aging process.
Study even suggests that the Coenzyme Q10 Slows Functional
Decline in Parkinson’s Disease.
Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, progressive neurological
disease that affects over 500,000 including a few of America’s
famous figures such as Michael J. Foxx and Mohammad Ali.
The disease is responsible for the loss of brain cells that
produce the neurotransmitter dopamine. As a result, stiffness
of the limbs and trunk begin to form, balance and coordination
are impaired, movements are slowed, and tremors are caused.
PD can also cause other symptoms to develop such as difficulty
swallowing, disturbed sleep and emotional problems. Usually
PD affects people over the age of 50, but it can affect younger
people as well.
There may be hope however, through the recent results of the
first multi-center, placebo-controlled, clinical trial of
the compound coenzyme Q10 showed that it can decrease the
progression in patients with early-stage Parkinson’s disease
(PD). There will be a larger study conducted to confirm the
results, for now they provide hope that this compound may
be a new way of treating PD.
The second phase of the study looked to see if the coenzyme
Q10 is safe and to see if it can decrease the rate of functional
decline. Across the country, a total of 80 PD patients at
10 centers were studied. The trial suggested that coenzyme
Q10 can slow the deterioration in Parkinson’s disease.
Studies have shown that the coenzyme Q10 is an important link
in the chain of chemical reactions that improve the functioning
of the mitochondria, which is responsible for producing energy
in cells. Animal studies have also shown that the coenzyme
Q10 can protect the area of the brain that is damaged in PD.
Coenzyme Q10 is classified as a dietary supplement and is
not currently regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
