Why Your Heart Loves CoQ10

October 7, 2007

Posted by Carey Rossi

According to the Italian research, supplementing with CoQ10 may boost natural antioxidants and blood vessel (or endothelial function) in the body according to a small-scale clinical trial of coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. CAD is a blockage of the vessels that supply the heart with blood and tends to reduce a major antioxidant enzyme located in blood vessel walls.

Researchers reported in the European Heart Journal that those who supplemented with 100 milligrams of CoQ10 daily for one month had more of the enzyme at the end of the trial than subjects who didn’t take it.
What does this mean? If CoQ10 supplementation has beneficial effects on those who have compromised cardiovascular systems, imagine the protective benefits this antioxidant has on healthy individuals or those who are possibly heading toward a heart disease diagnosis.

This study supports previous evidence of and may better explain the strong relationship between CoQ10 and heart health. This naturally occurring substance in your body is highly concentrated in your heart muscle cells. Which may explain why when you’re deficient in CoQ10, you’re heart tends to be weaker and the atherosclerosis—hardening of the arteries—can occur. But, if you supplement with CoQ10 you can halt the oxidation of blood cholesterol that blocks your blood vessels.

How to take it? Even though CoQ10 is made by your body, its production starts to decline in your twenties; thus making it important for you to consume it from outside sources. CoQ10 can be found in seafood, but you will get higher concentrations of the antioxidant by supplementing your diet. When taking CoQ10 supplements, consume a little bit of healthy fat such as peanut butter, olive oil or almonds to aid absorption.

Source: Taino, L., Belardinelli, R. et al. “Effect of coenzyme Q10 administration on endothelial function and extracellular superoxide dismutase in patients with ischaemic heart disease: a double-blind, randomized controlled study.” European Heart Journal, July 2007.