Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a powerful antioxidant that produces energy in cells and prevents blood from clotting. It is manufactured by all of the cells in the body and stored in the body's major organs. Each cell in your body makes a different amount of CoQ10, depending upon its tissue type and energy needs.
CoQ10 was discovered in 1957 accidentally, by Dr. Frederick Crane at the University of Wisconsin, who was working with cellular energy production in beef hearts.
Doctors now use CoQ10 to treat a variety of conditions, from cancer to heart disease.
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Heart Disease
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A deficiency of CoQ10 can lead to heart disease. Dr. Denton Cooley, a pioneer in heart surgery, found that three-quarters of his cardiac patients had significant deficiencies of CoQ10. According to Dr. Karl Folkers, who unlocked the benefits of CoQ10 in patients with heart disease, CoQ10 is "a natural and essential cofactor in the heart." He found that his patients had lower blood levels of CoQ10 than people who did not have heart disease, and 70 percent of his patients with congestive heart failure benefited from taking supplemental CoQ10.
In 1974, Japan approved CoQ10 as a medicine for congestive heart failure, and it is produced in large quantities for research and patients.
Cancer
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The National Cancer Society states that CoQ10 directly suppresses various types of cancer. CoQ10 has also been found to protect the hearts of cancer patients from anthracycline, used in chemotherapy drugs, which may damage the heart while stimulating the immune system.
Aging
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At the University of New South Wales, Roland Stocker, PhD, discovered CoQ10 in the body's tissues decreases over time. Dr. Stocker noted that levels of CoQ10 in the skin are low in childhood, peak between the ages of 20 and 30, and steadily decline with age. He recommends applying CoQ10 to your skin, where it will penetrate to your skin's cells, helping to diminish wrinkles and protecting your skin from damaging ultraviolet light.
Additional Studies
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The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved CoQ10 as a treatment for cancer or other diseases, but it is recommended by the National Cancer Institute and other authorities. The FDA allows CoQ10 to be purchased only under the label of a dietary supplement. Studies of CoQ10 and its role in a variety of diseases continue.
Tips and Warnings
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Do not substitute CoQ10 for conventional drugs. It is safe to use along with conventional therapies, so ask your doctor what dose would be best for you, depending on your health.
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