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CoQ10-H2™

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New Bioavailable Form of One of Nature's Most Powerful Antioxidants

By Jeffrey Reinhardt, MSc


In today’s fast-paced world, everyone needs more energy to feel better, and to thrive as life becomes increasingly more stressful. One of the most important nutrients we can consume to help increase our body’s energy production is Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). This powerful antioxidant plays a wide role in various aspects of health and has been studied in patients with cardiovascular concerns, asthma, and Parkinson’s disease as well as in people who are at risk for a CoQ10 deficiency. Because CoQ10 is so vital to health it’s important we consume the most bioavailable form possible in order to ensure it is properly delivered to the sites that can benefit from it the most. This article will serve as a review of the ways CoQ10 affects our health and will describe a new form of CoQ10 that is more bioavailable and therefore highly advantageous.
CoQ10 and Heart Health
One of CoQ10’s best-known actions is its ability to protect the health of the heart. As Ward Dean, MD reported in the July 2004 issue of Vitamin Research News, a number of studies have confirmed CoQ10’s effectiveness in improving cardiac function in cases of cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure. In one six-year study of 122 patients with New York Heart Association classes II, III and IV chronic dilated cardiomyopathy, subjects were treated with 100 mg CoQ10 each day. At the beginning of the study, the mean ejection fraction, a measure of ventricular blood flow, was 41 percent. Ejection fraction increased to 59 percent after only six months on CoQ10. Eighty-seven percent of the participants experienced significant improvement in their ejection fraction during this time, and improved by one or two New York Heart Association classes. Those in class II achieved the greatest benefit. All of these subjects became asymptomatic after CoQ10 administration. Despite these positive results, the authors suggested that the 100 mg dose of CoQ10 was too low, and the subjects might have done even better on higher doses.1
A recent placebo-controlled study of 62 subjects undergoing cardiac surgery further explored CoQ10’s role in heart patients. Preoperative oral coenzyme Q10 therapy in patients undergoing cardiac surgery resulted in increased protection of heart muscle against the deprivation of oxygen and the reintroduction of oxygen (hypoxia-reoxygenation). The study authors found that CoQ10 may protect the heart and preserve mitochondrial function after cardiac surgery.2
In studies on angina pectoris, CoQ10 reduced anginal frequency and nitroglycerin use and increased exercise time and time to ST-segment depression.3 (ST-segment is an abnormality on an electrocardiogram indicating the heart is not getting enough oxygen, presenting an increased risk of heart attack.)
CoQ10 is also helpful in hypertension and has been known to reduce systolic blood pressure by an average of 17.8 mmHg.4
Other Uses
Another beneficial application of CoQ10 is for athletes, body builders and performers who want to have both greater endurance and muscle power coupled with reduced recover times after heavy workouts or peak performances. Because of its ability to affect mitochondrial health, CoQ10 also has been studied in Parkinson’s patients. Supplementation in this group of patients has resulted in 44 percent less decline in mental function, movement and ability to perform daily living tasks compared to those taking the placebo.5 Studies also have shown that CoQ10 has anti-migraine action,6 improves sperm motility in semen,7 and reduces corticosteroids dosage in patients with bronchial asthma.8 Since cholesterol-lowering statin drugs are known to deplete CoQ10 levels, CoQ10 supplementation is also recommended for anyone consuming these drugs to counteract their toxic effects. Furthermore, researchers have found that women taking oral contraceptives have low levels of this important antioxidant.9
Enhanced Energy Production
CoQ10 is vitally important to help the body stay energized. To understand why this is the case, we must look at the way CoQ10 is metabolized. CoenzymeQ10 is a crucial fat-soluble molecule that plays an essential role in electron transport to produce energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP production occurs in the inner membranes of mitochondria (see Fig. 1); this bioenergetic process is called oxidative phosphorylation and requires CoenzymeQ10, which is cycled continuously, from its oxidized form CoQ10–Ox or ubidecarone, to its reduced form CoQ10-H2™, which is called ubiquinol. In addition to its crucial function in ATP synthesis in mitochondria, the reduced form of CoenzymeQ10, as CoQ10–H2, is a fat-soluble antioxidant that traps and inactivates free radicals, particularly the highly reactive hydroxyl radical (OH.) and the superoxide radical (O2-) in the lipid membranes of cells and their mitochondria.
Until recently, the oxidized form of CoenzymeQ10, CoQ10–Ox, has been the only form of this widely used nutraceutical available. As mentioned above, its applications have been well documented. Now, CoQ10–H2, a potent, new reduced form of oral CoenzymeQ10 is available in fifty milligram (50 mg.) soft gelatin capsules.
CoQ10–H2 is significantly more bioavailable than the oxidized form, CoQ10–Ox; in addition, CoQ10–H2, produces sustained, elevated blood levels of total CoenzymeQ10, at lower dosages. Fifty milligrams (50 mg.) of CoQ10–H2 yields improved blood levels, which produce the prolonged bioenergetic and antioxidant benefits.
A recently published single-blind, placebo controlled, four-week study of healthy Japanese subjects has shown that CoQ10–H2 was absorbed rapidly and efficiently from the gastrointestinal tract after oral administration of ubiquinol, the reduced form of CoenzymeQ10. The Japanese researchers reported that the benefits of reduced CoenzymeQ10, CoQ10–H2, were attributable to the over 210 percent increase in blood levels of ubiquinol; this is a dramatic and therapeutically efficacious elevation when compared to ubidecarone, the oxidized form of CoenzymeQ10. Importantly, this study also revealed no abnormal laboratory values seen in blood chemistry panels or any other indications of clinically relevant safety concerns, as evidenced by the clinicians’ assessments of adverse events related to dosages of CoQ10–H2 up to 300 mg. per day.10
Conclusion
The documented role of CoQ10–H2 in the synthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) by mitochondria in both cardiac and skeletal muscle provides a solid bio-energetic foundation for the clinically anticipated benefits of increased cardiac output leading to improved stamina and endurance. The improved antioxidant protection of cellular and mitochondrial membranes achieved with CoQ10–H2, plus the protection of mitochondrial DNA from reactive oxidant stresses (ROS) makes CoQ10–H2 the preferred choice for health conscious consumers plus physicians and nutritionists, who are working with their heart disease patients to achieve improved cardiac function and circulation, which correlates with renewed vitality and longevity. The superior bioavailability of CoQ10–H2 also will prove advantageous to anyone who wants to increase their energy levels or address any of the concerns mentioned in this article.
References
1. Langsjoen PH, Langsjoen PH, Folkers K. Long-term efficacy and safety of CoQ10 therapy for idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Am J Cardiol. 1990 Feb 15;65:521-523.
2. Rosenfeldt F, Marasco S, Lyon W, Wowk M, Sheeran F, Bailey M, Esmore D, Davis B, Pick A, Rabinov M, Smith J, Nagley P, Pepe S. Coenzyme Q10 therapy before cardiac surgery improves mitochondrial function and in vitro contractility of myocardial tissue. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2005 Jan;129(1):25-32.
3. Kamikawa T, et al. Effects of CoQ10 on exercise tolerance in chronic stable angina pectoris. Am J Cardiol. 1985 Aug. 1;56:247-251.
4. Burke BE, Neuenschwander R, Olson RD. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of CoQ10 in isolated systolic hypertension. S Med J. 2001 Nov;94(11):1112-1117.
5. Shults CW, Oakes D, Kieburtz K, Beal MF, Haas R, Plumb S, Juncos JL, Nutt J, Shoulson I, Carter J, Kompoliti K, Perlmutter JS, Reich S, Stern M, Watts RL, Kurlan R, Molho E, Harrison M, Lew M. Effects of coenzyme Q10 in early Parkinson disease: evidence of slowing of the functional decline. Arch Neurol. 2002 Oct;59(10):1541-50.
6. American Academy of Neurology 2004 Annual Meeting, San Francisco, April 28, 2004, Abstract S43.004.
7. Balercia G, Mosca F, Mantero F, Boscaro M, Mancini A, Ricciardo-Lamonica G, Littarru G. Coenzyme Q(10) supplementation in infertile men with idiopathic asthenozoospermia: an open, uncontrolled pilot study. Fertil Steril. 2004 Jan;81(1):93-8.
8. Gvozdjakova A, Kucharska J, Bartkovjakova M, Gazdikova K, Gazdik FE. Coenzyme Q10 supplementation reduces corticosteroids dosage in patients with bronchial asthma. Biofactors. 2005;25(1-4):235-40.
9. Palan PR, Magneson AT, Castillo M, Dunne J, Mikhail MS. Effects of menstrual cycle and oral contraceptive use on serum levels of lipid-soluble antioxidants. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2006 May;194(5):e35-8.
10. Hosoe K, Kitano M, Kishida H, Kubo H, Fujii K, Kitahara M. Study on Safety and Bioavailability of Ubiquinol (QH™) After Single and 4-week Multiple Oral Administration to Healthy Volunteers. Regulatory Toxicology Pharmacology. 2007 February; 47(1):19-28.

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