Coenzyme Q10: A Cardiotonic and Antioxidant


Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a fat-soluble, vitamin-like compound that is also known as ubiquinone. It is produced by the human body (endogenous) and is necessary for the basic functioning of all cells. Of the 10 forms of coenzyme Q found in nature, only CoQ10 is synthesized in humans. CoQ10 levels are reported to decrease with age and to be low in patients with some chronic diseases such as heart conditions, muscular dystrophies, Parkinson’s disease, cancer, and diabetes. It is also reported that some prescription drugs may lower CoQ10 levels.

CoQ10 is naturally in the energy-producing center of the cell known as the mitochondria and is involved in making an important molecule, known as adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP serves as the cell’s major energy source and drives a number of biological processes, including muscle contraction and the production of protein.

The heart contains the largest amount of mitochondria (cell power house) of any muscle in the body, so it is not surprising that CoQ10 has been proven effective for treatment of heart disease. It is claimed that it is beneficial as a cardiotonic in a variety of cardiovascular diseases, including angina, congestive heart failure (CHF), and hypertension. In addition, CoQ10 may be of value in musculoskeletal disorders, periodontal disease, diabetes, and obesity. CoQ10 is also involved in prevention of atherosclerosis, abnormal protein synthesis, and age-related degenerative diseases, and is a cell-membrane stabilizer. It also works as a powerful antioxidant due to its role in electron-transfer processes.

CoQ10 is used as a supplement, and it should be noted that the dosing of dietary supplements is highly dependent on a variety of factors, such as quality of raw materials, manufacturing process, and packaging. Since no official standards have been established to date to regulate the production of dietary supplements in the United States, dosage ranges must be employed as guidelines only.

Fish such as mackeral and tuna, red meat, and vegetable oils are good sources of CoQ10, but it is hard to acquire medicinal amounts of the compound from dietary sources.

Focus on Plant Estrogens

Phytoestrogens are trace biochemicals produced by plants that act like estrogens in animal cells and bodies. A number of epidemiological studies have reported a connection between high dietary intake of phytoestrogens and lower rates of certain cancers, cardiovascular problems, and menopausal symptoms. It is believed that phytoestrogens could compete with estradiol for binding to intercellular estrogen receptors. Although still inconclusive, scientific evidence is accumulating to suggest that phytoestrogens may have a role in preventing chronic disease. An especially strong body of evidence suggests that they may be effective in preventing and treating prostate cancer, due to their antiandrogenic properties.

Phytoestrogens are a comparatively recent discovery, and researchers are still exploring the nutritional role of these substances in such diverse metabolic functions as the regulation of cholesterol and maintaining of post menopausal bone density. Phytoestrogens mainly fall into the class of flavonoids: the most potent in this class are coumestans and isoflavones (genistein and daidzein). The best-researched group is isoflavones, which are commonly found in soy and red clover. The uses for these isoflavones are just like that of soy, simply because isoflavones are found in soy. Lignan- not a flavenoid- has also been identified as a phytoestrogen. The estrogenic properties of these biochemicals have been shown to be due to their structural similarities to the hormone estradiol.

The major types of phytoestrogens and lignans are all examples of phenolic phytoestrogens. Other kinds of molecules (including plant steroids and terpenoids) have demonstrated varying estrogenic activity as well; however, this short blog focuses mainly on phytoestrogens and their health benefits.

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