The Importance of CoQ10 for Heart Health and Much More

In an earlier Health Impact News article, it was pointed out how statin drugs cut back on the body's ability to produce an important co-enzyme called CoQ10. One of CoQ10's important health features, among others, is that it's vital for good heart health. Ironically, statin drugs prescribed for protecting cardiovascular health hamper this heart health co-enzyme production, and worse, it affects other areas of health. This could explain the other adverse side effects of statin drugs, such as fatigue, lowered immunity, and aching joints, muscles, and tendons. Co-enzyme Q 10 (CoQ10) was identified from its function, not its structure. It actually involves a complex cycle that affects electron transfer in tissue cells, most importantly brain, heart, and liver organ tissues, and promotes intracellular energy production throughout the body.

CoQ10 versus Ubiquinol – What You Need to Know, Especially if You Take Statins

Coenzyme Q10 is used for energy production by every cell in your body, and also helps protect against cellular damage from free radicals. CoQ10 is especially important if you’re taking a statin drug as statins deplete your body of CoQ10, thereby speeding up progression of heart disease. Ubiquinol is the reduced form of CoQ10 – the effective form your body naturally uses to transfer free electrons – and research shows that this reduced form is superior for your health in a number of ways, primarily due to its superior bioavailability if you’re over 25. CoQ10 has been available for many decades, but the reduced version, ubiquinol, has only been commercially available for about six years. Prior to that it could only be made for research studies. There are well over 100 studies supporting its use and demonstrating its many health benefits, including its beneficial effect on statin-induced myalgia and other diseases rooted in mitochondrial dysfunction. Studies have demonstrated that ubiquinol has a positive effect on: inflammatory processes, septic shock (which is also associated with mitochondrial dysfunction), cardiac arrest and stroke recovery, and periodontal disease (including gingivitis and dry mouth).

Ubiquinol Rescues Cells from Statin-Induced Side Effects

Ubiquinol, the reduced form of CoQ10, effectively rescues cells from the damage caused by a statin drug thereby protecting muscle cells from myopathies. Patients with statin-associated myopathy who took CoQ10 experienced significantly less pain, decreased muscle weakness and cramps, and less fatigue. Ubiquinol is not only important for those taking statins, it’s also been found to lower the risk of a variety of chronic diseases and has anti-aging properties.