Co-Enzyme Q-10
by Nanci Metro

Co-enzyme Q-10 (CoQ-10) is a vitamin-like substance vital to the health of all body cells. It is composed of oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon atoms and is a co-enzyme that is necessary for cell respiration, electron transfer, and control of oxidation reactions. It is a catalyst in the production of energy that cells need in order to reproduce properly, live longer, and be healthier. In short, if there’s one word to be associated with CoQ-10, it’s energy.

Chemically, CoQ-10 belongs to a group of compounds called quinones

Quinones are brightly-colored cyclic compounds that also include vitamin K-1. Several quinones are biologically active as co-enzymes and are similar to certain vitamins. Vitamin E also has a quinone-like chemical structure.

CoQ-10 is found in every cell of the body, where it works at the subcellular level. CoQ-10 is found in the membrane of the mitochondria. The mitochondria is the sub-cellular powerhouse that produces 95% of the body’s energy needs through its involvement in protein synthesis and lipid metabolism. CoQ-10 pumps protons across the mitochondrial membrane helping in the formation of ATP, the basic energy molecule in the cell.

The action of CoQ-10 is vitamin-like instead of drug-like, so a rebuilding program is gradual. Supplementation is only effective when CoQ-10 is already deficient. It won’t give a super-boost if physical condition and bioenergetic level are adequate. Most people, however, will benefit from CoQ-10 supplementation, because of inadequate dietary sources and body functions that are not optimal. If there is a severe deficiency, it is possible for beneficial results to be felt in a few days. Moderate deficiency takes longer for results to be felt.

CoQ-10 assists in increasing energy for the bioenergetic process, especially in times of stress and fighting off illness and disease. Bioenergetics, a term coined by leading CoQ-10 researcher, Dr. Ken Folkers, refers to the union of energy and life at the cellular level. Because CoQ-10 is found in every cell in the body, it benefits the entire body.

Dr. Folkers has conducted years of research into the role of CoQ-10 in the bioenergetics of human life. He stated that when levels of CoQ-10 in the body drop, 75% (meaning that there’s just 25% of the expected norm in the body), death results. A 25% deficiency leads to numerous kinds of diseases taking hold. Most CoQ-10 clinicians now report that these levels were too optimistic, meaning that disease and death can result with less deficiency of the co-enzyme than recognized by Folkers.
If you are interested in finding out what your CoQ-10 level is, you can ask a laboratory, which conducts the test, to measure the levels in a blood sample. However, it is not possible at this time to check the CoQ-10 levels of specific organs. So it is possible to have adequate levels in your blood but be deficient in certain organs.

CoQ-10 and the Heart

The most research on CoQ-10 has been conducted in relation to the heart, since it has the greatest concentration of CoQ-10 in the body. The heart is a muscle that has tremendous working capacity. Just try raising and lowering your arm all day. The heart also has tremendous energy needs. When energy levels in the heart drop, disease and dysfunction result.
Dr. Folkers states, “I believe it is quite possible that cardiovascular disease may be very significantly caused by a deficiency of CoQ-10.” He adds that it can be treated by oral administration of CoQ-10. Experiments have found CoQ-10 deficiencies in three-fourths of cardiac victims. Healthy hearts, on the other hand, have adequate levels. Diseased hearts are revitalized when CoQ-10 supplements are used.

Heart-muscle fibers can lose their contractility- the ability to contract and then relax to normal length. When CoQ-10 levels are reduced, energy levels fall and the ability to contract is decreased. CoQ-10 supplements can increase and normalize cardiac levels.

Supplemental doses of 100 mg a day have been used for people suffering from congestive heart failure. This improves the general condition, increases physical capacity, and provides less difficulty in breathing, less tissue swelling, and less incontinence of urine at night. Supplementation may be long-term, even life-time, since dietary and metabolic conditions creating the deficiency may still exist.