Does anyone out there take coenzyme q10 a vitamin?

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I have skipping heart beats once in a while, and I take inderal, which i was informed today that they are makeing it any more, so I thought maybe I could take cq10 and get the same benifits? Irene

-- Irene texas (tkorsborn@cs.com), August 27, 2001

Answers

Dear Irene,

Good for you to look for alternatives for better health!! My father in law is 66 and has had past heart problems and also carodit (sp?) arteries, and high blood pressure. I do not believe that he has irregular heartbeats. I don't know what presciption meds he is on, but he does take a CoQ1030 capsule every day. This helps to prevent placque build up in his arteries. Less placque build up on his teeth too! His Dr. is aware of this and did not feel that it would interfere in his other treatments. He has been taking it for almost 6 years. He prefers a vitamin brand called Nature's Sunshine, but I'm sure that there are several good brands available. Best wishes to you.

-- Charleen in WNY (harperhill@eznet.net), August 27, 2001.


I take Spring Valley (brand) CoQ-10 150mg One daily. My mom died from congestive heart failure so I am trying to prevent that. Don't know if it is doing any good but am still alive so something must working. I buy it at Walmart.

-- Belle (gardenbelle@terraworld.net), August 27, 2001.

Hi Irene, I have irregular heartbeats too, that and occasional PVC's, and high blood pressure if I don't behave and eat right! Dr. had me on Inderal too, but I found alternatives to the meds, I didn't like the side effects, or having to be on them for the rest of my life.

I take the CoQ10 once a day (50mg.), hawthorn capsules, two twice a day (400mg. each), magnesium twice a day (600mg. total), calcium citrate twice a day (900mg. total), flaxseed oil capsules one twice a day, and natural vitamin E once a day (400mg.). All this just for the heart stuff, but, it is better to fix it naturally, and allow the body to heal itself, than to be on the meds. forever.

And it sure works, these supplements, plus losing weight and regular exersize, brought my BP down to 120/75 from a hign of 150/110, and my total cholesterol down to 149 from 240. This took about a year altogether to see all these results, but you start feeling better in a few weeks.

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), August 27, 2001.


Hi Irene, like Annie, I take Hawthorne twice a day and CoQ10, but I also take garlic tablets twice a day and cayenne tablet once a day, these help with circulation health - it only takes a few days to feel the difference. But like any meds, you need to research it and talk to your doctor. remember: just because it is natural doesn't mean you shouldn't be careful...blessings,

-- yancee in texas (rnanning@comwerx.net), August 28, 2001.

I have irregular heartbeats, as does my mom, and we take magnesium for it (Dr. Weil recommended it in his book). Think I may try adding CoQ10, too.

-- connie in nm (karrellewis@aol.com), August 29, 2001.


Co Q 10 is an essential component of the mitochondrial membranes. The mitochondria control the energy engine of the cell through menufacturing ATP out of ADP. It is this reaction that extracts 95% of the energy in the food you eat, uses that energy to pump protons across the mitochondrial membrane to sustain these reactions. Since co enzyme Q-10 plays a critical role in this procedure you need a certain amount just to sustain life itself. More co-Q-10 is found in the heart muscle than in any other cell of the body, not surprising considering the amount of work that the heart does in the lifetime. Heart tissue has been found to be deficient in co-Q 10 levels in heart patients 75% of the time. On the average heart patients have 25% less than non heart patients. Research indicates that co-Q 10 deficiency may be connected to the expression of heart disease. Periodontal research has shown that periodontal patients show a marked deficiency of co-Q 10 in the periodontal tissues in the mouth. Co-Q 10 has been shown to put a stop to the progress of periodontal disease and produce healing of the tissues. Co-Q 10 is a powerful antioxident and so has a heavy involvement in the immune system. It increases the immunocompetence of the immune systems cells making them much more efficient. In treatment of syndrome "x" which causes the developement of buffalo hump fat on the shoulders and massive fat deposits in the abdomen ( a syndrome becoming more and more prevalent i this pressure pot society), co-Q 10 allows the food to be utilized normally, reducing the formation of fat and helping to reduce insulin resistance.

-- Sandra Nelson (Magin@starband.net), August 29, 2001.

Sandra, that was facinating! Now can you tell me where Co-Q-10 is found in nature? Surely we were meant to get this naturally. Where is it in the food?

-- daffodyllady (daffodyllady@yahoo.com), August 29, 2001.

Co enzyme Q 10 is not found in enough quantity in any one food, and is only found in completely unprocessed foods, not heated, only raw foods, that is why it is very hard to get enough of this vital anti- oxidant, especially if you are over 40 years old, your needs for this go up every year you age!

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), August 29, 2001.

Annie is right. You find it only in unprocessed foods which is why modern man and woman has such a difficult time obtaining enough of it.

-- Sandra Nelson (Magin@starband.net), August 30, 2001.

But different types of raw foods have different living enzymes. Is coQ10 found in raw milk? Is this an enzyme found more in vegetable sources or in animal protein sources? What is the most abundant source?

-- daffodyllady (daffodyllady@yahoo.com), August 30, 2001.


Coenzyme Q 10 is a cofactor for at least 3 mitochondrial enzymes, acting as a key to enable the mitochondria to provide for electron and proton transport functions in the cell via use of its quinone ring. A similar structure is used in plants. This runs the oxidation phosphorylation pathway that basically is the engine for the cell and upon which all other functions of the cell depend. Coenzyme Q 10 (chemially known as ubiquinone) is not an enzyme but a coenzyme factor. Therefore you do not find much of it in its finished state in foods. It is largely manufactured within the body on an as needed basis. When the statement is made that it is found in a variety of foods, this largely refers to the substrate as no cell has alot of it built at any one time and so cannot act as a concentrated source. Coenzyme Q 10 is formed from a base of tyrosine, a common amino acid. If your protein intake is adequate you have enough of this in your diet. The hair in the soup comes from the fact that the manufacturing process in the cell involves at least 8 other vitamins and several trace elements. Therefore if you have too refined a diet or not enough of anything to eat (as in starvation ) you have trouble manufacturing it. As was said, only core, unprocessed foods can provide the needed source materials. In summary, the formation of Coenzyme Q 10 can be stymied by 1.) suboptimal nutrient intake (Which covers most of mankind), 2.) Medications interfereing with its manufacture ( such as CoA reductase inhibitors like those used to decrease the production of cholesterol), and 3.) a genetic (inherited) abnormality of the production pathway (as is seen in sufferers of syndrome "x"). An effective deficiency can be produced by body demands that are higher than the body production pathway can provide for. In this case prolonged stress, illness, extreme exertion as in hard core athletes or in acute shock. The studies I have seen state that an absolute minimum need is 30 to 40 milligrams per day. However the reasons that cause deficiency vary with the individual and so a dosage for therapeutic purposes may need to range in the 100 to 400 milligram level for daily intake of supplements to optain optimal results.Take from this what you will. Enzymes and coenzymes are fascinating studies and there is much more information out there if you are interested.

-- Sandra Nelson (Magin@starband.net), August 30, 2001.

i thought Q enzyme 10 was most abundant in organ meats like liver you don't mean these are eaten raw uncooked jkg

-- jason k godsey (jasonkgodsey@hotmail.com), September 02, 2001.

Dear Irene,

I am 35 years old, I do have hypertension. I have recently started taking CQ 10, 50mg once a day Sundown brand. I have seen some improvement as far as my blood pressure lowering is concerned. I have also been on Procardia 90mg and Acupril 20mg for controlling my blood pressure. I don't have any idea about cq10 benefits in controlling irregular heart beats.

-- Ravi Gupta (rgupta614@hotmail.com), February 08, 2002.


Great newsletter by Dr. Bruce West (don't think he has a website) recommends only WHOLE food supplements. He says that CoQ10 is fractionated and doesn't include CoQ 1 thru 9.

Have heard good things about the natural trace minerals. Friend with tachycardia (rapid heart beat) had tried everything and said that what finally helped was a magnesium supplement. He is in his 80s. I have experienced some heart pain, so have been taking the ConcenTrace minerals which are from the sea, minus the sodium. It is primarily magnesium. Definitely made a difference.

Have had periods in my life when heart just seemed to be pounding too hard. Celery or celery seed helps -- is relaxing and proven to lower blood pressure. Works fast. Love to use the seeds in salad dressing.

-- HV (veggie@ourplace.com), February 08, 2002.


Sources of COENZYME Q10:

Spinach, Peanuts, Tuna, Sardines, Beef

-- HV (veggie@ourplace.com), February 10, 2002.



I take it, up to 300 mg per day, for leaking heart valves, no more chest pains!!!!

-- Thumper/inOKC (slrldr@yahoo.com), February 10, 2002.

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