CoQ10 is an antioxidant coenzyme that is found in almost all living creatures and is utilized by your cells to process energy in order to function efficiently. According to the National Institutes of Health, the level of naturally occurring CoQ10 in your body decreases as you age, which is associated with several diseases and genetic disorders, such as heart diseases and some cancers. You can combat the issue of low levels of CoQ10 in your body by taking CoQ10 supplements which are readily available in the market. But there is a huge controversy regarding whether it really improves heart function and other health functions. Before you go out to get yourself some supplements, you should know something about this nutrient, both in its natural and supplement form.
Why Does Your Body Need CoQ10?
Your body derives energy from the food you eat, especially carbohydrates. But these carbohydrates would be useless if they could not be converted to something your body can use, such as adenosine triphosphate (ATP). This is where CoQ10 comes into the picture. It converts carbohydrates into ATP so that it can be used for various critical functions.1 Having enough ATP in your system makes sure you have a healthy metabolism, strong bones, and proper muscle and neurological functioning. When taken with vitamins C and E and selenium, CoQ10 functions as an antioxidant and fights off the effects of free radicals.2
How Much CoQ10 Does Your Body Need?
You don’t actually suffer from CoQ10 deficiency and no symptoms related to it have been observed in the general population till now as your body produces enough of this enzyme. While most of this enzyme is produced internally, about a quarter of it comes from dietary sources. The main sources of the enzyme are poultry, meat, and fish. But the levels of the enzyme in these foods are not sufficient to make a significant difference to the levels present in your body.3
What Are The Health Benefits Of CoQ10 Supplements?
Since the food you eat does not have enough CoQ10 to make a difference in your body, you can take it as a supplement, which is available in several forms. There is some evidence that supports the claim that taking CoQ10 supplements helps reduce the development of a number of diseases, but there is other research that has conflicting results. 4 So more studies have to be conducted on CoQ10 supplements to find out who benefits the most from taking the supplements and whether it can actually treat or prevent diseases.5
There are many claims regarding the health benefits of CoQ10 supplements such as reducing high blood pressure, improving symptoms of fatigue, reducing high cholesterol levels, treating gum diseases, helping patients with Alzheimer’s disease, treating Parkinson’s disease, treating and preventing migraine headaches, increasing sperm count and motility, and protecting the organs of cancer patients from the toxic effects of chemotherapy. But there is not enough evidence to back any of these claims. There is no harm in taking CoQ10 30 to 200 mg of the supplement if you are an adult, but children should not take it unless they are under the supervision of a doctor. Since CoQ10 supplements interact with other medications, it is always advisable to consult a healthcare professional before taking them just to be on the safe side. In the end, whether you want to take the supplements or not is completely up to you.
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