Originally published in July 2003 icon

The Heart Of The Matter

Also called ubiquinone, coenzyme Q10 was discovered in 1957 by Dr Fred Crane from the University of Wisconsin, who isolated it from beef hearts. The name ubiquinone comes from the fact that it belongs to a group of substances called quinones, and it is ubiquitous.

Although it is found in all human cells, the highest concentrations are found in the heart, liver, kidneys and pancreas, organs which have the most metabolically active cells. It is also found in large amounts in the cells of the immune system. Best natural food sources are offal, nuts like peanuts and walnuts, oily fish like mackerel and sardines, and seeds. However it is extremely hard to eat sufficient quantities to replace the shortfall in our bodies as we age.

CoQ1O is a very powerful antioxidant and neutralises free radicals. It also works with vitamin E to protect cell membranes (and particularly immune cell membranes) from free radical attack, thus boosting the immune system. It also seems to activate macrophages, the seek-and-destroy white cells.

In Japan, C0Q1O is essential treatment for cardiovascular disease

Three areas of research have been undertaken. Heart disease, brain function and cancer. Interest grew in the 70's when researchers found patients with congestive heart failure had less CoQ1O in their hearts. They also found CoQ1O could improve heart function. In Japan, today, C0Q1O is essential treatment for cardiovascular disease.

In October 2002 at the University of California, San Diego, researchers found that large doses of C0Q1O in conjunction with vitamin E slowed the progress of Parkinson's disease significantly.

Coenzyme Q10 is one of the body's natural chemicals that is in plentiful supply at puberty, but declines with age. Studies in America showed that 60 year olds taking levels of C0Q1O around 30-50 mgs for a period of 3 months or more could restore serum levels similar to those of 20 year olds.

C0Q1O can cross the blood brain barrier and further studies have shown a protective role in delaying dementia. There is also some evidence that CoQ1O aids in the treatment of brain tumours.

If you are thinking of buying Coenzyme Q10 you might like to look at the Natural Selection Product of Choice. You can do this by clicking this link.And this is the area of most interest to iCon readers - its possible effects with cancer. C0Q1O is essential for the effective working of mitochondria, or power stations, inside the cell and as such it is found in all human, animal and plant cells. It is involved in the synthesis of ATP, the powering fuel of the mitochondria. However, in cancer, the mitochondria go "wrong" and perform anaerobically (in the absence of oxygen) with a very different energy-producing system. One theory is that C0Q1O somehow stops this "odd" process.The involvement with the body's energy systems has shown that supplementation has a positive effect with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Early research was carried out by Dr Karl Folkers, who became interested when his next-door neighbour who had terminal metastatic lung cancer, started taking CoQ1O and had a complete remission.

Cancer patients do seem to have low levels of CoQ1O in their blood

Cancer patients (especially patients with myeloma, lymphoma, breast, prostate, lung, colon, kidney and pancreatic cancer) do seem to have low levels of CoQ1O in their blood (Lockwood 1994) and various claims for its effectiveness are made.

For example:

So "effective" is CoQ1O that there is a real warning that it should not be used during radiotherapy (Lund). It can prevent the full action of radiotherapy. (O'Brien).

Currently all available CoQ1O supplements are expensive and are produced by Japanese companies that use a patented fermentation process. This has certainly frustrated and influenced American researchers.

So, C0Q1O may work in the mitochondria, with the immune system, or as an antioxidant. It also helps minimise negative effects of chemotherapy especially on the heart, and it may help in brain tumours specifically.

It helps, but does not seem to work on its
own

What is clearer is that it works as an adjuvant therapy (i.e. a therapy after the primary therapy). It helps, but does not seem to work on its own. For example, in a study in Denmark with 22 breast cancer patients, high CoQ1O supplementation did play a significant factor after surgery (NCI).

In recent work with AIDS, people with the disease have been shown to have much lower levels of Coenzyme Q10 in their blood. In one small study there was some improvement with high doses around 200 mgs per day of the supplement.

No serious side effects are reported in healthy people using the supplement. It does not need drug approval as it is classified as a food supplement. If you are thinking of buying Coenzyme Q10 you might like to look at the Natural Selection Product of Choice. You can do this by clicking this link.          At Last - the definitive, research based book on how to build a diet to help beat cancer. Click here to read about it.

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