Ubiquinone (coenzyme Q10) is a fat-soluble, vitamin-like substance that exists in all cells. It can be produced in the liver or ingested in food. Because it contains a side chain of 10 isoprene units, it is named coenzyme Q10.
The production of Ubiquinone is decrease, for example, with ageing and as a result of some illnesses and medicines (such as statins). Nutrition rich in fatty fish and meat as well as peanuts and spinach are good sources of ubiquinone.
Ubiquinone is a central coenzyme in the formation of ATP (adenosinetri phosphate) in mitochondrias, the cells’ energy production centres. Therefore it has a direct effect on cells’ energy production and ubiquinone’s effects can also be noticed in increased general vitality.It is beneficial especially for the heart as the heart muscle consumes a lot of energy.
Coenzyme Q10’s physiological function
Coenzyme Q10 exists widely in cell membrane, especially in mitochondrial membrane, mainly distributed in the heart, kidney, liver, muscle and other tissues with vigorous metabolism. The content of coenzyme Q10 in the whole body is only 500-1500mg, but it plays an important role:
1. It plays a key role in converting food (carbohydrate and fat) energy into energy available to human cells, and provides guarantee for energy supply of various life activities of cells .
2. It has Excellent antioxidant capacity, which can reduce oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation, and regenerate the famous antioxidant nutrients vitamin C and E back to their active forms.
3. Reduce the levels of inflammatory cytokines, thereby helping to reduce inflammation in the body.
the health effects of Coenzyme Q10
Coenzyme Q10 has the highest content in the heart, so it is generally considered to be the most closely related to heart health. Clinical studies have found that 3 out of every 4 patients with heart disease have low coenzyme Q10 levels, and supplementing coenzyme Q10 can significantly improve the symptoms of heart failure and effectively reduce the mortality and hospitalization rate of patients with heart failure. One research published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) indicates that coenzyme Q10 as a nutritional supplement is an effective way to relief statin induced muscle symptoms .
In addition to heart health, deficiencies in coenzyme Q10 levels have been linked to a variety of other degenerative conditions and diseases, including migraines, diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and muscular dystrophy. Some studies have also found that coenzyme Q10 can effectively improve fatigue, improve sperm quality and promote reproductive health.
The well-known beneficials of taking Ubiquinone as dietary supplement is as follows,
• For energy metabolism
• For the heart and nervous system
• For tiredness and fatigue
• For athletes and the elderly