Categories
Related Products
What is CoQ10?
CoQ10 (coenzyme Q10/ubiquinone) is a very important substance needed for good health.
To be more precise in its description, CoQ10 is an endogenous lipophilic quinone, this simply means:
Endogenous = growing or developing form within the body
Lipophilic = A lipid-loving molecule
Quinone = A Biological pigment
CoQ10 is found in almost every human cell and to go even deeper, it is found in the inner membrane of the mitochondria (your cells energy powerhouse).
CoQ10 plays a role in supporting mitochondrial function (it's cofactor). In the human body, when CoQ10 is synthesised, it becomes 'ubiquinol'. For this synthesisation to occur, many things must be present - 11 genes, 8 vitamins and various minerals.
CoQ10's most bioavailable form is ubiquinol (ubiquinone gets converted into ubiquinol). Without this conversion, a person's energy levels would be sub-par and mitochondria would suffer.
There is a field of medicine called 'mitochondrial medicine' and this field is forever evolving (as everything in health tends to and the science is never settled). One thing though that is rock solid, is ubiquinol's role in mitochondrial function.
To learn more about mitochondria, please read our blog here 'How to Improve Your Mitochondria for Better Health and Energy'.
The Benefits of CoQ10 Enzyme (Ubiquinone)
- Critical cofactor in ATP generation (adenosine triphosphate). ATP is a molecule that carries energy within our cells.
- Functions as an antioxidant in cell membranes and lipoproteins.
- Acts as a cell-membrane stabiliser.
- Helps in the recycling process of a-tocopherol (vitamin E) and vitamin C.
- Helps to protect mitochondrial DNA.
- Needed for the health of virtually every tissue and organ in your body (especially the heart).
- Without adequate ubiquinol, you won't have healthy metabolic regulation, inflammation pathway regulation, healthy immune function but also, you will age faster and have a shorter life span!
- Needed for a healthy brain and preventing neurological issues in later life (specifically Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease)
- May help to prevent a migraine headache (due to its ability to reduce inflammation)
- CoQ10 is fundamentally important for heart cells (myocytes) as myocytes have a very high metabolic demand*
*That is probably why some physicians (the wise and more educated ones), recommend that their patient take CoQ10 after a heart attack or heart surgery.
Did you know that 75% of patients with diabetic cardiomyopathy were found to have low levels of CoQ10? Not just diabetic cardiomyopathy, but also people with ventricular or atrial septal defects, mitral stenosis/insufficiency?
To learn more about ubinquinol and heart health, be sure to click on the white paper PDF link in our reference section.
Where is Ubiquinol Found?
Ubiquinol is found in almost every cell but especially the heart, liver, intestines, kidneys and muscles. These are the organs that require the most energy so therefore it makes sense to find its highest concentrations here.
Like many things (as we age), ubiquinol production declines, along with our ability to convert ubiquinone to ubiquinol. This is why we have less energy as we get older and why we may need to look at supplementing and or diet more closely.
By supplementing with CoQ10 enzyme, we can help to decrease oxidative damage, reduce the speed of ageing (yes please) and improve energy and mitochondrial function.
Mitochondrial health is so key to our overall wellbeing so we must look after this amazing little organelle!
Sources of CoQ10 Enzyme
Food sources that contain the best amounts of CoQ10 enzyme are listed below. Please note that of these sources, that organ meats seem to be the best (especially bovine heart).
- Organ meats such as bovine heart, liver and kidney
- Red meats
- Fatty fish (mackerel, sardines, trout and salmon)
Note: you would need to eat copious amounts of fish to get adequate CoQ10. You would be better served by eating beef heart or taking it in a capsule form. Liver and kidney are also good but heart is the highest in CoQ10 enzyme.
We hope you enjoyed reading this blog and learning more about Q10!
Please share this article with anyone you think may benefit from this knowledge.
Tam
References:
https://www.ubiquinol.net.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Mitochondrial-Energy-White-Paper_September-2022.pdf
https://www.webmd.com/diet/foods-high-in-coq10
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/coenzyme-q10
