Background Information on Coenzyme Q10
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a very popular supplement nowadays and rightly so. It has several important functions in the body. Most notably it participates in the production of energy in our bodies. Specifically, CoQ10 helps in the production of ATP in your mitochondria (which are the energy factories of you cells). It also is an antioxidant/free radical scavenger that is good for among other things, skin health. So, I tend to recommend this supplement frequently both as a topical and as an oral supplement that can help optimize skin metabolism.
Coenzyme Q10 also shares a biosynthetic pathway with cholesterol. This means that many of the same steps are necessary to help utilize coenzyme Q 10 as well as cholesterol. So, take a statin to helps reduce your cholesterol, this tends to deplete your levels of coenzyme Q 10. In fact, there are many case reports of people with memory loss, extremity pain and fatigue, and other symptoms. These folks should check with their doctor if they have these symptoms.
Remember also that the nervous system requires a large amount of energy to function. As a result, it also requires active coenzyme Q10 to help in this process. If you are suffering from the symptoms of cramps, paresthesias (nerve tingling), and even numbness and you are on a statin, you may want to consider supplementing with coenzyme Q10, or talking with your doctor about whether the statin you are on is truly necessary.
Coenzyme Q10 also helps increase the efficacy of other antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin E and vitamin C by helping convert them into their reduced form, which is their active form.
Some studies have suggested that CoQ10 supplementation can extend lifespan, and it can be used to treat things like hypertension and heart failure.
In regards to skin health, in particular, CoQ10 can be a very important supplement to include in both oral and topical forms to help promote overall skin health and fight against the aging process.
The ability to convert energy efficiently and the aging process are intimately interconnected, and it seems that coenzyme Q 10 plays a vital role in this process particularly in the skin.
Coenzyme Q10 and the skin
Remember, the skin is a highly active organ in terms of its metabolism and turnover. Rather than being a static organ, and skin cells are constantly turning over. Likewise, the collagen and elastin, which forms the central "skeleton" of the skin in the dermal layer, is also turning itself over and repairing itself. This also takes a great deal of energy, and so coenzyme Q 10 plays an important role in this process. In addition, by virtue of the fact that coenzyme Q 10 is a powerful antioxidant, it helps prevent free radical damage to the skin. Free radical damage to the skin is one of the causes of aging.
Ubiquinol is the reduced form of coenzyme Q 10, that means it's not oxidized (active form), and as a result, it can participate in the production of energy effectively while also acting as an antioxidant, and helping other antioxidants do their job as well like vitamin C and vitamin E. Look for this form when you are buying your supplements, or look at my supplement list if you want to know what I personally take and recommend to my patients.
What are the best dietary sources of CoQ10?
Some of the best dietary sources of coenzyme Q10 are meats and fish, particularly organ meats such as beef liver, while herbs like parsley and nuts are also excellent sources of coenzyme Q10.
Of note soybean oil is an excellent source of coenzyme Q10, but there is a significant caveat in this regard, because soybean oil is very high in omega six fatty acids, which are generally inflammatory.
In addition, when soybean oil and other vegetable oils (which are also high in CoQ10) are used in high heat frying, this tends to deactivate a significant portion of the coenzyme Q10.
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