The first study I want to highlight is from 2014, but is so important that it deserves to be revisited. Published in December 2014, this study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that aimed to address the relationship between low CoQ10 levels in the heart, and a weakened heart muscle. This type of research design is regarded as the best model to control for any potential cofounders and is the gold standard of clinical trials. Very rigorous statistically, this study assessed the effect of a 2 year long supplementation routine with CoQ10 designed to support cardiovascular health. What’s really interesting, and important about this study, is that while there were no statistically relevant benefits after 16 weeks supplementation, by the 2 year endpoint the benefits of CoQ10 were quite obvious. These benefits included numerous measures indicative of significant cardiovascular support[fn value=1][/fn].

There has also been a lot of very interesting new research on the mechanism by which CoQ10 exerts its unique health supportive effects. This fat-soluble antioxidant is localized in the highest concentrations in the part of the cell that produces energy, known as the mitochondria. Within the mitochondria, CoQ10 supports cellular energy production by helping cells produce ATP (ATP is our bodies primary form of cellular energy). CoQ10 is primarily known for its ability to support cardiovascular health and heart health. In fact, there has been a substantial amount of research published in the last 6 months highlighting the various pathways in which CoQ10 supports cardiovascular health.

As mentioned above, CoQ10 plays a critical role in the production of energy for heart cells, which demand copious amounts of energy. Maintaining optimal CoQ10 levels is an absolute must. A recent study published in the journal Biomolecules and Therapeutics showed that obese animals who are given statins (a very commonly prescribed drug to lower cholesterol) AND a CoQ10 supplement had much less muscle damage than those only given statins[fn value=2][/fn]. Why would statins cause muscle damage, and why would CoQ10 reverse this side-effect? Well, that is because the biochemical pathway in the body that is responsible for making cholesterol that statins target and block, is the very same pathway responsible for making CoQ10. Essentially statins can suppress our bodies’ natural CoQ10 production. Not only did the animals in this study have less statin-induced muscle damage, but they also lost more weight while on CoQ10 supplementation, indicating it has beneficial effects on metabolism as well.

There is a well-established link between metabolic dysfunction and poor heart health. Therefore, it is important to recognize the metabolic supportive effects of CoQ10 and understand that by supporting a healthy metabolism, CoQ10 supports heart health. A study published in 2016 in the Journal of Diabetes Research found that CoQ10 plays a critical role in supporting healthy blood flow in tissues that are exposed to high levels of blood sugar[fn value=3][/fn]—a major problem for anyone consuming the standard American diet. The idea of supporting healthy blood flow and relaxing blood vessels is a concept that is beginning to emerge as one of CoQ10’s most important benefits.

This concept was confirmed in a recent review of the scientific literature known as a meta-analysis. This type of study surveys and combines data from all previous trials performed in the past, then using this combined data set, is able to make a determination if an intervention (such as CoQ10 supplementation) is largely found to be effective for what is it being researched for, such as supporting healthy blood flow. This type of review was just performed by researchers who published their findings in the Feb 6^th issue of the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. They concluded that a relatively large body of evidence supports the use of coenzyme Q10 for supporting healthy blood flow and healthy blood pressure[fn value=4][/fn].

The heart is an amazing muscle. While other muscles—even our brain, relax at night, the heart keeps working, pumping oxygenated blood throughout the body. Heart health continues to be a priority for Americans and unfortunately many of our diets do not provide enough of the critical nutrients such as CoQ10 that are required to support heart health. That fact, on top of the fact that drugs like statins and aging both decrease the body’s ability to make CoQ10, really make it apparent how useful certain dietary supplements like CoQ10 are for our health!

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/heart/heartfacts.html

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