Antioxidants - Fighters against free radical damage
GSE
Every cell makes CoQ10, so why are many deficient in it?
Every cell makes CoQ10, so why are many deficient in it?
Age
It is believed that as many as 75% of men and
women over age 50 are deficient in CoQ10
- The body's natural ability
to produce CoQ10 decreases by up to 80% with age. Starting around 25 years and accelerating after 40;
- As we age the body is less
able to convert CoQ10 to its active form (ubiquinol).
The average diet supplies only a small amount of CoQ10
and is also deficient in its cofactor vitamins
Only small amounts of CoQ10 can be extracted from
food. The best sources
are organ meats (heart, kidney, liver - i.e. tissues with high energy demands);
other good sources are meat, fish/shellfish (especially mackerel, salmon,
sardines), peanuts, soybean, palm, olive, corn, sunflower and peanut oils,
broccoli and spinach. However, a typical diet does not provide enough to
maintain optimal CoQ10 levels. E.g. You would have to eat 1# of sardines, 2# of
beef, or 2 ½# of peanuts to obtain the equivalent of a 30mg supplement, about
enough to maintain health, but nowhere enough for therapeutic benefit against
disease.
Weber C et al.
The coenzyme Q10 content of the average Danish diet.
Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 1997
It takes certain nutrients to make CoQ10.
These essential components can adversely affect the production of
adequate amounts of CoQ10:
- Amino acid TYROSINE (Non-essential)
• Tyrosine is found in many high protein food
products. E.g. soy products, chicken,
turkey, fish, peanuts, almonds, avocados, bananas, milk, cheese, yogurt, cottage
cheese, lima beans, pumpkin seeds, and sesame seeds.
• Tyrosine can also be synthesized in the body from
phenylalanine (rich food sources of this
essential amino acid are curds, milk, cottage cheese, pulses and legumes,
poultry, piyal seeds (Indian), peanuts, pistachios, almonds, leafy vegetables,
and whole grains).
- At least seven vitamins
• B2, B3, B6, folic acid, B12, C, pantothenic
acid and certain trace minerals, such as selenium. In particular, dietary B6 (pyridoxine) is notably low in the
elderly and those eating a refined / processed food diet.
Emotional Stress
Emotional stress depletes body's CoQ10. E motional stress increasing oxidative stress in the
body, which creates oxidants (E.g.
free radicals) . The body's CoQ10
supply is depleted when used to neutralize these oxidants.
Cholesterol lowering drugs
Cholesterol lowering drugs greatly reduce
the body's ability to produce CoQ10. This
is because the metabolic pathway that produces cholesterol also produces CoQ10.
Anyone taking statin drugs should be taking supplementary CoQ10.
Beta-Blockers
Beta-Blockers decrease endogenous serum CoQ10
levels. By inhibiting CoQ10-dependent enzymes
Fuke C et al, Coenzyme Q10: A review of essential functions and clinical trials.
US Pharmacist 2000.
Overactive Thyroid
Overactive Thyroid depletes CoQ10.
By increasing thyroid hormone, metabolism is accelerated ,
which depletes the CoQ10 supply. Symptoms
of hyperthyroidism include anxiety, bulging eyes, irregular/fast heart rhythm,
irritability, muscle weakness, and weight loss.
The heart is usually the first casualty
Extreme physical exertion
Although moderate exercise stimulates the body's
production of CoQ10, exhaustive, prolonged exercise depletes CoQ10 by using it
up as fuel to support increased activity. Those at risk are weekend warriors and performance athletes.
