More than thirty years ago, Dr. Karl Folkers, a biochemist at the University of Texas, discovered that Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) – a powerful antioxidant that occurs naturally in your body – helps to strengthen the heart muscle and energize the cardiovascular system. Studies reveal that CoQ10 is essential for the prevention of degenerative conditions such as fatigue, muscle weakness and atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). Furthermore, its antioxidant properties help prevent the formation of oxysterols – oxidized forms of cholesterol.

Recommended by cardiologists for patients taking a statin medication, CoQ10 is gaining popularity as a cardio protective supplement. Statins deplete this vital nutrient and may adversely affect your heart. To complicate matters, aging depletes CoQ10 by up to fifty percent. Increasing evidence indicates that a deficit may be even more harmful to the brain, resulting in many age-related disorders. This makes it one of the most important supplements to take for those over the age of thirty. Moreover, CoQ10 is necessary for energy production in cells, so if you experience fatigue you may want to add this supplement to your daily health routine.

It is interesting to note that a CoQ10 study on heart attack patients revealed that supplementation with CoQ10 (120 mg daily) reduced secondary cardiac events by 45% – significantly reducing the number of cardiac deaths. Additionally, over 40% of heart attack survivors who take statins to lower their cholesterol levels experience low energy. However, only 6.8% of patients taking statins and CoQ10 experience fatigue.

In addition to supplementation, CoQ10 is present in salmon, sardines, mackerel, peanuts, spinach and beef.

CoQ10 has many additional benefits:

• Protects against periodontal and gum issues
• Improves cognitive nerve, cellular and cranial vascular health
• Promotes immune health
• Prevents premature aging of skin

Remember, if you take a statin, make sure you protect your health with CoQ10. It’s good for you!

Be well,

Dr. Janet