Coenzyme Q10 is a naturally occurring compound that is widely distributed in animals and the human body. It was first discovered in 1957 by American professor Frederick Crane and his colleagues. The name originates from its chemical structure, with a benzoquinone ring as the main component and a side chain composed of 10 isoprene units. As one of the most commonly used nutritional supplements, Coenzyme Q10 is involved in the production of ATP and plays an important role in bioenergetics. It is currently widely used in the fields of cardiovascular health and reproduction.
Coenzyme Q10: Adjunctive treatment for heart failure (HF)
Heart failure is a syndrome caused by various structural and functional diseases of the heart, leading to impaired ventricular filling and/or ejection function. The heart's output is insufficient to meet the body's metabolic needs, clinically manifested by pulmonary and/or systemic congestion and inadequate perfusion of organs and tissues. The main symptoms include shortness of breath, limited physical activity, and fluid retention. As the condition worsens, symptoms like pulmonary congestion, breathlessness, chest tightness, edema in the lower limbs, fatigue, and dizziness may appear. Standard clinical treatment involves the use of diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, beta-blockers, and aldosterone receptor antagonists for symptomatic support. On this basis, Coenzyme Q10 and trimetazidine can be used as adjunctive treatments.
Coenzyme Q10: Adjunctive treatment for myocarditis
Supplementing with Coenzyme Q10 can improve cardiac function indicators and myocardial enzyme indicators in children or adults with viral myocarditis, providing a certain protective effect on the myocardium. The 2017 "Chinese Expert Consensus on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Adult Acute Fulminant Myocarditis" pointed out that all patients with fulminant myocarditis should receive general symptomatic and supportive treatment, with Coenzyme Q10 recommended to improve myocardial energy metabolism and cardiac function. However, despite these positive findings, further research is needed to determine how to select patients who will truly benefit from Coenzyme Q10 before including it as a guided medication treatment.
Precautions for taking Coenzyme Q10
Coenzyme Q10 is fat-soluble, so it is recommended to take it with meals or after meals.
If economically feasible, one can choose the highly bioavailable reduced form of Coenzyme Q10. After obtaining Coenzyme Q10, the human body needs to convert it into its reduced form to be utilized. As people age, the ability to make this conversion gradually decreases. Therefore, directly supplementing with the reduced form of Coenzyme Q10 can improve bioavailability by 2 to 4 times compared to regular Coenzyme Q10. However, the price also varies significantly, and one can choose based on individual needs and cost-effectiveness.
There can be interactions when taking Coenzyme Q10 with other medications like warfarin. If you are also taking anticoagulants like warfarin, Coenzyme Q10 may reduce the anticoagulant effect of warfarin, requiring you to take it under medical supervision.
It is important to note that Coenzyme Q10 cannot replace medication for the treatment of diseases. Do not discontinue doctor-prescribed medications on your own.