XTEND-YOUR-LIFE Newsletter
Issue - 29th April 2005
CoQ10, info you need to know... Part 2
This week I will try to give you a better understanding of CoQ10 and if you really need to directly supplement with it.
In the last issue of Xtend-Your-Life (Part 1) the main focus was on why in my opinion CoQ10 had become so popular. You may recollect that I felt it was due to the widespread use of statin cholesterol lowering drugs. In case you missed that issue, (which you can find in the archives) these statin drugs deplete the levels of CoQ10 in your body because they inhibit the cholesterol making pathway... which is the same pathway that your body uses to make CoQ10. If you would like to see this pathway in simple terms please click here (please note that this is a .PDF file and may take a few minutes to open) and have a look at the diagram on the first page.
It's not that these drugs directly 'use up' your body's stores of CoQ10 by using what is present. Rather, they indirectly deplete the levels of this important nutrient by substantially reducing your body's production of it thus leaving the body with a daily shortfall.
This is the same way that the statins work on lowering cholesterol. They inhibit the body's ability to produce it thus resulting in a lower production of it and therefore lower levels! In case you were not aware of this fact, about 80% of the cholesterol in your body is manufactured by the liver, with the other 20% coming from diet. This is why diet alone rarely works for those folk wishing to reduce their cholesterol.
In the case of CoQ10 most scientists agree that about 50% of the CoQ10 in your body is manufactured by the body using the same pathway as cholesterol with the other 50% coming from diet. (assuming that you have a good wholesome diet).
Even if you have an excellent diet your daily intake of CoQ10 (which is in most wholesome food, especially some meats) is still not enough to meet your daily needs. An average good diet will provide about 5mgs per day, but the body needs about 10mgs per day to function effectively. This extra must come from your body's own production, or from supplementation.
If you are on a statin drug you must take supplemental CoQ10 or face serious consequences. Some examples of these consequences can be found in the last issue of Xtend-Your-Life by clicking on the links provided.
OK... so much for the statins and CoQ10. What if you are not on a statin drug, should you be supplementing with CoQ10? The answer is no... not directly, but yes you do need additional CoQ10 once you reach the age of 30+. This is because your body's production does diminish with age and CoQ10 is an important substance in the prevention of a whole host of degenerative diseases.
So, the important question is "what is the best way, to get the extra CoQ10"? There are two ways:
Option 1. Direct supplementation with a CoQ10 Supplement.
There are a multitude of CoQ10 products on the market. They are very expensive because the genuine CoQ10 is a very expensive ingredient. Stay away from the cheaper versions as they either will not have the stated amounts of CoQ10 present, or they are using 'alternative' CoQ10 with questionable properties.
What you need to be aware of with direct CoQ10 supplementation, is that it is very poorly absorbed by the body. This is why CoQ10 in food contributes so little to daily needs. In fact, most CoQ10 products in non enteric coated tablets and capsules only give between 5 - 10% bio-availability. So, if you are taking a 100mg tablet expect to absorb between 5 - 10mgs of CoQ10... which is OK because that is all your body needs.
If on the other hand if you are taking a quality 50mg sublingual tablet (melts in the mouth) you can expect around 40% bio-availability. So, you could get twice as much from a 50mgs sublingual tablet than a normal 100mg tablet or capsule.
However, if you are supplementing with CoQ10 the supplement should contain a small amount of selenium and various other co-factors to enable the CoQ10 to do its job.
Option 2. Indirect supplementation.
This is by far the best option (if you are not on a statin drug). There are two main reasons why it is the best option. The first is that it is not as expensive, and the second reason is that you not only take care of all your body's CoQ10 needs but at the same time you provide your body with a whole host of other essential nutrients which nourish all your other organs including your brain.
If you haven't guessed it already I'm about to tell you how you can stimulate the body to produce extra CoQ10. This is how it works.
CoQ10 is biosynthesized in the human body from Tyrosine through a complex cascade of various precursors and co-factors. Some of these essential substances are Vitamins B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, Folic acid, Vit C, Vit E, Copper, Selenium, Zinc, L-Methionine and various other trace elements.
Fortunately there is substantial scientific literature and data supporting these bio-synthesis processes. This enabled our Xtend-Life scientists to calculate what ingredients were needed to incorporate within our Total Balance formula to ensure that we gave the body all the 'tools' needed to produce adequate levels of CoQ10. They also had to examine various metabolic pathways at molecular level to ensure synergy with all other ingredients and maintain a balance.
The need to ensure that Total Balance could effectively produce CoQ10 is one of the reasons why we included 200mgs of Tyrosine in the daily dose of Total Balance. It was also an influencing factor in us going to the extra cost of enteric coating the tablet so the nutrients avoid damage from stomach acid by being released in the upper intestine.
You may be wondering how much CoQ10 you will get a day if you took the full daily dose of Total Balance! That is a difficult one to answer because it will vary from person to person. However, what we can safely say is that you can expect to end up with more CoQ10 in your body each day by taking the full dose of Total Balance than from a 'normal' 100mg capsule or tablet of CoQ10.
Added insurance...
But... as a bit of extra insurance we did add something else to Total Balance as well. We included 6mgs of adenosine triphosphate in the TB formula. The name of this substance does not mean much to most people, but it is a form of ATP. What is one of the main functions of CoQ10? It is an important co-factor in the synthesis of ATP, which provides the energy to drive all cellular activities. Without this ATP cells would cease to function! This is the most important end product of CoQ10 and one of the most important reasons for taking CoQ10.
So, as you can see, we have it covered from both angles! Not only helping the body produce adequate CoQ10 but also providing some of the 'end' product as well in the form of ATP precursors.
Bottom line?
Quite simple really... I can honestly say (with no bias) that even though I will soon be 58 I do not supplement with CoQ10 as I have no need to, because I take my 6 tablets of Total Balance per day. I get far more benefit from taking this approach because I am also maintaining the health of all my essential organs through the multi-pronged approach that TB provides.
In summary, please forgive me for giving such a 'plug' for Total Balance, but I do it in good conscience because I don't like seeing people getting caught up in the 'hype' of a particular ingredient when they can allocate their supplement funds more wisely. For more details on Total Balance please click here.
One final comment. If you are on a statin drug please consider talking to your physician about the possibility of phasing it out in conjunction with our new natural cholesterol formula. For details click here. The risks of staying on it are real. However, if you don't want to try the natural option and you do stay on the statin, please go and buy a good quality GENUINE CoQ10 supplement. Although our Total Balance will increase production of CoQ10 a fair proportion of it will be blocked by the statin, so you would really be wise to direct supplement with CoQ10 if you are in this situation.
Good luck and good health,
Info about the editor
Important notice: All material provided within the newsletter XTEND-YOUR-LIFE is for informational and educational purposes only, and is not to be construed as medical advice or instruction. No action should be taken solely on the contents of this publication. Consult your physician or a qualified health professional on any matters regarding your health and wellbeing or on any opinions expressed within this newsletter. The information provided in this newsletter is believed to be accurate based on the best judgment of the editor but the reader is responsible for consulting with their own health professional on any matters raised within.
