3 Reasons Why CoQ10 is Critical for Heart Health

By Dr. Kevin Passero

While many nutrients and herbs are supportive to the heart, it is important to learn about the key players needed to optimize cardiovascular function. Balancing cholesterol levels, lowering blood pressure, reducing inflammation and quenching free radicals are all key components of supporting heart health and there are specific natural compounds best suited for each task.

One of the most effective is CoEnzyme Q10 (or CoQ10 for short) and this is something I commonly recommend to any of my patients seeking to strengthen their overall heart function. CoQ10 is a naturally occurring compound made by most tissues in the body and obtained in small amounts from the diet. Research has shown that CoQ10 levels significantly decline with age which makes supplementation important for anyone wanting to maintain optimal health.

Here are three reasons why CoQ10 is one of the most important nutrients to consider when it comes to supporting your cardiovascular health.

CoQ10 is a critical compound needed to produce ATP in the mitochondria of our cells. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP for short) is the energy currency not only of our cells and the entire human body, but also of all forms of life on earth!  Virtually all cellular reactions in the body need ATP to fire, and without it we would not be able to form a thought, move a muscle or take a breath.

Our heart is the hardest working muscle of the body and as such requires a massive amount of ATP to produce the energy needed for its constant pumping. Some of the most impressive research on CoQ10 demonstrates its ability to improve the available energy to the heart muscle, increasing its efficiency and even sometimes reversing damage.

CoQ10 is fat soluble and has been shown to do an impressive job at neutralizing free radicals at key sites throughout the body, including the cardiovascular system. The process of ATP production in the mitochondria produces bursts of free radicals. Left unchecked, these free radicals damage the mitochondria cell wall and compromise energy production. Not only is CoQ10 needed to produce energy, but ample amounts must be present to prevent the free radical damage associated with the process of energy production. This continues to ensure proper metabolism of carbohydrates and fats into ATP for the steady supply of energy needed to power the heart.

Due to its fat-soluble nature, CoQ10 plays a particularly important role when it comes to protecting our arteries, and specifically the arteries that feed blood to our heart. Many people do not realize that the same enzyme in our liver that produces cholesterol, the HMG-CoA reductase enzyme, also produces CoQ10. Every cholesterol molecule produced by our body is packaged with a CoQ10 molecule as a way of shielding it from oxidative damage. LDL, our bad cholesterol, has its most dangerous effects when it becomes oxidized. Oxidized LDL is known to be a major risk factor in the initiation and propagation of heart stopping arterial plaque. Packaging every LDL molecule with its own fat soluble antioxidant protector is our body’s way of mitigating the damaging effects of this type of cholesterol. This gives CoQ10 a very specific and unique advantage as an antioxidant when it comes to preserving cardiovascular function and ensuring that our heart is perfused with ample amounts of blood.

IMPORTANT COQ10 FACT FOR STATIN USERS: Most prescription medications aimed at lowering cholesterol do so by blocking the HMG-CoA Reductase enzyme in the liver that manufactures cholesterol. As pointed out above, this same enzyme also makes CoQ10 and many studies have documented that CoQ10 deficiencies can be caused by these very medications that are aimed at protecting your heart. Most experts agree that if you are going to take a statin medication to lower your cholesterol, it is critical that you also take a CoQ10 supplement to ensure that proper antioxidant and energy status is maintained throughout the body and cardiovascular system.

3. Protects Arteries and Increases Blood Flow:

Numerous studies have documented the ability of CoQ10 to improve arterial function and resulting blood flow throughout the body. It supports the production and preservation of an important compound that controls the constriction and relaxation of the artery walls called, nitric oxide. Decreased production of nitric oxide is associated with damage to the arterial wall and constriction of the artery, which increases internal blood pressures, thus increasing heart muscle strain and perpetuating cholesterol deposition in the arterial wall. Researchers also believe that CoQ10 protects the thin layer of cells that line our arteries, called the endothelium. Endothelial damage is thought to be the first step in the progression of arterial dysfunction and unfavorable changes in blood pressure.

The Takeaway

Overall, CoQ10 ranks in the top five of all supplements to consider when it comes to supporting heart health. Its triad of benefits as an energy producer, cardio-specific antioxidant, and regulator of arterial function, make it an essential part of a comprehensive approach to supporting the heart.

I formulated Durable CoQ10™ to be one of the best CoQ10 supplements on the market. It features a double-strength 200 mg dose of CoQ10 for increased efficacy in just one softgel per day for maximum convenience. In addition, I selected a patented, crystal-free manufacturing process for the CoQ10 in our product. This allows for vastly superior absorption compared to standard CoQ10 products on the market that are crystalized during production, preventing optimal absorption. This gives you an industry leading, extra-strength formula maximized for absorption and cellular utilization to support your heart and overall cardiovascular health.

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