The biomolecule naturally found in cell mitochondria, first discovered by Frederick Crane and colleagues in 1957. Oxidized form is ubiquinone, its reduced form is called ubiquinol. Coenzyme Q10 is a vital part of intracellular electron transfer. It shows antioxidant properties.

Coenzyme Q10 ( Coenzyme Q 10, 1,4-benzoquinone, Ubiquinone , CoQ10)

The biomolecule naturally found in cell mitochondria, first discovered by Frederick Crane and colleagues in 1957. Oxidized form is ubiquinone, its reduced form is called ubiquinol. Coenzyme Q10 is a vital part of intracellular electron transfer. It shows antioxidant properties.

It is produced naturally in the human body, but deficiency may occur due to certain diseases, medications or aging. In case of deficiency, external reinforcement may be required. Studies have shown that coenzyme Q10 supplementation may contribute to the recovery of the disease in some diseases. For this reason, it may be recommended to use coenzyme Q10 in addition to the current treatment in some diseases and under expert control . Disrupting or discontinuing current treatment can lead to irreversible negative consequences. Because although the product is recommended as a supplement in some diseases, sufficient studies have not been done yet. More studies are needed on its efficacy, areas of use, dose, duration of use and side effects.

Metabolism of Coenzyme Q10 

Coenzyme Q10 has a low bioavailability due to its high molecular weight and low water solubility. Ubiqiuinone is converted to the ubiquinol form in erythrocytes . This is the biologically active form. It is produced in almost every cell. For this reason, these names were given, meaning “everywhere”.

Coenzyme Q10 produced in the cells reaches the small intestine through the lymph system. It is absorbed by lipids like vitamin E. Bile and pancreatic secretions aid absorption. It is absorbed from different parts of the small intestine, especially the duodenum , and is transported to target tissues such as liver, heart and muscle. The ubiquinone form is reduced to the ubiquinol form. It mixes with the VLDL (very low density lipoprotein ) structure in the liver and is given to the circulation in this way.

It is found at different levels, especially in tissues with high energy needs. These tissues mostly contain the ubiquinole form.

Excretion is mainly in the bile, stool and urine. However, studies show that destruction can occur in almost all tissues and organs.

 

Sources of Coenzyme Q10

Coenzyme Q10 is mainly produced naturally in human body cells. It is found in the form of ubiquinole in almost all organs and tissues except the brain and lung . It is most abundant in the heart (110 μg /g), kidney (70 μg /g) and liver (60 μg /g).

Coenzyme Q10 can also be taken with the diet. An average of 2-4 mg/day of coenzyme Q10 is taken with diet. In order to increase the blood coenzyme Q10 level by 1 μg / ml, 100 mg of coenzyme Q10 should be taken daily with food. For this reason, coenzyme Q10 , which is mostly taken in the diet, may not be enough to meet the needs of the human body. On the other hand, processes such as frying and boiling during the preparation of foods also reduce the level of coenzyme Q10.

coenzyme Q10 include:

  • Red meat: Many studies have concluded that the food with the highest content of coenzyme Q10 is beef.
  • Chicken meat: It is the food with the highest coenzyme Q10 content after red meat.
  • Fish: Mackerel, salmon, tuna, herring etc.
  • Vegetables: Cauliflower, broccoli, potatoes, spinach.
  • Fruits: Apples, oranges, strawberries.
  • Milk, yoghurt
  • Egg

Since the level to be taken in the diet is not sufficient, it is recommended to use supplements, especially in people with low blood coenzyme Q10 levels.

Coenzyme Q10 Deficiency

The plasma concentration of ubiquinone is 0.3-1.7 mg/L. If it is below these values, it is said to be deficient.

The main causes of CoQ10 deficiency are:

  • Genetics: Hereditary coenzyme Q10 deficiency is very rare. It is mainly caused by problems with coenzyme Q10 synthesis. Generally, coenzyme Q10 levels are low in skeletal muscles . It may be accompanied by visual and hearing anomalies, kidney problems, encephalopathy , mental retardation.
  • Advanced age: The human body can produce enough coenzyme Q10 for itself. However, at the age of 25-30, production begins to decline. In the 70s, production almost halves. Therefore, external coenzyme Q10 supplementation is recommended. This supplement can be made with diet or supplements.
  • Drugs: Coenzyme Q10 deficiency may develop depending on the drugs used in the treatment of high cholesterol . This decrease is thought to be due to decreased intestinal absorption of coenzyme Q10 . It can also lower coenzyme Q10 levels in drugs used to treat osteoporosis ( bisphosphonates ) . It is suggested that this is due to disruption of coenzyme Q10 synthesis.

Supplement of Coenzyme Q10

Under normal conditions, the body produces as much coenzyme Q10 as it needs. However, in some cases, deficiency develops and external reinforcement may be required. Coenzyme Q10 are in the form of tablets, capsules or soft gels that are taken orally.

After oral ingestion, it reaches its highest plasma level in 8-10 hours and remains at this level for up to 30 hours.

30, 60, 100, 200, 300, 600 mg capsule forms are available in the market. The dose of use varies according to the expected purpose. However, a plasma level of 2.5 mg/L can be achieved by taking 200 mg twice a day with a meal (preferably breakfast). It can be recommended in doses of 200-400 mg in heart diseases and 600-3000 mg in nervous system diseases such as Parkinson’s.

Short-term efficacy studies have shown that coenzyme Q10 can be safe at doses up to 1200-3000 mg/day. However, the number of studies on this subject is still low and more studies are needed.

Ubiquinone can be used in combination with antioxidant products such as selenium and vitamin C. There are studies showing that supplementing with the combination of selenium and coenzyme Q10 in the elderly reduces heart diseases, especially plaque formation, and prevents complications in diabetes. Similarly, it was observed that the antioxidant effect increased when supplemented with vitamin C.

 

Side effects of Coenzyme Q10 Supplement

Generally, no serious side effects are expected and can be easily tolerated by patients . However, sometimes it can cause side effects. Common side effects are:

  • Nausea, vomiting,
  • Loss of appetite,
  • Dizziness,
  • Headache,
  • Digestive problems,
  • Stomach ache,
  • Diarrhea,
  • Sleep problems,
  • Skin rashes,

There are no confirmed results regarding the safety of coenzyme Q10 for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. It is recommended not to be used during these periods.

Some researchers claim that coenzyme Q10 can reduce the effectiveness of blood thinners and cause clot formation. It is also thought that thyroid drugs and chemotherapy may interact during treatment and should be used with caution.

Usage of Coenzyme Q10 

Especially recent studies on coenzyme Q10 focus on two main features. These are its antioxidant and anti- inflammatory properties. It is thought that coenzyme Q10 may be beneficial in some diseases and aging-related conditions due to these two properties and its role in energy production .

Possible uses include:

  • Heart failure: Studies have shown that coenzyme Q10 increases the heart’s pumping power and reduces hospitalization and death rates. There is insufficient evidence that it reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke. A dose of 60-300 mg/day is recommended.
  • Hypertension: There are published studies showing that the use of coenzyme Q10 in addition to drug treatment in patients with high blood pressure has a healing effect on vascular endothelium and lowers blood pressure.
  • Alzheimer’s Disease: It is thought that the free radical formation that develops with aging is reduced by the antioxidant effect of coenzyme Q10 and contributes to the recovery of the disease.
  • Parkinson’s Disease: A small number of studies suggest the use of coenzyme Q10 due to its positive effect on mitochondrial dysfunction in the disease . However , it is clear that more work is needed on this .
  • Fibromyalgia : Due to its positive effects on mitochondrial functions, the use of coenzyme Q10 is thought to alleviate the symptoms of the disease.
  • Infertility: There are few studies that show that the use of coenzyme Q10 improves sperm quality and motility. Although more studies are needed, it is recommended to be used as a supplement to other treatments in infertility because it is well tolerated and has no side effects.
  • Migraine: Some studies have revealed that migraine-type headaches are reduced with coenzyme Q 10 supplementation.
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis : It can be used to reduce possible complications of the disease due to its anti-inflammatory effect. However, it is a newly defined area of use, more studies are needed.
  • Diabetes Mellitus : Few studies suggest that coenzyme Q10 supplementation reduces blood cholesterol levels and therefore can be used in diabetes.

Conclusion:

Coenzyme Q10 is a product whose mechanism of action has only recently been tried to be clarified. It is not medicine. It is a food supplement. Although the potential for side effects is low, it can be used provided that such products are taken under the supervision of a physician and existing treatments are continued. Coenzyme Q10 can be applied as a supplement to existing treatments. There are limited studies on the effectiveness and uses of the product. More work is needed.

No food supplement is used with hearsay information. It may not always show its claimed effects during marketing. Moreover, there are possible side effects as well as possible effects. Food supplements should be used under the supervision of an expert.

 

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