{"id":9298,"date":"2020-02-26T11:54:11","date_gmt":"2020-02-26T10:54:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.asssa.es\/en\/?p=9298"},"modified":"2020-04-08T13:49:52","modified_gmt":"2020-04-08T11:49:52","slug":"coenzyme-q-10-and-obtaining-energy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.asssa.es\/en\/coenzyme-q-10-and-obtaining-energy\/","title":{"rendered":"Coenzyme Q-10 and obtaining energy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Coenzyme Q-10 (CoQ10) was discovered in 1957 (Crane). Dr Meter Mitchell won the Nobel Prize in chemistry for the Discovery of CoQ10 and its role in cell energy metabolism.The fundamental and most researched role of Coenzyme Q10 is as a membrane antioxidant. As a result of the research, great benefits have been found in various types of mitocondrial myopathies (rare diseases that affect the mitochondria). Colloquially, CoQ10 is known as the free radical scavenger. CoQ10 is essential so that our cells can convert oxygen into energy.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Today, CoQ10 is known to be involved in many pathological processes such as fibromyalgia, cardiovascular diseases (atherosclerosis, hypertension, dyslipidaemia), neurological alterations (Parkinson\u2019s, Huntington\u2019s and Alzheimer\u2019s diseases), cancer, diabetes, infertility and migraines. It has recently been fashionable as an anti-ageing treatment. In Japan (one of the largest producers of CoQ10), approximately 12 million people take CoQ10 daily.<\/p>\n

Ubiquinol, which is the reduced form of CoQ10, plays a fundamental role in energy production (ATP). This is a more potent liposoluble (soluble in fats or oils) antioxidant naturally present in all our cells. Age, taking medications such as statins for cholesterol, stress, physical exercise and various diseases (heart failure, high blood pressure, some muscle diseases or Parkinson\u2019s) are situations in which the demand for CoQ10 is high and both the production of CoQ10 and the conversion of ubiquinone to ubiquinol are reduced.<\/p>\n

One of the disease processes were CoQ10 is most involved is cardiovascular pathology<\/strong>. When administered as a supplement in these types of patient, CoQ10 raises plasma levels and improves myocardial function (cardiac muscle). Kart Folkers is an American scientist who is probably the one who has done the most research relating CoQ10 to cardiovascular problems. In summary, his conclusion of over 25 years of investigations is that CoQ10 protects the heart<\/strong> by maintaining high levels of energy and is useful for both the prevention of cardiovascular problems and treating them.<\/strong><\/p>\n

During exercise, a large number of free radicals are formed in the respiratory chain because of the greater volume of oxygen breathed in. In this situation, maintaining adequate levels of CoQ10 at the mitochondrial level is essential and therefore the supplementation of this molecule is important. On the other hand, muscle is a great consumer of energy and it consumes more in situations of moderate-to-intense exercise. Anaerobic respiration takes place in the mitochondria, where they transform oxygen into energy. Muscle cells usually have a large number of mitochondria so they can obtain more energy.<\/p>\n

When can CoQ10 be used?<\/strong><\/h2>\n