Coenzyme Q10, or CoQ10, is a compound made by your body and stored in the mitochondria of your cells. The mitochondria are in charge of producing energy and protecting your cells from oxidative damage and disease-causing bacteria or viruses. Although your body produces it naturally, its production tends to decrease as you age. But taking a supplement with CoQ10 will not only ensure your body has what it needs to function, it will also ensure you are on the receiving end of these top four benefits backed by science.
Here are the top four benefits of CoQ10:
May treat heart conditions and heart failure
Heart failure is the result of a buildup of damage from heart conditions such as coronary artery disease or hypertension (abnormally high blood pressure). Over time, these conditions change the heart’s structure or function until it’s no longer able to pump blood throughout the body as it should. But studies show that CoQ10 may be able to help.
One that involved 420 participants with moderate to severe heart failure found that the enzyme was able to reduce their symptoms and even lower their risk of dying from cardiovascular events. Participants of another study treated with CoQ10 had fewer hospitalizations for worsening heart failure or symptoms than the placebo group. These studies concluded that treatment with CoQ10 assisted with restoring optimal levels of energy production, reducing oxidative damage and improving heart function, all of which can aid the treatment of heart failure.
May reduce migraines
Abnormal mitochondrial function can lead to an increased calcium uptake by the cells, the excessive production of free radicals and decreased antioxidant protection. This can result in low energy in the brain cells and even migraines. In one study, migraine sufferers have been found to have lower levels of CoQ10 than those who don’t get the debilitating headaches. Participants taking CoQ10 experienced fewer headache days, migraine attack frequency, and incidents of headache-induced nausea. Additionally, research has shown that CoQ10 not only helps treat migraines but may also prevent them.
May help lower blood pressure
Abnormally high blood pressure, or hypertension, is one risk factor for cardiovascular disease. But CoQ10 may be able to boost heart health by lowering these numbers in hypertensive patients and, as a result, reduce their risk of heart disease. One clinical trial study found that CoQ10 was able to lower systolic blood pressure by up to 17 mm Hg, the bigger indicator of heart disease risk, but also diastolic blood pressure by up to 11 mm Hg.
May help with fertility
Female fertility decreases with age due to a decline in the number and quality of available eggs. As you age, CoQ10 production slows, making the body less effective at protecting the eggs from oxidative damage. Take a supplement with CoQ10 has shown to help and even reverse this age-related decline in egg quality and quantity. Likewise, studies have shown that male sperm is also susceptible to the effects of oxidative damage, which may result in reduced sperm count, poor sperm quality and infertility. Several studies have determined that supplementing with CoQ10 can help improve sperm quality.
While this isn’t an extensive list of CoQ10 benefits, plenty of research has revealed CoQ10 has a wide range of health benefits. Learn more about the benefits of CoQ10 and where to find the best CoQ10 supplement to take.