Japan and its Coenzyme Q10 Market

Japan Dominates the Coenzyme Market

Coenzyme Q10 was first developed and produced in Japan as a medical product for treating heart failure. However, the substance first came into widespread use not in Japan but in the United States and Europe, where it has been used as an ingredient in foods and cosmetics since the 1990s. The Coenzyme Q10 boom has come to Japanese shores late in the game. But when it comes to coenzyme production, Japanese manufacturers have a virtual monopoly. And they have made an array of innovations that have helped popularize Coenzyme Q10.

In October 2004, Coenzyme Q10 was approved for use in cosmetics as well as foods. Shiseido Co., Kao Corporation, and other leading cosmetic makers have responded by introducing a slew of skin-care products featuring the coenzyme. Consumers are eagerly snapping up lotions and other skin-care items claiming to offer anti-aging benefits.

Deretsahan Aug. 23, 2010

DZJV's deretsahan august 23, 2010 

as posted in www.ustream.tv

Disastrous Side Effects from Statins

Disastrous Side Effects from Statins:article posted in the Davidson Family Chiropractic
June 17th, 2010
http://maxhealthradio.com/tag/coenzyme-q10/

Doctors and patients are being warned again about the dangers of cholesterol lowering medications (also known as statins).  After analyzing data from more than 2 million people in a six year period, new research shows that cholesterol lowering medications cause even more side effects.  The British Medical Journal May 20, 2010 provided the following list of new side effects from statins: liver problems, acute kidney failure, muscle weakness and cataracts.

A paper published in the American Journal of Cardiovascular Drugs 2008;8(6):373-418 provides citations of 900 studies that show the adverse side effects associated with statin medications.  One of the best known are muscle problems, but also included in that list are the following: elevated blood glucose (diabetes), tendon problems (muscles detaching from bone), cognitive problems (Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease) and pain or numbness in the arms and legs (carpal tunnel & sciatica).

Most side effects do not show up immediately from the medication.  When taking these medications more long term side effects begin to show up.  Cataracts, sexual dysfunction, acidosis, anemia, frequent fevers, increase cancer risk, immune system suppression, severe degenerative muscle tissue condition (rhabdomyolysis), pancreatic dysfunction and hepatic dysfunction.
Probably the scariest thing about Cholesterol medications is the warning label on them that states that this medication has been proven to lower overall cholesterol, but has NOT been proven to prevent heart attacks or prevent early death.  Translation, you will not live longer, you will just die with a lower cholesterol!

If you are on statins, you must take the supplement CoQ10.  CoQ10 (Coenzyme Q10) is depleted from statin medications.  The depletion has be linked with impaired cardiac function, which translates to heart problems, loss of cell energy, increased production of free radicals and mitochondrial DNA damage.  High blood pressure and diabetes are linked to higher rates of mitochondrial problems, which means that the risk of statin complications are even higher!
Leading experts say that total cholesterol will tell you virtually nothing about your risk of heart disease unless it is 330 or higher.  It is important to understand that cholesterol is not the cause of heart disease.
If you become overly concerned with trying to lower your cholesterol level to some set number, you will be completely missing the point.

Important heart disease markers
HDL percentage is a very potent heart disease risk factor. Just divide your HDL level by your cholesterol. That percentage should ideally be above 24 percent. Below 10 percent, it’s a significant indicator of risk for heart disease.  You can also do the same thing with your triglycerides and HDL ratio. That percentage should be below 2.  A highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) assay to detect hidden inflammation.  According to American Heart Association, hs-CRP levels lower than 1.0 mg/L are good; hs-CRP levels higher than 3.0 mg/L are cause for concern.

Japan Coenzyme Q Association Approved 10 Products

as posted: 
Japan’s Nutraceuticals Today - CoQ10, GMP and FOSHU Update
http://www.npicenter.com/anm/templates/newsATemp.aspx?articleid=14032&zoneid=45


The Japan Coenzyme Q Association (www.coenzymeq-jp.com) (JCQA) has approved 10 products from 7 companies which meet the organization’s standard for safety, quality and other specifications. JCQA has been a sister organization of the International Coenzyme Q 10 Association (Wayne, PA) since November 2002. In June 2005, JCQA started a program of CoQ10 certification and this is their first group of products to comply with their standards. Products must be produced from GMP- or ISO-approved factories and must contain a minimum of 30mg of CoQ10 in a capsule or a tablet. Approved products are not limited to dietary supplements but can also be for food and beverages applications. One of the approved products this particular time was a beverage from Coca Cola Japan, (www.cocacola.co.jp) called Coca Cola Coenzyme Q10. It contains 60mg of CoQ10, L-Carnitine and vitamin C. 


JCQA issues its logo for use on approved products to organizations who comply with their standards.


Two Organizations Spearhead a GMP Certification Program


JHNFA (Japan Health Food & Nutrition Food Association) and a newly formed Japanese Institute for Health Food Standards (JIHFS) (www.jihfs.com) have founded a GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) certification program. The GMP for health foods and dietary supplements were adapted from drug manufacturing safety standards to meet MHLW’s FOSHU (Foods for Specified Health Uses) manufacturing standards. They are not a requirement for non-FOSHU products manufacturers yet, but increasing creditability and developing a competitive manufacturing environment (especially among contract manufacturers) will eventually lead to implementation of GMP into non-FOSHU manufacturers’ plants.


Both programs are based upon third party inspections and the organization’s own audits and evaluation of their respective GMP programs. So far, JHNFA has approved 3 plants and JIHFA has approved one. JIHFS allows its JIHFS GMP logo to be used on products made by approved manufacturers.

ConsumerLab.Com Article

As posted in Consumerlab.com:
http://www.consumerlab.com/news/Japanese_Supplements_Tests_CoQ10/5_10_2005/

CONSUMERLAB.COM BEGINS PUBLISHING TEST REPORTS ON JAPANESE VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTS
— Review of CoQ10 Products Now Available Online in Japanese at ConsumerLab.jp. More Reports Scheduled — 

WHITE PLAINS, NY — MAY 10, 2005 — ConsumerLab.com announced today the release of its first report on the quality of supplements in Japan. This begins an ongoing series of reports for Japanese consumers on ConsumerLab.com's new Japanese language website www.consumerlab.jp. ConsumerLab.com has published similar reports for U.S. and Canadian consumers since 1999 at www.consumerlab.com — a popular site that receives over 2 million visits annually.

The first report provides test results for coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplements purchased in Japan. CoQ10 is a top selling supplement in Japan, popularized in 2004 in television reports. One of the products was found to contain only 56% of its claimed amount of this expensive ingredient. Such a discrepancy represents both an economic loss to consumers and is of medical concern since CoQ10 has demonstrated potential in the treatment of tightly controlled conditions such as congestive heart failure, Parkinson's disease, hypertension, and AIDS (HIV). Eleven other products contained their clamed amounts of CoQ10. 

"If a person was to switch between a brand with 100% of its CoQ10 to one with only half its stated amount or vice versa, their condition may change but it is unlikely that they or their doctors would know the true reason," said Tod Cooperman, M.D., President of ConsumerLab.com. Dr. Cooperman urged people to use CoQ10 products that have been independently tested.

In both 2000 and again in 2004, ConsumerLab.com has reported finding problems with some CoQ10 products sold in the U.S — most notably one product with no detectable CoQ10 and another with only 17% of its claimed amount. Earlier this year, the Japan Ministry of Health reported finding a CoQ10 product to contain no CoQ10, but a different compound, idebenone, which looks similar to CoQ10. Consequently, ConsumerLab.com checked for idebenone in the product that it found to be low in CoQ10, but idebenone was not present. 

ConsumerLab.com selected ten of the products reviewed. Two additional products, from Yerba Prima (distributed by Japan Whole Foods) and PillBox Japan, are included in the Review for having passed the same testing through ConsumerLab.com's Voluntary Certification Program. The report identifies the eleven products that passed testing. The product that failed is not identified. ConsumerLab.com is notifying the manufacturer of the failed product of the problem with the hope that corrective action will be taken. ConsumerLab.com remains willing to test new and reformulated CoQ10 products through its voluntary program. If such products pass testing, they will be added to the report. 

The report is found at http://www.consumerlab.jp/ja-JP/results/CoQ10.asp. A summary of the report is available for free. Subscription is required for the full report, which also includes expert information on how to buy and use CoQ10. Subscription is $9 (approximately ¥950) for the report or $24 (approximately ¥2,500) for 12 months of reports online. Results of the study will also be discussed in a presentation at Natural Products Expo Japan taking place on May 17th at the Tokyo Ryutsu Center.

Tests of many other types of Japanese supplements are in progress. A Product Review of Ginseng Supplements, including popular ginseng-containing drinks, will be released in coming weeks. Reports on twenty to thirty other categories of supplements will be released every four to six weeks, with Reviews of Alpha Lipoic Acid, Ginkgo Biloba, and Multivitamins due in coming months. The www.consumerlab.jp website also allows consumers to view product prices from Japanese vendors, such as Kenko.com. ConsumerLab.com does not receive revenue from product sales. The Japanese website also links to ConsumerLab.com's English-language site, allowing Japanese visitors to check results for U.S. and Canadian products.

ConsumerLab.com is a leading provider of consumer information and independent evaluations of products that affect health and nutrition. The company is privately held and based in New York, U.S.A. It has no ownership from, or interest in, companies that manufacture, distribute, or sell consumer products. Subscription to ConsumerLab.com is available online. For group subscriptions or voluntary product testing contact Elena Yoo, Japan Manager at Elena.Yoo@ConsumerLab.com.

What Else Can Coenzyme Q10 Do for us?

As Coenzyme Q10 is involved in metabolic production of ATP, it also has a large role in the metabolism of fat. Actually, Coenzyme Q10 stimulates the body’s metabolism, and thus has a good effect on losing weight and fat burning.

Additionally, as CoQ10 is also crucial in electron transport, it is a powerful anti-oxidant. Anti-oxidants are those chemicals that help free the body of free radicals (that often lead to cancer).

Lastly, Coenzyme Q10 levels have been positively linked to healthy hearts. The opposite is true, that unhealthy hearts almost always have a deficiency of Coenzyme Q10.

Are you Coenzyme Q10 Deficient?

If you are eating well, but not losing weight; if you are working out but seem to have no energy after a few minutes; if you are over 30; if your immune system seems weaker than it should be, chances are you are Coenzyme Q10 deficient.

Today’s food additive Coenzyme Q10 is basically of very high purity and quality, made from natural sources, and available in doses from 75mg to 150mg.

If you suffer from any of the conditions above, you might benefit greatly by including some Coenzyme Q10 in your diet (as a food supplement). You might choose a soft gel capsule rather than a hard tablet, as it is absorbed much faster.

Also, if you taking Coenzyme Q10 for heart reasons, ask your doctor about higher doses. I Use Statins – Can I take Coenzyme Q10?

Statins are the main ingredient in many cholesterol reducing medicines. They are also one of the most prescribed medications today. Researchers believe that statins can inhibit Coenzyme Q10 production in our bodies. If this is so, we need to take this supplement more than we had previously thought.

If you are a statin taker, you must discuss with your doctor the possibility of taking Coenzyme Q10 at the same time.

Official New Poster for McVil CoQ10 (Updated Aug 9, 2010)

Clinical Report/ Analysis

Catalent Australia Pty., Ltd.

Certificate of Analysis - July 13, 2010

 

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