Journals: Withdrawal Effect in Myocardium

CoQ10 Long-Term Supplementation

May Result in Withdrawal Effect in Myocardium

Author: Kalenikova, E;   Pp.13.492

Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Basic Medicine,

Department of Pharmacology, Moscow, Russia

Cardiology Research Center, Moscow, Russia

Abstract

Objective: Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is used as cardioprotector. CoQ10 is endogenous substance and long-term administration of exogenous CoQ10 can influence on its tissue biosynthesis. The aim of the study was to examine the possibility of replenishment of coenzymes Q myocardial level by long-term supplementation with solubilized CoQ10 and to estimate myocardial CoQ content after discontinuation of supplementation.

Design and Methods: Male conscious Wistar rats (n = 30) were supplemented with solubilized CoQ10 (10 mg/kg/day per os; Kudesan solution, “Akvion”, Russia). Serum and myocardial levels of CoQ9, CoQ10 were measured after 3 weeks (n = 6), 6 weeks (n = 8) of administration and 2 weeks (n = 8), 6 weeks (n = 8) after discontinuation. Tissue samples were collected 3–4 h after the last administration. Age-matched rats served as control. Myocardial levels of CoQ were estimated in supernatants of homogenates. Assay carried out using HPLC with electrochemical detection after liquid extraction with ethanol-hexane mixture. Statistical analysis was performed with two-tailed t-test.

Results: Serum CoQ10 level after 3 and 6 weeks of supplementation was 10 time higher than in control rats. 2 weeks after discontinuation serum CoQ10 level was 3 time higher than in control group and 6 weeks after discontinuation CoQ10 level was not different from control values. CoQ9 serum concentration did not differ between groups. Myocardial content of CoQ10 increased by 40% and 60%, CoQ9 – by 75% and 50% after 3 and 6 weeks of treatment, correspondently. Discontinuation of CoQ10 supplementation evoked the fall of CoQ9 (by 50%) and CoQ10 (by 60%) levels below the control values in 2 weeks; recovery to the control levels was detected in 6 weeks.

Conclusion: Results demonstrate CoQ10 withdrawal effect in rat myocardium. These data have to take account of long-term treatment the patients with cardiovascular diseases.

Uses and Efficacy/ Contra Indication

Coenzyme Q10’s wide-ranging cellular properties implicate it for the potential treatment of numerous conditions that may improve with mitochondrial and antioxidant support.

NEUROLOGIC AND METABOLIC INDICATIONS

Parkinson’s Disease

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study of 80 patients found that 1,200 mg per day of coenzyme Q10 was associated with up to 44 percent less functional decline in patients with Parkinson’s disease, including activities of daily living. A study of 28 patients with Parkinson’s disease also demonstrated mild symptom improvement with daily oral dosing of 360 mg of coenzyme Q10. These results are awaiting confirmation.

Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathies

In studies with eight to 44 patients, coenzyme Q10 also has demonstrated positive trends in reducing symptoms associated with selected mitochondrial abnormalities including the mitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) syndrome, Kearns-Sayre syndrome, and the myoclonus epilepsy with ragged-red fibers (MERRhF) syndrome. Maximum effect often requires six or more months of therapy. One type of coenzyme Q10, UbiQGel, was granted U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) orphan drug status for treatment of mitochondrial cytopathies based on several small trials. 

Migraine

A preliminary open label trial of 32 patients taking 150 mg of coenzyme Q10 daily demonstrated efficacy in reducing the frequency of migraine attacks. A recent randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 42 patients taking coenzyme Q10 at 300 mg a day found similar benefit. The response rate (i.e., decrease in headache frequency by 50 percent or more) was 47.6 percent in the coenzyme Q10 group and 14.4 percent in the placebo group. The number needed to treat was three.

Other Neurologic Indications

Coenzyme Q10 at 600 mg or less did not delay progression of decline in functional ability in Huntington’s disease, but it also has FDA orphan drug status for this disease.

CARDIOVASCULAR INDICATIONS

CHF

A number of randomized controlled trials, including those in a 1997 meta-analysis, found improvement in several clinical parameters related to CHF, including frequency of hospitalization, dyspnea, and edema. These trials were weakened by small numbers (only two of 14 trials had more than 25 participants) and older techniques for calculating ejection fraction. Of the more recent randomized trials using ventriculography and echocardiography, two found coenzyme Q10 at 100 to 200 mg daily no more effective than placebo in improving ejection fraction, peak oxygen consumption, exercise duration, or quality of life. A more recent trial using coenzyme Q10 in combination with carnitine and taurine did find modest clinical improvement. The recently released Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) report that examined cardiovascular trials with more than 60 participants followed for at least six months concluded that coenzyme Q10’s role is still an open question. The planned SYMptoms, BIomarker status (BNP), and long-term Outcome trial with more than 500 patients with New York Heart Association class III and IV CHF followed over two years, should help answer this question. 

Hypertension

A systematic review of eight trials using coenzyme Q10 at various doses for essential hypertension, typically as adjuvant therapy, found a mean decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure of 16 and 10 mm Hg, respectively. Several of these trials demonstrated confounding variables or were weakened by low statistical power.

Other Indications

The evidence for coenzyme Q10 use in other cardiovascular settings is promising and requires larger, longer-term trials. In placebo-controlled trials, the coenzyme’s use following cardiopulmonary resuscitation demonstrated improvement in three-month survival (n = 49), and its use following cardiac surgery demonstrated improvements in myocardial isoenzyme levels, left ventricular function, and postoperative recovery time (n = 20). 

Preliminary data also imply benefit in the setting of atherosclerosis. This includes a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 73 patients who were randomized to 120 mg a day of coenzyme Q10 following myocardial infarction. At one year, the coenzyme Q10 group demonstrated a significant decrease in total cardiac events including nonfatal myocardial infarctions and cardiac deaths. This improvement has been attributed to possible attenuation of endothelial dysfunction. Research in other conditions, including angina pectoris, cardiomyopathy and physical exercise capacity, demonstrate conflicting results and require additional study.

DIABETES

Coenzyme Q10 has been considered for improving glycemic control through various mechanisms, including a decrease in oxidative stress. Two earlier randomized controlled trails using 100 to 200 mg of coenzyme Q10 in patients with type 1 or 2 diabetes found no difference in glycemic control and insulin requirement. A more recent randomized controlled trial (n = 74) using 200 mg per day for 12 weeks found modest improvements in A1C levels (−0.37 ± 0.17 percent,P = .32).

OTHER INDICATIONS

Although it is used for the prevention and treatment of cancer, the AHRQ found no evidence to assess the efficacy of coenzyme Q10 for this use. Research continues with several phase II trials underway to clarify its potential contribution in the treatment of conditions, such as Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy, breast cancer, human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, periodontal disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Contraindications, Adverse Effects, and Interactions

No absolute contraindications are known for coenzyme Q10, although reliable information about its use in pregnant or breastfeeding mothers or in young children is not available. Adverse effects with coenzyme Q10 are rare. On average, mild gastrointestinal discomfort is reported in less than 1 percent of patients in clinical trials. Potential interactions with warfarin (Coumadin) causing decreased international normalized ratio (INR) have been reported in case studies. However, a prospective placebo-controlled trial of 24 stable patients taking warfarin and 100 mg of coenzyme Q10 over four weeks found no significant change in prothrombin time and INR levels. Because of coenzyme Q10’s potential hypoglycemic and hypotensive effects, monitoring is advised, especially when using adjunctively with prescription medications.

Several trials demonstrate coenzyme Q10 depletion subsequent to statin initiation. There is conjecture about this depletion as the cause of statin–associated adverse effects (e.g., myopathy) with exogenous coenzyme Q10 supplementation as a possible mediating treatment. This assertion is refuted by a more recent crossover trial that found no significant coenzyme Q10 drop after initiation of selected statins. Several doxorubicin (Adriamycin) trials, mostly in animal models, have noted a reduction in cardiac coenzyme Q10 depletion and cardiotoxicity associated with coadministration of coenzyme Q10. The clinical implications on disease state and adverse reaction profile with coenzyme Q10 supplementation in depleted states requires further evaluation.

Jack of all Nutrients: CoQ10

"Jack of all Nutrients": Co-enzyme Q10

CoQ10 has proved helpful in increasing energy, preventing and treating circulatory and heart problems, enhancing weight loss, boosting the immune system, and much more.

At an anti-aging conference, I heard an enthusiastic medical doctor telling a skeptical listener that coenzyme Q10 is helpful in rewing up energy, protecting the soundness of gums and teeth, preventing heart disease, coping with obesity and cancer, bolstering the immune system, and delaying the aging process.

"Is there anything coenzyme Q10 can't do?" asked the skeptic.

"About the only thing it can't do is set a VCR," laughed the speaker.

Exploring the versatility of CoQ10

The versatility CoQ10 is anything but a laughing matter. It is known by most accounts as one of the most incredible supplements on the shelves of health food stores.

Although coenzyme Q10 exists in many foods, thus earning its other name, ubiquinone, much research shows that patients with a vast spectrum of serious medical conditions are frequently CoQ10-deficient.

The harsh fact is this: too many people mainly eat "dead" (processed) foods. Coenzyme Q10 can be synthesized in the body from whole foods rich in tyrosine and phenylalanine (amino acids), vitamin E, folic acid, and vitamins B-1 and B-6, along with its brother and sister coenzymes Q1 through Q9, but not from any single nutrient.

Well, wouldn't people who eat live, fresh, whole foods be able to synthesize enough CoQ10? Some segments of the population would.

However, around middle-age, we begin to lose our ability to synthesize this nutrient from the diet. At this time, and possibly before, is when supplements come in to help.

Vegetarians, and some others, will not find acceptable most of the foods containing coenzyme Q10: beef, muscle and organ meats, including liver, egg yolk, milk fat, codfish, and sardines. However, various whole grains and wheat germ, as well as peanuts and spinach, contain some levels of this nutrient.

When most measures fail to help fatigued or exhausted people, I have determined that many find relief in taking CoQ10. As one of the biochemical fuels most needed to produce desired energy, CoQ10 seems to fire up the mitochondria, the micro-furnaces in our trillions of cells.

Growing in popularity in the United States, CoQ10 is most widely known and used outside of our borders--in Europe and, mainly, in Japan, where nearly 300 different CoQ10 products are sold. Supply can hardly keep up with demand.

CoQ10 prevents G, Nutrientum disease

The Japanese commonly take CoQ10 supplements to manage or prevent swollen gums and deterioration of bone structures supporting teeth, among other uses. Edward G. Wilkinson, D.D.S., a periodontal specialist with the United States Air Force, investigated indepth causes of serious gum diseases, and invariably found a serious deficiency in coenzyme Q10. By supplementing patients' diets with this nutrient, he was able to reverse gum disease which threatened each of them with a loss of all their teeth -- conditions considered hopeless by other dental specialists.

A frightening statistic tells us that 30 million Americans have such an advanced state of gum disease that they will lose all their teeth unless they get immediate periodontal treatment. Another reveals that 60 percent of young people suffer periodontal problems, as well as 90 percent of seniors over 65.

Heart health relies on CoQ10

Probably the most exciting use of CoQ10 is for the prevention and treatment of many types of heart and artery disorders--high blood pressure, deficient heart energy, and low-oxygen conditions threatening the integrity of heart tissue. When blood delivery is reduced because of clogged arteries or during a heart attack, CoQ10 helps. In addition, it can contribute to reducing the pain of angina and in regularizing irregular heartbeat.

Patients with congestive heart failure appear to derive great benefit from CoQ10 supplementation. Twelve such patients who failed to improve on digitalis and diuretics, traditional drugs for such a condition, showed notable improvement on 100 mg daily of CoQ10 for one month.

Until recently, the only hope for most cardiomyopathy patients was heart transplant, a hazardous and costly procedure. (This condition is characterized by exaggerated thickening of the heart muscle and obstructive damage to the heart.) Then cardiologist Per H. Langsjoen, M.D., of the Scott and White Clinic in Temple, Texas, had advanced cardiomyopathy patients try 100 mg of CoQ10 daily for 12 weeks, he noted "a remarkable clinical improvement."

In his double-blind, cross-over study of 19 patients, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Langsjoen reported increased volume of blood pumped, improved heart strength, and diminished shortness of breath --all with no side effects. These benefits continued for three years.

CoQ10 normalizes blood pressure

In animal studies, CoQ10 has also been found to normalize high blood pressure; these results were verified in human studies. A Japanese researcher Toru Yamagami fed 25 patients suffering with hypertension 60 mg of CoQ10 daily for eight weeks. All participants showed a significant decrease in blood pressure. The average drop in pressure was greater than 10 percent.

A similar study by Yamagami and Karl Folkers, of the University of Texas--the latter a pioneer researcher in CoQ10--showed that hypertensive patients recorded a noteworthy drop in blood pressure after a daily intake of 35 to 45 mg of this supplement for several weeks. Many of them registered declines in pressure to normal levels.

CoQ10 protects the muscles of the heart

Animal studies show positive results after supplementation with CoQ10. In cases of myocardial infarction--death of heart tissues due to obstructed blood circulation --damaged areas were reduced in size. The myocardium--the middle muscular layer of the heart--was protected against insufficient blood flow.

"A deficiency of CoQ10 is common in cardiac patients," states The Nutrition Superbook: The Antioxidants. "When it was looked for, myocardial biopsies done on patients with various cardiac diseases showed that there was a deficiency of the coenzyme in 50 to 75 percent of the patients studied."

Weight loss enhanced with CoQ10

In addition to its hopeful, beneficial effects on cardiovascular ailments, CoQ10 has been shown to contribute to weight loss through firing up the cell mitochondria (micro-furnaces) and, therefore, increasing the burning off of accumulated fat.

Dr. Luc Van Gaal and colleagues noted in a paper, "The Exploratory Study of Coenzyme Q10 in Obesity," their results of a study of two groups of obese volunteers on the same controlled reducing diet. The only difference was that one group received 100 mg of CoQ10 daily over nine weeks, while the other group did not. Those on CoQ10 lost 30 pounds compared with l pounds for the other group.

Other benefits of this nutrient

One of the questions often asked about CoQ10 is: "It seems to help many medical conditions, but is useful for treating cancers?" Animal studies indicate that it increases resistance to virally and chemically-caused cancers by stimulating the metabolic activity in the immune system.

Dr. Emile Bliznakov, scientific director of the Lupus Research Institute in Ridgefield, Conn., discovered that CoQ10 doubles the immune system's antibody level against bacterial organisms and also offers a higher level of resistance to viruses.

Likewise, in animal experiments Bliznikov found that CoQ10 significantly increased their life span--by some 56 percent in some in stances--and, equally meaningful the animals looked and acted younger and more energetic.

Further, studies of CoQ10-deficient animals exhibited a marked deterioration of their immune system, contributing to a shorter life. One of Bliznikov's animal studies revealed that the amount of CoQ10 declines by as much as 80 percent over the course of normal aging.

The Nutrition Superbook: The Antioxidants comments on this finding

"A decline of this magnitude in a human being would be fatal, but deficiencies approaching this have been observed in aged humans and are associated with grave heart disease."

REFERENCES:

Barilla, Jean, ed. The Nutrition Superbook: The Antioxidants. New Canaan, Conn.: Keats Publishing, Inc., 1995.

COPYRIGHT 1996 PRIMEDIA Intertec, a PRIMEDIA Company. All Rights Reserved. 

COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group

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CoQ10 and Being Beautiful

Two Things You Need To Be Beautiful

You simply need an effective way to keep water in your cells and get more of the nutrients you need.

Here at my clinic, I use a rejuvenating formula that restores youthful skin, without the chemicals that pollute your skin.

Here’s how it works:

Step 1 is protecting your skin from the sun, pollution, free radicals, and the destructive effects of aging. 

When you were younger, it was much easier. Your skin had a natural resilience that kept you looking your best.

There are nutrients in your skin that protect cells from damage. One of the best is CoQ10. Turns out it’s not just good for heart health. You can use CoQ10 on your skin for a beautiful complexion.

CoQ10 helps your face look younger by restoring youthful energy levels inside the cell, and protecting against future damage.

In one study titled, “The Importance of CoQ10 for Anti-Aging Skin Care,” researchers showed how CoQ10 keeps older cells functioning more like younger cells. Their discovery was published in the medical journal Biofactors.1

Having younger cells means you look younger. But when your face isn’t protected, you start looking old before your time.

The sun, pollution, a poor diet, and other toxins in your environment attack your face in the form of “oxidative stress,” or “free radical attack.” Free radicals are electrons that break away and attack healthy cells.

And here’s the thing…

Free radicals hit each cell in your face 10,000 times a day. Now multiply that by the billions of cells in your face, and you can imagine what you’re up against.

Apply CoQ10, and the cells in your skin stay younger longer.

Cell line studies support it. A team of researchers in Japan found CoQ10 protected skin cells from death caused by oxidative stress.₂

That means you have an effective way to look more vibrant and prevent future damage. It all boils down to giving your face the nutrients it needs to stay looking young.

But there’s more to CoQ10… it helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles, too.

Another team of scientists discovered CoQ10 decreases the appearance of wrinkle depth. So, instead of deep grooves in your face, CoQ10 helps make those wrinkles appear shallow and less noticeable.

Step 2 for younger, more beautiful skin is water.

When your skin cells have enough water, they hold their shape. That means your skin feels taut and elastic.

The key is water… or more importantly, the nutrient that helps attract and retain water.

Feel this for yourself.

Source: www.alsearsmd.com/two-things-you-need-to-be-beautiful

Reviving up Male Fertility with CoQ10

Couples who haven’t conceived after trying for at least one year of regular, unprotected intercourse often start on a roller coaster ride of fertility therapy. The infertility process usually starts by focusing on the woman. But John E. Gould, M.D., Ph.D.—a urologist and male infertility specialist at the Northern California Fertility Medical Center in Sacramento—believes it‘s simpler to determine if the man’s sperm are healthy, before spending an inordinate amount of time checking out a woman’s fertility issues.

Sperm are highly sensitive to oxidative stress from free radicals, which can result in DNA damage and loss of motility (movement). “Male factor” infertility can account for more than 50% of the problems, says Gould.

             "The good news is that several new studies suggest that the antioxidant 
              co-enzyme Q10 (CoQ10) may help improve the odds for men with less
              -than-healthy sperm impregnating their partners."

CoQ10 is present in seminal fluid and its concentration has a direct impact on sperm count and motility. The effect of CoQ10 on sperm motility and function had been addressed only through in vitro experiments until a group of Italian researchers did two studies on infertile men. CoQ10 increased significantly both in seminal plasma and sperm cells after treatment, as well as spermatozoa motility.

Patients with lower CoQ10 levels and lower motility had a stronger response to the treatment, leading researchers to conclude that CoQ10 supplements help increase CoQ10 levels in semen and improve sperm motility in infertile men.

Researchers at Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran, Iran, recruited 212 infertile men and randomly assigned them to receive a daily CoQ10 supplement or placebo for 26 weeks. This was followed by 30 weeks with no intervention.

The study, which appears in the current issue of Journal of Urology (July 2009), found that there was significant improvement in sperm counts, density and motility in infertile men, after they took 300 mg of CoQ10 for 56 weeks.

Author Mohammad Reza Safarinejad wrote that the statistically significant but modest results of the study suggest that CoQ10 may have “potential clinical applications in infertile men.” The researcher called for further studies to evaluate if CoQ10 supplementation may play a role in achieving pregnancy in infertile couples.

In a recent study at the Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy, 60 infertile men between the ages of 27 and 39 were given a daily dose of 200 mg of CoQ10 or placebo for 6 months, with a 3-month follow-up. CoQ10 increased significantly in both seminal plasma and sperm cells after treatment. It also improved sperm motility.

Conclusion

CoQ10 has a proven track record of supporting heart health. Now, men with fertility issues can also feel confident that CoQ10 supplementation can help support their chances of having a child.

Dentist's prescription for CoQ10

Many dental care products available in London contain various nutritional supplements; coenzyme Q 10 is one of these supplements. Historically, the benefits of coenzyme Q 10 (CoQ10) in oral health have been known for decades. Oxidative damage occurs in periodontal disease, and research has demonstrated possible therapeutic effects of anti-oxidants in treating and/or preventing periodontal disease are useful, with special attention on CoQ10. Clinically, topical application of CoQ10 to periodontal pockets was evaluated with and without professional cleaning below the gum tissue, and significant improvements were seen that included the reduction of gingivitis, bleeding on periodontal probing and gingival enzyme activity, only at the CoQ10 treated sites. Another clinical study demonstrated that topical application of CoQ10 was extraordinarily effective in reducing periodontal pocket depth, and that healing was so excellent after 5-7 days of treatment that diseased gingival sites were difficult to locate.

Additionally, a clinical study demonstrated that patients with periodontitis frequently have significant gingival and white blood cell CoQ10 deficiencies. This white blood cell CoQ10 deficiency indicated a systemic nutritional imbalance, and was not likely caused by neglected oral hygiene. A gingival deficiency of CoQ10 could predispose individuals to gingivitis and periodontitis, and periodontitis could even augment CoQ10 deficiency. Also, the beneficial effect of CoQ10 has also been reported in an individual case study, where three dentists separately and independently scored clinical improvements of five symptoms of gingivitis and periodontitis, with the initial benefits being observed only three weeks after the beginning CoQ10 treatment.

Although, significant clinical reports demonstrated beneficial effects with CoQ10 on periodontal disease, the mechanism of the role of CoQ10 in periodontal disease was not known until, from 1971 to 1974, when CoQ10 gum tissue deficiencies were observed in patients with periodontal disease when compared to patients without periodontal disease. Clinical results suggested that topical application of CoQ10 improves adult periodontitis not only as a sole treatment, but also in combination with traditional non-surgical periodontal therapy.

SUPPLEMENT WITH CoQ10 100MG OR MORE PER DAY

Doctors have documented that people with periodontal disease have significantly low levels of CoQ10 in the tissues of their gums. Researchers at Osaka University Faculty of Dentistry in Japan gave eight patients with moderately or severely inflamed gums 60 mg of CoQ10 a day for eight weeks. The patients received no other therapy. The results, according to clinicians: "CoQ10 was effective in suppressing gingival inflammation."

In an additional study, Dr. T. Matsumura and Dr. Karl Folkers performed a double blind trial of CoQ10 versus regular periodontal treatments for advanced periodontitis. 24 subjects suffering from severe periodontal disease which had not responded to extensive flossing and brushing were studied. 13 subjects received 50 mg of CoQ10, while 11 received placebos. 9 of the 13 CoQ10 patients made dramatic improvements. Only 3 of the 11 placebo recipients displayed minor improvement. In 4 of the CoQ10 patients, symptoms of periodontitis completely disappeared within 8 weeks. "The therapeutic improvement with CoQ10 was better both by the number of improved patients and the degree of improvement," reported the doctors.

CoQ10 is a miracle nutrient, and you should be taking it for daily health maintenance, if not for the health of your gums. While, studies show improvement with even small dosages of less than 100mg of CoQ10, a therapeutic dosage of 150mg while you are still showing symptoms of periodontal disease is advised. After your gums have healed, you can reduce the dosage down to around 50-100mg. The most effective CoQ10 is in softgel form. Also, because CoQ10 is a fat soluble nutrient, taking it with a good EFA supplement such as flax oil or virgin coconut oil can improve uptake.

CoQ10 and Gum Disease

GUM DISEASE

Gum disease is a problem for over 60% of the adult population. Because it often goes unnoticed until the later stages, it has often been called a "silent epidemic" in American culture. 

Some of the signs and symptoms of gum disease are red, swollen gum tissue, bleeding of the gums when you brush or floss, chronic bad breath, and loose teeth.

Cause of gum disease

The cause of gum disease is a bacterial infection in the gum tissue surrounding the tooth. This infection is worsened by the presence of plaque and tartar on your teeth. 

When this tartar is not removed professionally by a dentist or dental hygienist, an infected pocket can form around the tooth.

When this pocket deepens, the infection can spread to the fibers supporting the tooth and to the surrounding bone. Left untreated, this gum disease can lead to the formation of an dental abscess and the loss of one or more natural teeth.

Gum disease linked to heart disease

Recent studies have linked gum disease to increased risk of heart attack, osteoporosis, diabetes and stroke.

Heart Disease and Periodontitis

Gingivitis

Periodontal disease and gingivitis are infections of the teeth and gums, as well as the bone that supports the teeth. If left untreated, these forms of gum disease can result in inflammation, periodontal abscess, severe bone loss and eventually dentures.

As destructive as this is, there is another, even more serious problem relating to gum disease, and that has to do with your general health.

Periodontal disease and gingivitis increase your risk of heart disease, diabetes, osteoporesis and stroke. 

Recent studies have show that individuals with severe gum disease are up to four times more likely to suffer from coronary heart disease, stroke, and other health problems such as osteoporosis, diabetes and respiratory disease.

Inflammation is involved

In the February 23rd 2004 issue of Time magazine, the role of inflammation is graphically spelled out. The article concludes with several recommendations, including "...keeping your teeth clean by flossing and brushing regularly." 

Obviously, regular dental check-ups and professional dental cleanings play a vital role in this. If your gums bleed when you brush or floss, you are at risk.

What can you do?

Start by doing a really careful job at home of brushing and flossing twice a day. Make sure that you eat a balanced diet, and that you get enough protein to repair the microscopic wounds that occur in the gums from chewing. 

Don't smoke. Smokers have four-times more periodontal disease than their non-smoking counterparts.

And get regular professional cleanings - at least twice a year. If your gums still bleed with a twice-a-year protocol, have your teeth cleaned more often. Many patients come four times a year, and some even come every two months.

Prevention

So how does one prevent this silent epidemic? The answer is in the coordinated partnership between the dental office and the patient. We clean your teeth on a regular basis, and you work hard at home to keep the levels of plaque and tartar to a minimum.

In addition, proper diet and nutrition are essential if gums are to remain healthy and strong. For this, I recommend plenty of protein in the diet (to supply the amino acids necessary for wound healing) and supplementation with normal vitamins and minerals as recommended by your physician or nutritionist.

Also, the restriction of refined sugar in one's diet (colas, candy, etc) is essential for healthy teeth and gums. 

Finally, it is worth noting that Coenzyme Q10 has been described in the literature as being especially helpful in the maintenance of a healthy immune system and strong gum tissue.

More Facts about CoQ10

Hundreds of scientific studies have been published on CoQ10, including many involving humans. CoQ10 has also been the subject of ten international scientific and medical meetings. Furthermore, the role of CoQ10 in energy production was basis of the 1978 Nobel prize in chemistry, given to Peter Mitchell, Ph.D.

Unfortunately, most doctors in the U.S. are not familiar with the published research regarding the potential of CoQ10 because many of the journals they read rarely discuss the benefits of this and many other nutrients. The reason for this is very simple, nutrients cannot be patented so they are of very little interest to pharmaceutical companies and drug manufacturing laboratories, and these are the companies that sponsor and publish most of the journals read by doctors. However, traveling around Europe, China, Japan and South America, has shown me that the story is completely different in the rest of the world, where most health-care professionals are treating their patients with heart failure and other conditions by prescribing CoQ10. In fact, CoQ10 is the fifth most commonly prescribed “drug” in Japan.

4 Ways In Which You Can Use Coenzyme Q10
by Charles Silverman

Sometimes I ask myself why this wonderful antioxidant supplement was given such a technical name, many people feel intimidated by the name alone, thus refusing to take CoQ10. But the truth is that this nutrient is one of the most effective antioxidants and it has been proven to help many serious diseases. We will study in depth the benefits and properties that researchers have found in this “vitamin like” substance called Coenzyme Q10. Probably you haven’t even heard the name Coenzyme Q10, or if you have, you don’t even know what it does or why you should take it. The potential and most of the properties found in CoQ10 have been recognized rather recently. CoQ10 is known to scientists as ubiquinol, this is a naturally occurring nutrient normally present in every cell in the body, so it is only logical to believe that it plays an important part in treating many conditions and preventing them. The body makes CoQ10, but most likely the majority of people don’t make it well or enough of it, the good news is that we can absorb CoQ10 from foods, especially fish, and meats (particularly organ meats like liver, kidney, etc.),the bad news is that most people don’t eat these types of meats, plus as we age the body loses it efficiency in manufacturing important nutrients. It has been proven that people suffering from heart diseases and cancer have lower levels of CoQ10, thus supplementation is recommended.

1. CoQ10 helps in the energy production within each cell

The body, just like a car, needs fuel. Our primary source of fuel is through fats, proteins, and carbohydrates in our diet. After digestion in the stomach, the nutrients from foodstuffs are absorbed into the bloodstream and circulate to various tissues and cells. The cells have to break down the sugars, fats and amino acids in a form that makes energy. This energy production occurs in organelles, or microscopic organ-like structures, called mitochondria, and CoQ10 plays a key role in this activity.

There are hundreds, sometimes thousands, of mitochondria within each cell. In a sense, they are the factories of your cells, with the final product being energy. The energy that is produced is stored in a chemical called adenosine triphosphate, or simply ATP. It is carried by electrons and protons, which are sub-atomic particles. These energetic electrons and protons are moved around in cells to their destinations by numerous compounds. CoQ10 is one of the most important compounds.

2. CoQ10 as an antioxidant

CoQ10 also serves as an antioxidant, which is its second role. By controlling the movement of electrons, CoQ10 limits the production of dangerous free radicals, which are molecules lacking one electron in what should be a pair. To learn more about free radicals and antioxidants click here.

So far many researches and clinical studies have shown CoQ10 to be an amazing tool that helps us fight and prevent many dangerous conditions. Among these are:

Congestive heart failure
Coronary artery disease
High cholesterol
High blood pressure
Mitral valve prolapse
Breast Cancer
Periodontitis or Gingivitis
and Fatigue

3. CoQ10 prevents many conditions

Another important aspect in the uses of CoQ10, is the prevention of many conditions, CoQ10 helps maintain normal heart function and preventing serious heart disease. Our heart works 24 hrs a day, using lots of energy, to pump blood though the body, and since CoQ10 plays an important role in energy production, it has shown to be a very valuable heart energizing nutrient.

But why doctors don’t recommend more the use of CoQ10?

Hundreds of scientific studies have been published on CoQ10, including many involving humans. CoQ10 has also been the subject of ten international scientific and medical meetings. Furthermore, the role of CoQ10 in energy production was basis of the 1978 Nobel prize in chemistry, given to Peter Mitchell, Ph.D.

Unfortunately, most doctors in the US are not familiar with the published research regarding the potential of CoQ10 because many of the journals they read rarely discuss the benefits of this and many other nutrients. The reason for this is very simple, nutrients cannot be patented so they are of very little interest to pharmaceutical companies and drug manufacturing laboratories and these are the companies that sponsor and publish most of the journals read by doctors. However, traveling around Europe, China, Japan and South America, has shown me that the story is completely different in the rest of the world, where most health-care professionals are treating their patients with heart failure and other conditions by prescribing CoQ10. In fact, CoQ10 is the fifth most commonly prescribed “drug” in Japan.

4. How to get it from food

How much CoQ10 do we get from foods and is it enough?

Dietary intake of CoQ10 normally ranges from 2 to 20 mg a day. Most of this comes from meats and fish. The richest source of CoQ10 is organ meat, like liver, kidney, and heart. If you don’t eat these types of meats, chances are that your body does not have adequate level of CoQ10. Supplements in these cases is recommended. Younger people tend to get enough CoQ10 from food and from their own body production, but as we age the ability of the body to make and absorb CoQ10 drops significantly, for people in the middle age group I recommend a dosage of 30mg a day, although people taking 60 to 100 mg a day have reported a significant improvement in alertness, energy level, motivation, mood elevation, and enhanced focus. Fortunately, CoQ10 has no serious side effects, 1.5 percent of people taking 60 to 100 mg a day have reported nausea, and insomnia, due to the energizing effects of CoQ10. Also, this wonderful nutrient can be taken for years non-stop with only positive results. I recommend to start slow, with a dosage of 10 mg a day and gradually increase it to the desired dosage or until satisfactory results have been achieved.

from: Why Doctors Don't Recommend COQ10 More  

by Chris Gupta  

www.newmediaexplorer.org, May 26, 2005

CoQ10 and Our Skin

Skin benefits:

With continued use, CoQ10 can aid your complexion in various ways. It fights free radicals and improves the look of wrinkles. Be patient, though: You may need six weeks or more to see results, notes G Todorov, Ph.D., of Smart Skin Care. In particular, CoQ10 may: 

• Defend against free radicals. These harmful molecules result from UV rays, smoke, pollution and other environmental sources. They cause signs of aging, and “alter cell membranes, tamper with DNA and even cause cell death,” according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Free radicals are also linked to cancer. Because CoQ10 penetrates the skin, it can provide free radical and UV protection;

• Reduce wrinkles. Researchers have determined that CoQ10 affects collagen and elastin, natural components that keep skin smooth and wrinkle-free. One German study “found that using a topical CoQ10 for 6 weeks daily reduced the wrinkle depth of crow’s feet by 27 percent, and after 10 weeks, by 43 percent,” write Deborah Mitchell and Roberta D. Sengelmann in The Botox Miracle. 

You’ll find it in:

• CoQ10 is found in face and eye creams, anti-aging serums, lip treatments, night creams, as well as body products, like creams, scrubs and shower gels. However, there’s debate over whether CoQ10 concentrations in these products are high enough to be effective. Like other antioxidants, CoQ10 also breaks down and becomes ineffective when exposed to air or light. 

• Additionally, CoQ10 can be taken orally, and is often found in multi-vitamin, multi-mineral supplements. On Yahoo! Health, dermatologist Leslie Baumann, M.D., advises taking 100 to 200 milligrams in the morning, especially if you’re over age 50.

as posted: (http://www.skincare-news.com/a-5927-Coenzyme_Q10_Protective_Antioxidant_Compound.aspx)

CoQ10 and Pregnant women

Saturday April 4, 2009 (foodconsumer.org) -- Pregnant women with a predisposition for pre-eclampsia during pregnancy have a new weapon to fight the onset of the condition: CoQ10. A study, led by Central University of Ecuador and the Hospital Gineco Obstetrico Isidro Ayora in Ecuador, concluded that the co-enzyme can significantly reduce the likelihood of pre-eclampsia in pregnant women.

Pre-eclampsia has long been cited as one of the most common complications for expectant women. It occurs when a pregnant woman’s blood pressure rises to the point of hypertension; at this point, too much protein is excreted in the urine and swelling takes place. The risks associated with pregnancy have been radically reduced over the last few decades; however, pre-eclampsia still claims 60,000 lives worldwide each year.

The study was conducted in a placebo-controlled trial, wherein a sampling of 200 pregnant women were given 200 mg of CoQ10 per day, starting at 20 weeks gestation. The other group was given a placebo. The differences were significant. The pre-eclampsia rate among the women receiving the placebo was 25.6%, while that among the CoQ10 group was 14%.

How does CoQ10 prevent pre-eclampsia? The disorder has long been held to be, at least partially, the result of oxidative stress in pregnant women. As a result of this finding, studies involving Vitamin C and E intake by pregnant women were conducted; however, according to a report from the New England Journal of Medicine, Vitamins C and E had virtually no effect on the incidence of pre-eclampsia in pregnant women. Clearly there is more to consider.

While the antioxidant properties of CoQ10 certainly are likely to help prevent the condition, researchers say that further study is necessary to discover another “x” factor that is helping the co-enzyme fight the bane of pregnant women everywhere.

From: (http://www.foodconsumer.org/newsite/Nutrition/Vitamins/coq10_may_help_prevent_pre-eclampsia_in_pregnant_women.html)