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.

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.