Coenzyme Q10 Benefits
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Research also demonstrates that coenzyme Q10 benefits include controlling high blood pressure. In fact…
In one study by Langsjoen et al, of 109 patients with essential hypertension, 51% were able to stop between one and three antihypertensive drugs at an average of 4.4 months after starting CoQ10 treatment…And…
Of 424 patients with cardiovascular disease, 43% were able to stop between one and three cardiovascular drugs with CoQ10 therapy. The authors conclude that the vitamin-like substance, CoQ10, "may be ushering in the new era of cellular/biochemical treatment of disease, complementing and extending the systems-oriented, macro and microscopic approach that has served us well to this point".
To read a great article from which these words were taken please click here.
This is exciting news for many of us. The authors of the above article are not advocating throwing away our ‘meds’. They do however recognize coenzyme Q10 benefits for preventing heart disease. They are also questioning our overdependence on prescription drugs while ignoring natural methods.
If CoQ10 is effective in lowering blood pressure (as well as providing benefits for other heart conditions) why are we not using it more? Perhaps it is because we are uninformed concerning coenzyme Q10 benefits for heart health. The studies that follow will help us become more informed.
Coenzyme Q10 Benefits: Two Short-Term Studies
A couple of short-term placebo-controlled trials on hypertension and CoQ10 provide a good place for us to start our discussion.
The first trial involved patients with hypertension and coronary artery disease. They were already receiving traditional treatments to lower their blood pressure. In addition they were given 120 mg per day of Coenzyme Q10.
After only 8 weeks the patients receiving the CoQ10 supplements saw a greater reduction in blood pressure compared to the patients receiving a placebo containing B-complex vitamins. In particular their systolic blood pressure decreased 12 mm Hg more than the patients in the control group. Diastolic blood pressure was down by 6 mm Hg.
The second short-term trial involved patients with high systolic blood pressure. These patients were divided into two groups. One group received 120 mg per day of coenzyme Q10 and 300 IU per day of vitamin-E for 12 weeks. The other group received only the vitamin-E.
Systolic blood pressure was reduced in the CoQ10 group 17 mm Hg more than in the vitamin-E group.
Two More Studies Concerning Coenzyme Q10 Benefits
One study (mentioned earlier) involved 109 patients with essential hypertension each of which was already receiving antihypertensive drug therapy. Most of the patients (80%) had been diagnosed with hypertension for several years (average 9.2 years).
Each patient received CoQ10 supplements in addition to their existing blood pressure medicine. On average each patient received 225 mg of CoQ10 per day. However, the amount was adjusted for each patient in an attempt to raise CoQ10 blood levels to at least 2.0 micrograms/ml. The researchers reported that…
A definite and gradual improvement in functional status was observed with the concomitant need to gradually decrease antihypertensive drug therapy within the first one to six months.And…
In the 9.4% of patients with echocardiograms both before and during treatment, we observed a highly significant improvement in left ventricular wall thickness and diastolic function.Practically speaking, half of the patients were able to stop using one or more of their antihypertensive drugs in an average of 4.4 months.
To read an abstract of this study please use the link below.
Treatment of essential hypertension with coenzyme Q10.
Another study on coenzyme Q10 benefits involved 26 patients with essential arterial hypertension. At the beginning of the 10-week trial…
- plasma CoQ10
- serum total cholesterol
- high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol
- blood pressure
- Systolic blood pressure (SBP) decreased from 164.5 to 146.7 mmHg.
- Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) decreased from 98.1 to 86.1 mmHg.
- Plasma CoQ10 levels increased from 0.64 to 1.61micrograms/ml.
- Total cholesterol decreased from 222.9 to 213.3 mg/dl.
- HDL cholesterol (the good kind) increased from 41.1 to 43.1 mg/dl.
If you would like to read more about this study please use the link below.
Coenzyme Q10 benefits in essential hypertension.
What Do The Studies Show?
In addition to the promising research involving CoQ10 treatments for congestive heart failure and cardiomyopathy there is also strong evidence that Coenzyme Q10 benefits extend to the treatment of hypertension.
In fact, as we see from the studies above, some patients (51%) were able to quit at least one blood pressure lowering drug within an average of 4.4 months of beginning CoQ10 supplementation. For such patients this is great news.
If you are serious about heart health you will not want to ignore the research surrounding CoQ10 supplementation. Check with your doctor about adding CoQ10 to your current therapy. If you are not taking medication then that is great. Consider CoQ10 supplementation to keep your heart as healthy as it can be.
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To see more research on CoQ10 you can return to the Main CoQ10 Page by clicking here.
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