SEATTLE, WASHINGTON. Dr. John Ely of the University of Washington and Dr. Cheryl Krone of the Applied Research Institute in Palmerston North, New Zealand have cooperated to produce a fascinating report summarizing the latest research about coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinone). It is now known that the tissues and blood of an adult human contain a total of about 2000 mg of coenzyme Q10 and that 500 mg/day is required to maintain this body pool. The average diet provides only about 5 mg/day so the remainder must be synthesized internally. The ability to synthesize coenzyme Q10 declines sharply with age and a deficiency can lead to irreversible damage in the brain and other organs. Besides its essential role in the production of adenosine triphosphate (the body's "energy" molecules), coenzyme Q10 is also a powerful quencher of free radicals (50 times more effective than vitamin E). It has been found to be entirely safe in daily intakes as high as 800 mg.
Animal experiments and at least three cases involving humans have found coenzyme Q10 to be highly effective in reversing the effects of a stroke (400-800 mg/day as soon as possible after the event) and has also been found beneficial in the treatment of congestive heart failure when combined with vitamin-E and vitamin-C. Some fairly recent research has established that statins (cholesterol- lowering agents) depress the synthesis of coenzyme Q10 and has concluded that patients on statins need to supplement with at least 200 mg/day in order to avoid serious deterioration in heart function. [48 references]
Ely, John T.A. and Krone, Cheryl A. A brief update on ubiquinone (coenzyme Q10). Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine, Vol. 15, No. 2, Second Quarter 2000, pp. 63- 68