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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]
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