What Are The Primary Cardiovascular Enhancing Qualities of CoQ10 and Ubiquinol?

by | Jan 30, 2024 | Health, Nutrition, Supplements | 0 comments

Maintaining a healthy heart is a priority for many individuals seeking to enhance their overall well-being. Among the various supplements gaining attention over the years, Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and its reduced form, Ubiquinol, stand out for their potential heart-boosting benefits. In this article, we explore the scientific evidence supporting the use of both CoQ10 and Ubiquinol supplements for heart health.

Understanding CoQ10 and Ubiquinol:

CoQ10, a naturally occurring antioxidant, plays a crucial role in the production of energy within cells. Found in every cell of the body, its levels tend to decrease with age. Ubiquinol is the active and more easily absorbed form of CoQ10, making it a popular choice for supplementation.

1. Enhanced Energy Production:

CoQ10 is a key player in the electron transport chain, facilitating the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) – the body’s primary source of energy. By boosting cellular energy production, CoQ10 and Ubiquinol contribute to overall heart health and heart function.

2. Antioxidant Defense:

Both CoQ10 and Ubiquinol exhibit potent antioxidant properties, helping to neutralize free radicals inside the body. This antioxidant defense is crucial for protecting the delicate cells of the heart from oxidative stress, a factor that is linked to cardiovascular issues.

3. Blood Pressure Regulation:

Research suggests that CoQ10 and Ubiquinol may help regulate blood pressure. These supplements have been shown to improve endothelial function, promoting healthy blood vessel dilation and supporting optimal blood flow. Maintaining healthy blood pressure is essential for cardiovascular health.

4. Heart Failure Support:

Studies have explored the potential benefits of CoQ10 and Ubiquinol in managing heart failure. These supplements may improve symptoms, enhance exercise capacity, and positively impact overall quality of life for individuals with heart failure or those who have suffered a heart attack.

The rationale of the use of CoQ10 in cardiovascular diseases is that the loss of contractile function due to an energy depletion status in the mitochondria and reduced levels of NO for vasodilatation has been associated with low endogenous CoQ10 levels. Clinical evidence shows that CoQ10 supplementation for prolonged periods is safe, well-tolerated and significantly increases the concentration of CoQ10 in plasma up to 3–5 µg/mL. CoQ10 supplementation reduces oxidative stress and mortality from cardiovascular causes and improves clinical outcome in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery, prevents the accumulation of oxLDL in arteries, decreases vascular stiffness and hypertension, improves endothelial dysfunction by reducing the source of ROS in the vascular system and increases the NO levels for vasodilation.

5. Cholesterol Management:

CoQ10 is involved in the production of ubiquinol, which is essential for cholesterol metabolism. Supplementing with CoQ10 and Ubiquinol may support a healthy balance of cholesterol levels, reducing the risk of atherosclerosis and other related cardiovascular complications.

Using random-effect model, the pooled results for lipid profiles showed that CoQ10 supplementation significantly decreased total cholesterol (SMD -1.07; 95% CI, − 1.94, − 0.21, P = 0.01; I2 = 94.9%) and increased HDL-cholesterol levels (SMD 1.30; 95% CI, 0.20, 2.41, P = 0.02; I2 = 94.7%). We found no significant impact of CoQ10 supplementation on LDL-cholesterol (SMD -0.37; 95% CI, − 0.87, 0.13, P = 0.14; I2 = 82.8%) and Lp(a) (SMD -1.12; 95% CI, − 2.84, 0.61, P = 0.20; I2 = 95.7%), using random-effect model and triglycerides levels (SMD 0.01; 95% CI, − 0.22, 0.24, P = 0.940; I2 = 0.00%), using fixed-effect model (Fig. 3).

6. Anti-Inflammatory Effects:

Chronic inflammation is a contributing factor to various cardiovascular conditions. CoQ10 and Ubiquinol possess anti-inflammatory properties, which may help mitigate inflammation and promote a healthier cardiovascular system.

Conclusion:

CoQ10 and Ubiquinol supplements offer a promising avenue for those looking to promote their overall heart health. From enhancing energy production to providing antioxidant defense, these supplements play a multifaceted role in supporting cardiovascular function. While research continues to explore their full potential, incorporating CoQ10 and Ubiquinol into a heart-healthy lifestyle, alongside proper nutrition and exercise, may contribute to overall cardiovascular well-being.

With age, oxidative stress increases in the human arterial system, and several lines of evidence link oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in CVD [6,7]. These observations have led to hypothesize that supplementation with coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), an electron carrier in the mitochondrial respiratory chain, which is known to be a powerful antioxidant, could improve cellular bioenergetics in CVD [8,9]. This review summarizes the current evidence for the use of CoQ10 in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure, left ventricular thickening, cardiac surgery, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and endothelial dysfunction (Table 1), thus highlighting the recently described molecular mechanisms to explain the beneficial role for CoQ10 in the treatment of these diseases.

As with any supplement, it is advisable to consult with a healthcare professional before adding them to your routine, especially if you have any pre-existing health conditions or are taking any medications.

Works Cited:

  1. Al Saadi T, Assaf Y, Farwati M, Turkmani K, Al-Mouakeh A, Shebli B, Khoja M, Essali A, Madmani ME. Coenzyme Q10 for heart failure. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021 Feb 3;(2)(2):CD008684. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD008684.pub3. PMID: 35608922; PMCID: PMC8092430.
  2. Ho MJ, Li EC, Wright JM. Blood pressure lowering efficacy of coenzyme Q10 for primary hypertension. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016 Mar 3;3(3):CD007435. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD007435.pub3. PMID: 26935713; PMCID: PMC6486033.
  3. Jorat MV, Tabrizi R, Mirhosseini N, Lankarani KB, Akbari M, Heydari ST, Mottaghi R, Asemi Z. The effects of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on lipid profiles among patients with coronary artery disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Lipids Health Dis. 2018 Oct 9;17(1):230. doi: 10.1186/s12944-018-0876-4. PMID: 30296936; PMCID: PMC6176512.
  4. Rabanal-Ruiz Y, Llanos-González E, Alcain FJ. The Use of Coenzyme Q10 in Cardiovascular Diseases. Antioxidants (Basel). 2021 May 10;10(5):755. doi: 10.3390/antiox10050755. PMID: 34068578; PMCID: PMC8151454.
  5. Sood B, Keenaghan M. Coenzyme Q10. [Updated 2022 Jan 19]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK531491/
  6. Zhao D, Liang Y, Dai S, Hou S, Liu Z, Liu M, Dong X, Zhan Y, Tian Z, Yang Y. Dose-Response Effect of Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation on Blood Pressure among Patients with Cardiometabolic Disorders: A Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE)-Assessed Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Adv Nutr. 2022 Dec 22;13(6):2180-2194. doi: 10.1093/advances/nmac100. PMID: 36130103; PMCID: PMC9776655.
  7. Zozina VI, Covantev S, Goroshko OA, Krasnykh LM, Kukes VG. Coenzyme Q10 in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases: Current State of the Problem. Curr Cardiol Rev. 2018;14(3):164-174. doi: 10.2174/1573403X14666180416115428. PMID: 29663894; PMCID: PMC6131403.