Vitamin Guide
Co Enzyme Q10
Co Enzyme Q10 comes from Co Enzyme Q which occurs in foods, thereby going by its common name Ubiquinone (from the word Ubiquitous meaning ‘being everywhere’). It is the substance made by our bodies and obtained in the diet, mainly from oily fish, organ meats, and wholegrains. Co Q10 is fat-soluble and works along with certain enzymes to support the body’s bioenergetic function. It is also an electron carrier and is important to many body energy systems, but most importantly in the cell mitochondria. These are known as the bodies energy factories, where Co Q10 aids the body in generating a very important energy source called ATP.
Despite this abundance, the level of Co Q10, like many other essential nutrients, declines in your body with age. This decline has now been traced to a decline of an enzyme in the liver that converts Co Q to Co Q10.
There are now volumes of compelling evidence that suggest we need to maintain a high level of Co Q10 for life. This valuable nutrient has been widely used in European and Japanese medicine since 1980. Research into cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, obesity, ADD and chronic fatigue has shown direct links to low or reduced levels of Co Enzyme Q10. Even in cases of periodontal disease, Co Enzyme Q10 has been shown to be beneficial. Some advocates call it "The miracle Nutrient.