MCWtrainer

Here is some informatoin which I was asked to post on Coenzyme Q10...

Coenzyme Q10 and exercise performance
Basic biochemistry
Coenzyme Q10 and related ubiquinones were first discovered in 1955 by RA Morton and associates in Liverpool, England. F.L. Crane and colleagues extracted and isolated ubiquinone from mitochondria and dubbed the term coenzyme Q.The number of side chain isoprenoid units determines the nomenclature. Coenzyme Q6 is found in bacteria whereas CoQ10 is found in mammalian mitochondria. CoQ10 is one part of complex series of reactions that occur within mitochondria -- ultimately linked to the generation of energy within a cell.

With virtually all cofactors and vitamins, deficiency results in poor athletic performance and/or disease. However, in a population of healthy, exercising adults in the U.S. it is rare to find vitamin deficiencies. The concept that, "more vitamin intake will improve performance" has been around a long time. It seems that every time a new factor or biochemical mechanism is discovered, a new product quickly finds its way to the store shelves. Coenzyme Q10 (Co Q10) is one of several important mitochondrial enzymes required for electron transport, and is thus a critical part of the process of generating energy within cells. Supplementation with Co Q10 has occurred for over a decade, despite the lack of firm evidence to support its role a reputed performance enhancer.

To investigate the effects of Co Q10 supplementation it is necessary to look at some of the scientific literature published over the past 10 years. The studies differ in their methods and type of athlete being studied, but all have small sample sizes. These small numbers limit the power of these studies and make far reaching conclusions difficult. Additionally, the studies don’t always agree.

A 1997 study from Finland, which looked at 25 elite cross-country skiers, found significant improvement in physical performance and subjective impressions of the quality of training. Although the results of this study look good – almost too good to be true – there are a few points to consider. First, although it was a placebo controlled trial no effort was made to determine if the skiers were able to tell placebo from the "real" supplement. More rigorous studies often include a post-test questionnaire, because the results of any study will be greatly influenced if athletes are able to identify the placebo and the test supplement. In this study the athletes’ performance dropped on placebo versus baseline exercise testing. Placebo should make no difference, unless the athletes’ figured out it was placebo. A second point is that other studies have failed to demonstrate performance enhancement with Co Q10.

A 1999 study looked at supplementation with Co Q10, vitamin E, and vitamin C. For the seven well trained male triathletes examined there was no change in VO2 max, muscle energy metabolism, or muscle fatigue in the supplement group versus placebo. Another study from 1996 looked at untrained middle-aged men and found no improvement in exercise capacity with Co Q10 supplementation, although the supplemented group felt more "vigorous". Finally, going back to 1992, a study sponsored by a company that sells a "coenzyme athletic performance system" -- consisting of Co Q10, vitamin E, cytochrome C, and inosine – tested 11 highly trained male triathletes. This study used an interesting exhaustive performance test, which consisted of 90 minutes of treadmill running (70% VO2 max) followed by cycling (70% VO2 max) until exhaustion. Much to the company’s dismay there were no benefits versus placebo. Not surprisingly, the company has criticized this study as "flawed".

The bottom line is that the jury is still out on Co Q10 -- although it doesn’t look particularly promising. Additionally, although probably harmless in the doses commonly taken, no one has looked at safety. Clearly, well-designed studies with larger numbers of athletes are needed before definitive statements can be made regarding Co Q10 supplementation. A healthy dose of cynicism is probably the best approach to the supplement issue in general. This is a big dollar industry that often uses "junk" science or misleading statements to sell products. Fads come and go, and there is money to be made, but too often the end result is, as one national-level coach recently stated, "Workout facilities in the U.S. produce the most vitamin enriched sewage in the world."

Some good links...

http://www.aafp.org/afp/20050915/1065.html

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsSupple...zymeQ10cs.html

http://www.healingdaily.com/detoxifi...enzyme-q10.htm

http://www.holistic-online.com/Remed...eart_CoQ10.htm

http://exchange.healthwell.com/nutri...ientreview.cfm

On diseases and illnesses...
http://www.coenzymeq10supplement.com...oenzymeq10.htm


COENZYME Q10

Gabe Mirkin, M.D.

The Food and Drug Administration doesn't believe that coenzyme Q10 pills prevent heart attacks, allergies or cancers or prolong your life or make you a better lover (1).

Reactions in your body produce chemicals called oxidants that damage cells and shorten life. To protect your cells from oxidant damage, your body produces antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase and coenzyme Q10. Since tissue levels of coenzyme Q10 drop with aging, it is tempting to think that reduced levels of this coenzyme cause aging. However, research shows that lowered levels are the result of aging rather than the cause because coenzyme Q10 is found in the mitochondria, the energy sources of cells. With aging, the number of mitochondria and size of cells become smaller, so everything in the mitochondria is reduced.

Furthermore, coenzyme Q10 has been found to be ineffective in treating diseases affecting the mitochondria (2). Since coenzyme Q10 is a source of energy, doctors thought that coenzyme Q10 supplements would increase endurance, but studies show that it does not (3). Years ago, a researcher at the University of Texas showed that people who have arteriosclerotic heart disease have lower blood levels of coenzyme Q10 than people who have normal hearts. People with damaged hearts have less functioning heart muscle, so they should have lower levels of coenzyme Q10.

For coenzyme Q10 to improve health and energy, it must get into the cells, particularly the mitochondria, where it functions. Studies show that coenzyme Q10 pills get into the bloodstream, but cannot be recovered in the cells (6). Therefore coenzyme Q10 pills cannot get into heart muscle and kidneys (4), so they cannot strengthen a failing heart.

1) Nutrition News POB 55279 Riverside, Cal 92517. 1987 volume X, number 8.

2) Mathews PM et al. Coenzyme Q10 with multiple vitamins is generally ineffective in treatment of mitochondrial disease. Neurology. 1993(May);43(5):884-890.

3) Porter DA et al. The effect of oral coenzyme Q10 on the exercise tolerance of middle-aged, untrained men. International Journal of Sports Medicine 1995(Oct);16(7):421-427.

4) Zhang Y et al. Uptake of dietary coenzyme Q supplement is limited in rats. J. Nutr. 1995(Mar);125(3):446-453.

5) Y Birnbaum, SL Hale, RA Kloner. The effect of coenzyme Q(10) on infarct size in a rabbit model of ischemia/reperfusion. Cardiovascular Research 32: 5 (NOV 1996):861-868. Conclusions: Coenzyme Q(10), administered acutely either during or 60 min before myocardial ischemia, does not attenuate infarct size in the rabbit.

6) M Svensson, C Malm, M Tonkonogi, B Ekblom, B Sjodin, K Sahlin.Effect of Q10 supplementation on tissue Q10 levels and adenine nucleotide catabolism during high-intensity exercise. International Journal of Sport Nutrition, 1999, Vol 9, Iss 2, pp 166-180. Q10 supplementation increases the concentration of Q10 in plasma but not in skeletal muscle.
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Coenzyme Q10: A Novel Cardiac Antioxidant
http://www.orthomed.org/links/papers/bagchi.htm
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Coenzyme Q10 Lessens Muscle-Related Side Effects in Patients on Statins: Presented at ACC
By Jill Stein

ORLANDO, FL -- March 7, 2005 -- Patients with significant myopathy who are taking statin therapy have a significant decrease in myopathic pain after 30 days of supplementation with coenzyme Q10, according to results presented here on March 6th at the American College of Cardiology 54th Annual Scientific Session.

Patricia Kelly, DO, Associate Professor of Medicine, University Hospital Medial Center, Stony Brook, New York, United States, randomized in a double-blind design 41 statin-treated patients with myopathic pain to 30 days of supplementation with 400 IU of vitamin E or 100 mg daily of coenzyme Q10.

"Statin treatment markedly reduces [the incidence of] cardiac events and mortality," Dr. Kelly said. "However, the reported side effects of treatment include myopathy, muscle damage associated with increased levels of creatinine phosphokinase, and abnormalities of liver function."

The researchers conducted the present trial to determine if coenzyme Q10 supplementation would improve muscle related adverse effects in patients on statins. "If coenzyme Q10 supplementation were effective in reducing the symptoms of myopathy associated with statin use, it would be possible for patients to retain the beneficial effects of cholesterol lowering while reducing significant side effects," she added.

The two treatment groups were similar with respect to demographic and clinical parameters.

Pre- and post- vitamin E, pain remained unchanged (3.9 versus 4.4, P = NS). Pre- and post coenzyme Q10, pain improved significantly (6.2 1.7 versus 3.1, P <.001).

Pain improved in three of 20 vitamin E patients and 18 of 21 coenzyme Q 10 patients (P <.001).

There was no significant change in creatinine phosphokinase with treatment in either group nor did these levels correlate with pain severity.

Coenzyme Q10 did not have any effect on lipid levels and was safe and well tolerated.

"This study provides encouraging evidence for the use of coenzymeQ10 in alleviating myopathic pain in patients taking statins," Dr. Kelly said.

Study strengths include the 100% compliance rates, randomized blinded design, use of validated pain scale, and duration of treatment of 4 weeks to ensure adequate absorption of coenzyme Q10, she added.
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