Living Well

CoQ10: Hamburger Helper for Cellular Energy Production!

Aug 14, 2017

Coenzyme Q10 or CoQ10, is a critical enzyme found in every cell of the human body. It serves as a catalyst for several key steps in the production of cellular energy.

Two Key Functions of CoQ10

Generating energy from nutrients

A major part of cellular energy production happens within the inner membrane of the mitochondria. This part is also known as the ‘powerhouse’ of the cell. CoQ10 is one of the critical components in transferring energy to cells at this stage. That’s why even minor changes in CoQ10 levels can have a significant impact on the rate of cellular respiration (the process of cells harvesting energy from food.)

Acting as an antioxidant

CoQ10 plays the role of an antioxidant by protecting the inner parts of cells and their membranes from free radicals. It also regenerates active forms of Vitamin E, which is a powerful water-soluble antioxidant.

How Does CoQ10 Help The Body?

Every cell in our body has “power producing” organelles called mitochondria. These cellular mitochondria produce ATP (adenosine triphosphate). ATP is a high-energy, phosphate compound that supplies energy for every cellular function.

CoQ10 serves as the electron carrier in the mitochondrial electron transfer chain. This chain is vital for cellular level ATP production. It also acts a potent antioxidant by scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS). This helps in protecting neuronal cells against oxidative stress in many neurodegenerative diseases.

However, CoQ10 starts to decline with age.

Without Coenzyme Q10, the mitochondria cannot function. And as a result, energy production is diminished. Additionally, cells are susceptible to free radical damage due to the loss of CoQ10’s antioxidant protection.

This increases the need to take supplements that provide enough CoQ10 to the human body. This helps the body from collapsing due to chronic exhaustion or heart failures.

The recommended dose for CoQ10 supplementation varies from 30 mg to 200 mg per day. Before starting to take CoQ10 supplements, consult a qualified medical professional to determine the exact dosage for your needs.

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