What Is Vitamin CoQ10?
Vitamin CoQ10 is a distinctive vitamin, beneficial for the generation of all cellular energy for muscles, enzyme actions and respiration. This means it is very helpful in keeping cardiovascular health strong. Vitamin CoQ10 can assist overall health, energy levels and stamina. It has also been linked to being beneficial in the fight against cancer, Alzheimer's and free radicals.
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History
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Vitamin CoQ10 was discovered in 1957. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin were awarded the Noble Peace Prize for its discovery and the role it plays in the body.
Significance
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Vitamin CoQ10 is created by the body, but not in large enough amounts to be beneficial to one's health. It is found in the energy producing part of cells and is part of the production of important molecules known as adenosine-5-triphosphate (ATP). ATP is a cell's main energy source, which helps create the production of protein and muscle contraction. It is the body's most important source of cellular energy.
Benefits
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Preventive-health-guide.com feels vitamin CoQ10 is a strong antioxidant which helps fight free radicals. Antioxidants help rid the body of free radicals and remove them from the body. Free radicals cause oxidative damage to cells, which causes us to age more quickly and contributes to diseases. Studies by Karl Folkers, Phd., found that almost 70 percent of his patients with congestive heart failure benefited from taking vitamin CoQ10. According to cancerquest.org, Vitamin CoQ10 has been used in a few trials to treat cancer, and has been found to help improve a patient's quality of life while undergoing chemotherapy. It may also help prevent the reappearance of melanoma in previous sufferers. Currently, the FDA does not approve CoQ10 as an effective treatment for cancer.
Expert Insight
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The American Chemical Society awarded the Priestly Medal to Dr. Folkers for his research on CoQ10. His research helped support CoQ10's abilities to fight heart disease. Vitamin CoQ10 can be purchased as a supplement. It can be expensive, running upwards of $30 for a monthly supply. Preventive-health-guide.com states that heart surgeon Denton Cooley, M.D., finds that 75 percent of cardiac patients he has treated had deficiencies of vitamin CoQ10.
Additional Benefits
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Preventive-health-guide.com reports that Vitamin CoQ10 has also been linked to helping treat diabetes, high cholesterol, Alzheimers and cancer.
Sources
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Vitamin CoQ10 can be naturally found in meats and fish. The highest amounts of CoQ10 are found in fresh sardines and mackerel. Large amounts can also be found in the heart and liver of beef, and eggs. Spinach, broccoli, peanuts, and whole grains also contain CoQ10. When these foods are eaten raw or fresh, the amounts of vitamin CoQ10 are at their highest.
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