The antioxidant energy nutrient CoQ10 may reduce mortality rates by
half in patients with moderate to severe heart failure, according to the
conclusions drawn following the Q-SYMBIO Study.
Q-Symbio, a double blind, placebo-controlled study gave 420 European
and Asian patients either 100mg of CoQ10 three times per day (202 people) or
placebo (218). After two years 25% of patients in the placebo group had a major
adverse cardiovascular event, compared to 14% in the study group.
Mortality and hospital stays were also lower in
the study group. Over the two-year period 18 patients died in the CoQ10 group
(9%) compared to 36 (17%) in the placebo group.
These results are strong
enough to be guideline changing, suggesting that CoQ10, a natural substance be
considered as part of the maintenance therapy for all patients with chronic
heart failure.
The author of the study concluded: “CoQ10 is
the first medication to improve survival in chronic heart failure since ACE
inhibitors and beta blockers more than a decade ago and should be added to
standard heart failure therapy.”
About CoEnzyme Q-10
Inside the cells are little organelles called mitochondria
that produce cellular energy (ATP) from carbohydrates and fat. Coenzyme
Q-10 works inside the cell to facilitate the process that converts your foods
to energy. Coenzyme Q-10 helps you produce ATP (energy).
The process
of adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) production through the electron transport
chain, also known as the respiratory chain, is called oxidative
phosphorylation.1–4 NAD+ = nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide; NADH = reduced
form of NAD+; FAD+ = flavin adenine dinucleotide; FADH = reduced form of FAD+;
CoQ = coenzyme Q; Cyt c = cytochrome c; O2 = oxygen; H2O = water; ADP = adenosine 5'-diphosphate; P = phosphate; IMM = inner
mitochondrial membrane.
