Coenzyme Q10 – Supports Muscle Health & Much More
Coenzyme Q, or Coenzyme Q10, also abbreviated as CoQ10, is a fat-soluble compound that the body produces and obtains from diet. Coenzyme Q10 is important for the basic functioning of our cells. It plays a key role in energy production, natural antioxidant protection, and removal of cellular waste.
Musculoskeletal Benefits of Coenzyme Q10
1. Coenzyme Q10 is Key for Energy Production & Mitochondrial Health
Coenzyme Q10 helps produce energy and boost mitochondrial well-being. In the body, energy is stored in a molecule called ATP. ATP is primarily generated in a special area of the cell called the mitochondria. Coenzyme Q10 is both required to maintain mitochondrial health and to generate ATP. Without sufficient Coenzyme Q10, the body is unable to produce the necessary energy to fuel normal repair, maintenance, and growth. Muscle and bone are metabolically hyperactive, constantly building and breaking down. Any disruption in the building and energy processes causes a shift to an overall state of breakdown or “catabolism.” Many musculoskeletal diseases, such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and sarcopenia (muscle loss and weakness), can be conceptualized as a situation in which the cellular machinery that destroys overwhelms the cellular machinery that builds. Insufficient Coenzyme Q10 can magnify and accelerate this catabolic process.
2. Coenzyme Q10 Boosts the Body’s Natural Antioxidant Defenses
Fat is especially sensitive to oxidation. A frequent target of free radicals is the fat in cell walls. Damage to one fat particle rapidly propagates to many other fat particles in a chain reaction, referred to as lipid peroxidation. This event is catastrophic for the cell and often ends with a massive puncture in the cell wall. The contents of the cell leak out, severely compromising cell function and possibly leading to cell death. Coenzyme Q10 is both a potent antioxidant and fat-soluble. Coenzyme Q10 easily dissolves into the cell wall and disarms free radicals before they can ignite a devastating chain reaction. Coenzyme Q10 is an invaluable bulwark against lipid peroxidation and a crucial component of the body’s overall strategy to prevent oxidative stress. Additionally, Coenzyme Q10 helps recycle vitamin E, another powerful fat-soluble antioxidant.
Selected Evidence
Coenzyme Q10 Supports Joint Health
Korean investigators examined the effect of Coenzyme Q10 on a rat model of osteoarthritis. The investigators found that Coenzyme Q10 suppressed pain and cartilage degeneration by inhibiting inflammatory mediators, which play a vital role in osteoarthritis pathogenesis. (Lee et al. Coenzyme Q10 ameliorates pain and cartilage degradation in a rat model of osteoarthritis by regulating nitric oxide and inflammatory cytokines. PLoS One. 2013 Jul 22;8(7):e69362.)
Coenzyme Q10 Enhances Muscle Health
German researchers evaluated the effect of Coenzyme Q10 on muscle strength in humans. The authors concluded that both a low CoQ10 level and a low percentage of the reduced form of CoQ10 could be indicators of an increased risk of chronic muscle wasting and decreased strength. (Fischer et al. Coenzyme Q10 Status as a Determinant of Muscular Strength in Two Independent Cohorts. PLoS One. 2016 Dec 1;11(12))
Coenzyme Q10 Boosts Bone Health
Chinese researchers evaluated the effect of Coenzyme Q10 on rat bone marrow cells. The results indicated that CoQ10 significantly decreased bone resorption and markedly enhanced bone formation. These findings suggest a potential role of Coenzyme Q10 in the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis. (Zheng et al. Coenzyme Q10 promotes osteoblast proliferation and differentiation and protects against ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis. Mol Med Rep. 2018 Jan;17(1):400-407.)
Precautions
Coenzyme Q10 from natural foods is generally well tolerated. Upper limits for Coenzyme Q10 consumption have not been established given Coenzyme Q10’s low potential for toxicity. Potential side effects include gastrointestinal distress, such as diarrhea, nausea, heartburn, loss of appetite, and abdominal cramps. Additionally, people who take the medication warfarin (also called Coumadin) should exercise extreme caution when considering Coenzyme Q10 supplements. Studies have shown that this combination can cause warfarin to stop being an effective anticoagulant. Any consideration of supplementation should be discussed with a qualified health professional familiar with your unique medical history.
References
- Bentinger, M., Tekle, M., & Dallner, G. (2010). Coenzyme Q biosynthesis and functions. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 396(1), 74–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2010.02.147
- Littarru, G. P., & Tiano, L. (2007). Bioenergetic and antioxidant properties of coenzyme Q10: Recent developments. Molecular Biotechnology, 37(1), 31–37. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12033-007-0057-6
- Del Pozo-Cruz, J., Rodriguez-Bies, E., Navas-Enamorado, I., Del Pozo-Cruz, B., Navas, P., & Lopez-Lluch, G. (2014). Relationship between functional capacity and body mass index with plasma coenzyme Q10 and oxidative damage in community-dwelling elderly people. Experimental Gerontology, 52, 46–54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exger.2014.01.026
- King, M. S., Sharpley, M. S., & Hirst, J. (2009). Reduction of hydrophilic ubiquinones by the flavin in mitochondrial NADH:Ubiquinone oxidoreductase (Complex I) and production of reactive oxygen species. Biochemistry, 48(9), 2053–2062. https://doi.org/10.1021/bi802282h
- Navas, P., Villalba, J. M., & de Cabo, R. (2007). The importance of plasma membrane coenzyme Q in aging and stress responses. Mitochondrion, 7(Suppl), S34–S40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mito.2007.03.007
- Linus Pauling Institute. (n.d.). Coenzyme Q10. Retrieved from http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/dietary-factors/coenzyme-Q10
- National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). Primary coenzyme Q10 deficiency. Retrieved from https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/primary-coenzyme-q10-deficiency
- U.S. Pharmacist. (n.d.). Coenzyme Q10: A potential cardiotonic and antioxidant. Retrieved from https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/coenzyme-q10-a-potential-cardiotonic-and-antioxidant
