Antioxidants to Supplement- CoQ10
May 2nd, 2008
CoQ10
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is widely distributed through the body. It is used by the body to transform food into adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy on which the body runs.
CoQ10 is a powerful antioxidant that protects the body from free radicals and helps preserve vitamin E, the major antioxidant of cell membranes and blood cholesterol.
Virtually every cell of the human body contains CoQ10. It is concentrated in the mitochondria, the area of cells where energy is produced. It plays an integral role in supplying energy to chemical reactions in the body. The heart and liver contain the greatest amount of CoQ10.
CoQ10 is found primarily in fish and meat, but the amounts in food are far less than what can be obtained from antioxidant supplements. There is reliable and relatively consistent scientific data showing substantial health benefits when CoQ10 has been used in connection with angina, heart attack and high blood pressure. CoQ10’s ability as an antioxidant scavenger may account for the cardiovascular benefits. Coenzyme Q10 prevents free radical oxidation of low density lipoprotein (LDL). It has also been suggested that CoQ10 can offer protection from the side effects associated with taking blood pressure medications.
