Coenzyme Q10 Forte 200mg

Our Coenzyme Q10 FORTE food supplement is highly dosed, 200mg per capsule, which is the maximum you can find.

The luxury bottle is made of amber glass to protect from light and keep all the properties. 2 years shelf life !

Coenzyme Q10 : Properties, what it is used for and where to find it ?

Coenzyme Q10 or vitamin Q is an essential molecule for the well-being of our body, as it performs the very important task of producing the energy necessary for the functioning of our cells. This coenzyme is also involved in metabolic processes and plays an important antioxidant role, which is essential for health and beauty.

Synthesised by the body and partially supplemented by the diet, coenzyme Q10 is contained in the mitochondria, small organs that act as the body's energy centers.

In the presence of oxygen, vitamin Q is involved in the production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the compound used by our cells to store energy for 95% of metabolic functions.

Q10 is found in virtually all cells, and because it is ubiquitous, it is also called ubiquinone.

Table of contents

• 1. What are the benefits and functions of coenzyme Q10 ?
• 2. Coenzyme Q10: properties and benefits
• 3. Foods containing coenzyme Q10
• 4. Coenzyme Q10 deficiency
• 5. Coenzyme Q10 supplements
• 6. Q10 supplements: dosage and how to take them
• 7. Types of Q10 supplements
• 8. Disorders treated with Q10 supplements
• 9. Side effects of Q10 supplements
• 10. Q10 supplements, contraindications
• 11. History of coenzyme Q10

1. What are the benefits and functions of coenzyme Q10 ?

As mentioned, coenzyme Q10 is involved in many processes necessary for the health of our body. But essentially, its overall action can be divided into three main functions:

• Cardioprotective function: ubiquinone is essential for the heart muscle, an organ that needs a lot of energy to function efficiently. The higher concentration of energy provided by Q10 increases cardiovascular circulation.
• cytoprotective function: coenzyme Q10 protects cells against external aggression and contributes to the proper functioning of the immune system.
• neuroprotective function: vitamin Q acts on the nervous tissue, an energy-consuming system, whose balance it regulates and counteracts the onset of neurodegenerative diseases.

2. Coenzyme Q10: properties and benefits

This molecule has considerable beneficial properties for the body. In particular, it:

• stimulates the cardiovascular system: Q10 has an overall beneficial effect on the heart, as it increases cell bioenergy, reduces oxidative stress and has a vasodilator effect
• has an antioxidant effect: it helps to combat oxidative stress caused by free radicals. This property is very useful in reducing the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. When administered in high doses to patients whose disease is not yet advanced, coenzyme Q10 helps to maintain movement control.
• has anti-ageing properties: it counteracts the loss of elastin and collagen, slows down the formation of wrinkles and helps to maintain skin tone. By virtue of this anti-ageing action, coenzyme Q10 is used as an ingredient in anti-wrinkle creams and eye serums.
• strengthens the immune system: it helps fight infections and the formation of free radicals by stimulating the body's natural defences.
• fights diabetes: coenzyme Q10 is involved in insulin regulation, helping to reduce blood sugar levels by up to 30%.
• has a hypotensive function: in the case of high blood pressure, it helps to reduce blood pressure levels
• regulates cholesterol levels: it helps to reduce the level of LDL (bad) cholesterol in the blood and protects it from oxidation which, in the long term, leads to the formation of plaques and atherosclerosis.
• fights fatigue and asthenia: it increases the energy available to the cells, while promoting the transformation and release of the energy absorbed by the food.
• stimulates the metabolism: it promotes cellular respiration, so that the body, using more energy, burns more stored fat.
• helps to resist fatigue: Q10 is particularly useful for people who practice sports, as the increased energy level enables them to better withstand physical effort.

3. Foods containing coenzyme Q10

Coenzyme Q10 is contained in many plant foods, but it is also found in very high concentrations in oily fish and offal. Foods that contain a good amount of coenzyme Q10 are :

• wheat germ
• soya
• bran
• wholegrain cereals
• nuts
• peanuts
• spinach
• broccoli
• vegetable oils
• sardines
• mackerel
• salmon
• tuna
• liver meat
• chicken
• eggs

Pepper also interacts positively with Q10, as the piperine it contains increases the plasma absorption of the active ingredient.

4. Coenzyme Q10 deficiency

Although coenzyme Q10 is produced by the body and can be supplemented by food, a number of factors contribute to insufficient levels of ubiquinone. These include :

• Ageing: after the age of 35-40, when we need it most, our bodies produce lower amounts of vitamin Q
• Malnutrition: an unbalanced diet, high in fat, sugar and refined foods, can lead to Q10 deficiency.
• Medical conditions: in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's, cardiovascular disease, tumours and diabetes, the concentration of Q10 is significantly reduced.
• Interaction with drugs: In some cases, taking certain drugs can lead to a decrease in the Q10 content of our cells. For example, statins, used to treat LDL cholesterol, use the same metabolic pathways as coenzyme Q10. Therefore, a reduction in LDL levels automatically leads to a reduction in ubiquinone levels.

Vitamin Q deficiency should not be confused with the condition of Q10 deficiency, which is an inherited disease in which mutations occur in certain genes that synthesise the coenzyme.

There are three forms of this disease: one affects mainly the kidneys, the second the muscles and the third the cerebellum and causes convulsions and difficulties in movement. Fortunately, it is a rare disease that occurs in childhood.

5. Coenzyme Q10 supplements

In all of the above cases where there is a deficiency of Q10, it is advisable to use a supplement of this molecule. Q10 supplements are usually obtained from the natural fermentation of animal or plant substances.

Those available on the market are usually obtained by fermenting beet or cane sugar. However, they are completely free of residual impurities or contaminants.

6. Q10 supplements: dosage and how to take them

The recommended dose is between 30 and 100 mg per day, but this can vary greatly from case to case. In general, the recommended daily supplementation after the age of 35-40 years is 50 mg.

In good health, it is recommended not to exceed 200 mg per day, as stated by the General Directorate of Hygiene, Food Safety and Nutrition of the Ministry of Health. But in the case of Parkinson's disease, for example, the required dose of Q10 can increase to 1200 mg per day.

Coenzyme Q10 is a fat-soluble substance, so it is advisable to take it with meals, ideally with a good fat source.

7. Types of Q10 supplements

The recommended dose is between 30 and 100 mg per day, but can vary greatly from case to case. In general, the recommended daily supplementation after the age of 35-40 years is 50 mg.

Q10 supplements are usually in the form of capsules or pearls, alone or in combination with other elements such as minerals (selenium) or vitamins (vitamin E).

In this case, however, the effective uptake of Q10 depends on digestive processes.

To overcome this problem, a liquid form of coenzyme Q10 supplement can be used. This type has the advantage of transporting the coenzyme directly into the body, without being subjected to gastric processes that reduce its absorption.

8. Disorders treated with Q10 supplements

Coenzyme Q10 supplementation has proven to be very effective in the treatment of :

• muscular dystrophy
• angina pectoris
• cardiovascular diseases
• Parkinson's disease
• migraine

9. Side effects of Q10 supplements

As a molecule synthesised by the body, Q10 supplementation does not generally cause adverse effects. However, on rare occasions, side effects have occurred, such as :

• mild gastrointestinal disorders
• diarrhoea
• headaches
• skin rashes

10. Q10 supplementation, contraindications

In the presence of serious illnesses, Q10 supplementation can trigger allergic reactions if taken at the same time as certain medicines. In particular, its use is not recommended for people undergoing treatment with :

• anti-diabetics
• chemotherapy
• anticoagulants
• hypertensives
• betaxolol (used to treat angina, hypertension and glaucoma).

In this case, any use of Q10 supplementation should be agreed with your doctor beforehand.

Its administration could interfere with drugs, reducing their effectiveness or magnifying their effects, including side effects.

In the case of anti-diabetic drugs, for example, it is important to bear in mind that coenzyme Q10, having the ability to lower blood sugar, could enhance their hypoglycaemic effect.

In addition, Q10 supplementation is not recommended during pregnancy and breastfeeding, as there are no scientific studies demonstrating its effects in these particular circumstances.

11. History of coenzyme Q10

Coenzyme Q10 was first identified in 1957 by Fred Crane, a professor at the University of Wisconsin, in the mitochondria of beef heart.

In 1978, Professor Peter Mitchell was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for formulating the so-called chemosmotic theory, which explains how energy is transferred between cells.

In this theory, Professor Mitchell discovered the essential function of coenzyme Q10 in the electron chain that carries the energy needed for efficient cell function.