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What is Coenzyme CoQ10? |
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Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a naturally-occurring vitamin-like substance. It belongs to a family of compounds known as ubiquinones, so named because of their ubiquitous (widespread) distribution in virtually all human and animal cells. It plays a vital role in Cellular Energy Production. That is why levels of CoQ10 are highest in the mitochondria, the energy generating factories
of our cells, with highest concentration in the heart, brain, liver and kidney.
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Who discovered CoQ10? |
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CoQ10 was discovered by Dr. Frederick L. Crane at the University of Wisconsin in
1957 during his research on the biochemistry of the mitochondrial electron transport chain, also known as the respiratory chain. It was designated COENZYME Q10 by Dr. Karl Folkers at the pharmaceutical company Merck because of its quinone structure and its role in the electron transport chain enzyme system. |
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| What is the Chemical
Structure of CoQ10? |
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Ubiquinone (2,3-Dimethoxy-5-methyl-6-decaprenyl-1, 4-benzoquinone) |
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Ubiquinol (2,3-Dimethoxy-5-methyl-6-decaprenyl-1, 4-benzohydroquinone) |
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| Figure:Structure of Coenzyme Q10. Ubiquinone (2,3-dimethoxy-5-methyl-6-decaprenyl-1, 4-benzoquinone) and ubiquinol (2,3-dimethoxy-5-methyl-6-decaprenyl-1, 4-benzohydroquinone) |
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| Why do we need CoQ10 ? |
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| Simply said it is "The Equation of Life"… CoQ10 = Energy = Life. |
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It is true that the body cannot survive without Coenzyme Q10. If CoQ10 levels in your body start dropping, so does your health. Scientific evidence
shows that if the bodily levels of CoQ10 decline by more than 25%, many disease states start to flourish, ranging from high blood pressure and heart attacks to weekness in the immune system and cancer. And if levels fall below 75%, life can no longer be sustained. |
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| What does CoQ10 do in the body? |
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Generation of Biological Energy |
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CoQ10 works at the cellular level to produce metabolic energy in the form of ATP, (adenosine triphosphate). This process, known as oxidative phosphorylation, takes place in the electron transfer chain, or the mitochondrial respiratory chain.The energy produced is used to drive all cellular activities. |
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Free Radical Scavenger & Master Antioxidant |
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Free radicals cause irreparable cell damage that has been linked to a range of diseases such as Cancer, Arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease and Diabetes. Antioxidants are antidotes to free radicals, inhibiting the damage caused by free radicals. CoQ10 which is well located within lipid membranes offers a powerful first line of antioxidant defense. |
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Regenerates Vitamins C & E |
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CoQ10 undergoes reversible oxidation and reduction with ease, and thus keeps other antioxidants in their active, reduced state. CoQ10 converts alphatocopheroxyl radicals produced by lipid peroxidation back to alpha-tocopherol. There is also evidence that CoQ10 helps regenerates ascorbate (Vitamin C) from its oxidized radical state. |
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| Where does CoQ10 occur in nature? |
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CoQ10 compounds are widely distributed in nature, from micro-organisms to plants, and animals including humans. Animal products such as beef, pork and chicken are relatively good sources of CoQ10. Organ meats such as heart and muscle are the best sources. As a general rule, tissues with high energy demands contain relatively high amounts of CoQ10. Among foods of plant origin, broccoli and spinach contain significant amounts of CoQ10. Unrefined vegetable oils such as soybean oil and palm oil are also good sources of CoQ10. |
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| How is CoQ10 synthesized in our body? |
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CoQ10 is present in almost all the cells in our body, and practically every cell has the ability to synthesize CoQ10. The endogenous synthesis of CoQ10 is a complex process requiring numerous vitamins such as vitamin B6, vitamin B12, folic acid, niacinamide, pantothenic acid and vitamin C, and also certain trace elements.
Thus the production of CoQ10 is dependent on an adequate supply of numerous precursors and cofactors, and a deficiency of one or more of these essential components can adversely affect the production of adequate amounts of CoQ10
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| How is CoQ10 produced commercially? |
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Commercial production of CoQ10 is largely by way of yeast fermentation, and to a smaller extent by bacterial fermentation. There is also a semi-synthetic process for producing CoQ10 using solanesol, a tobacco byproduct. Most of the world's supply of CoQ10 comes from Japan and China with smaller quantities coming from India, South Korea and Italy. In the US, natural CoQ10 is now being produced in a large plant in Pasadena, Texas. |
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