You’ve probably heard of CoQ10 before; It is a common ingredient found in many anti-aging skin care products. Also known by its official name, coenzyme Q10, it is one of the most powerful antioxidants currently available. But what exactly is this ingredient that promises to slow down the hands of the clock? And how can it benefit us?
To learn more about CoQ10, we asked an expert: pharmacist Shabir Daya, creator and formulator behind supplement brand DoSe and co-founder of wellness and beauty retailer Victoria Health.
What is CoQ10?
CoenzymeQ10 (CoQ10) is an antioxidant compound found naturally in every cell in our body. “It is one of the compounds responsible for producing the energy necessary for the growth and maintenance of the organism,” says Daya.
What is CoQ10 used for?
CoQ10 helps our cells respond. “It is used in our body, along with magnesium, for the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a molecule that provides our cells with the energy they need for chemical reactions, repair, growth and other processes,” explains Daya. It is also a powerful antioxidant since it protects cells from free radicals generated by these processes, which can damage our genes.
What are the benefits of CoQ10?
The highest concentrations of natural CoQ10 are found in the heart, liver, kidneys, and pancreas; These glands have high metabolic and energy requirements and therefore require higher amounts of CoQ10. CoenzymeQ10 also promotes proper muscle function, perhaps due to its mild anticoagulant properties that help improve circulation and oxygenation of all tissues in the body. Finally, CoQ10 is necessary for the body’s largest organ, the skin. As Daya points out, “it helps maintain healthy cell growth in the skin, can “It protects you from free radicals and also helps protect you from photoaging caused by UV rays.”
What does CoQ10 do?
- Protects cells throughout the body due to oxidative stress
- Protect skin from photoaging and premature aging, stimulates collagen production and prevents wrinkles
- could aid relieve migraines
- could prevent Heart disease by increasing the production of energy necessary for cardiac activities.
- can protect against neurodegenerative diseases, due to its protective action against free radicals on the nervous system and brain
- Maybe useful for athletes as it helps combat fatigue and reduces muscle aches and pains
- May relieve gum disease
- Can aid fertility
- can help prevent certain types of cancer
Things you should know about CoQ10 before taking it
- At high doses (more than 100 mg per day), it can cause nausea and diarrhea.
- Not recommended during pregnancy and lactation.
- It may interfere with some medications.
Should I take a Coenzyme Q10 supplement?
Our bodies naturally produce CoQ10, but our ability to produce this nutrient, as with many other compounds, decreases with age. And, although CoQ10 is available naturally in small amounts in foods such as meat and fish, the amount in our body decreases dramatically with age, to the point that by the time you reach age 40, your body is, on average, half the levels it was when you were young.
Taking a CoQ10 supplement could be helpful as we age, especially if we are prone to certain health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, certain cancers, and neurodegenerative diseases. “While it has no direct effect on cholesterol, I recommend ubiquinol supplementation for those taking statins, which lower CoQ10 levels and often cause muscle pain,” explains Daya. “I also recommend it to people over 40, people with low energy levels and anyone who wants to maintain healthy skin and protect it from premature aging, as CoQ10 protects against oxidative damage.”
