Coenzyme Q10 is used by heart muscle cells in manufacture of energy, for the hearts work of pumping blood around the body. Co Q10 is naturally produced by our own cells, and is present in the meat we consume, but tissue levels fall as we age. Statin drugs taken for lowering cholesterol may also deplete it. A recent 2 year study examined weather long term supplementation with Co Q10 could improve the symptoms of heart failure - reduced ability of the heart to pump blood around the body. (Mortensen SA, Rosenfeldt F, Kumar A, et al. “The effect of coenzyme Q10 on morbidity and mortality in chronic heart failure: results from Q-SYMBIO: a randomized double-blind trial” JACC Heart Fail.2014;2(6):641-9)
The scientists enrolled 420 people in the study and gave them 100mg of CoQ10, or placebo three times daily for 2 years, in addition to their normal drug therapy. After 2 years those taking supplemental CoQ10 experienced a 50% reduction in incidence of heart attack stroke or death. Co Q10 must be used with your doctors supervision for those taking blood thinners because it has a mild blood thinning effect.
Symptoms of heart Failure include:
Factors that increase Heart Failure Risk
The scientists enrolled 420 people in the study and gave them 100mg of CoQ10, or placebo three times daily for 2 years, in addition to their normal drug therapy. After 2 years those taking supplemental CoQ10 experienced a 50% reduction in incidence of heart attack stroke or death. Co Q10 must be used with your doctors supervision for those taking blood thinners because it has a mild blood thinning effect.
Symptoms of heart Failure include:
- Difficulty breathing when lying down
- Breathlessness when doing normal daily activities
- Swelling of ankles, feet & abdomen
- Feeling very tired & weak
Factors that increase Heart Failure Risk
- High Blood Pressure can result in heart wall thickening and eventual inefficiency
- Narrowing of arteries resulting from plaque build-up
- Diabetes can damage the heart muscle
- Smoking
- Obesity & sedentary lifestyle