Ubiquinone Coenzyme Q10: Hi All, My... - British Heart Fou...

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Ubiquinone Coenzyme Q10

dazzer1 profile image
18 Replies

Hi All,

My situation-Heart Attack 2001, 2 Stents 2018.

I have rave reviews about taking Q10 tablets alongside your other heart medication, particularly Stations. My energy levels have taken a definite dip over the last few months.

I believe Coenzyme Q10 Ubiquinone is the best to take but at what strength?. Can anyone recommend where to get these from as they can prove rather expensive.

Many Thanks.

Fax.

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18 Replies
MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star

I was recommended CoQ10 (not by a medical professional) when I got muscle pains from Simvastatin. It made absolutely no difference. The aches disappeared when I changed to Atorvastatin. In my opinion it is a waste of money.

dazzer1 profile image
dazzer1 in reply to MichaelJH

Ok thanks for your advice. Interesting!

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star in reply to dazzer1

Another time it was suggested that Garlic reduces BP naturally. Raw garlic had no effect apart from the odour and the No-odour tablets put it up slightly. The only supplement I take is Vitamin C which helps protect blood vessels (as lime juice prevented scurvy centuries ago). Before taking any supplements you should run it past your GP/cardiologist.

rizal profile image
rizal

The food supplements industry is one of the biggest cons that there is, in my opinion. If you have had a shortage of some vitamin or mineral demonstrated by specific blood tests then your doctor will be able to prescribe the appropriate supplement or better still explain changes in diet to provide it. Sometimes that is not enough, it seems, from personal experience and anecdotally (so not a solid proven fact as far as I know) that certain heart conditions do lead to a problem with uptake of iron. This can be tested for quickly and easily and an infusion might be needed.

Here in UK during winter time, it is possible to suffer a shortage of Vit. D because there is not so much sunshine and in certain cases NHS recommends maybe taking upto 400 units a day. Look on the web sites and you'll see pills 10 times that strength. Why? To cash in on people's natural fears and worries about their health. In the winter of 20/21 the government sent all of us oldies a supply of 400 unit Vit D tabs because the problems of shortage of sunlight we exacerbated by lockdowns keeping us indoors.

We are all taking loads of meds already, before taking any more you really should talk it through with your doctor. Your doctor will be aware of the truth about these spplements, for example the national institute of health in USA has published this about CoQ:-

"CoQ10 has not been shown to be of value in treating cancer, but it may reduce the risk of heart damage caused by one type of cancer chemotherapy drug.

Only a few studies have looked at whether CoQ10 might help prevent heart disease, and their results are inconclusive. Research on the effects of CoQ10 in heart failure is also inconclusive. However, there is evidence that CoQ10 may reduce the risk of some complications of heart surgery.

Although results of individual studies have varied, the overall scientific evidence does not support the idea that CoQ10 can reduce muscle pain caused by the cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins.

The small amount of evidence currently available suggests that CoQ10 probably doesn’t have a meaningful effect on blood pressure.

A major National Institutes of Health-funded study showed that CoQ10, even in higher-than-usual doses, didn’t improve symptoms in patients with early Parkinson’s disease. A 2017 evaluation of this study and several other, smaller studies concluded that CoQ10 is not helpful for Parkinson’s symptoms.

CoQ10 has also been studied for a variety of other conditions, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease), Down syndrome, Huntington’s disease, and male infertility, but the research is too limited for any conclusions to be drawn."

rizal profile image
rizal in reply to rizal

Apologies for the long rant. I do get angry about some of the claims made by these manufacturers when they have no evidence to back them up

dazzer1 profile image
dazzer1 in reply to rizal

Hi Rizal. Thanks for your reply. I have already discussed this with my G.P. who thinks it's worth a go as my energy levels are so low. In saying this it is always nice to have a balanced perspective so I thank you for your comments.

Mountwood profile image
Mountwood in reply to rizal

Did you get Vit D from the government? I didn't, and I don't know any other oldie who did. However, I've taken it for years since my GP once prescribed it for me when I was worried about memory loss: apparently, we can be deficient as we age. He only gave me a month's supply, but I have bought it myself ever since and believe it paid dividends during the pandemic as I had covid, but was not seriously ill. As for the memory, that's as bad as ever!

bee2 profile image
bee2

I take CoQ10 30mg twice a day and Garlic for BP and heart health it seems to have worked for me in reducing BP. Pharma meds are limited for me so I work with my GP to find alternatives

dazzer1 profile image
dazzer1 in reply to bee2

Thank you bee2. I will give it a go and see how I go. I just get so tired now so definitely worth a go.

dunestar profile image
dunestar

All I can do is speak from my own personal experience which is that CoQ10 has helped me with energy levels. Before taking it I used to get very tired in the afternoons and it was hard not to give in to taking a nap. Now I'm fine. I take atorvastatin 20mg, isosorbide mononitrate 30mg, ramipril 2.5 mg and an anti-coagulant. I get the bog standard CoQ10 from Boots which is a dose of 50mg.

ChoochSiesta profile image
ChoochSiesta in reply to dunestar

Placebo.

dunestar profile image
dunestar in reply to ChoochSiesta

I'm not at all sure what evidence you have for your assertion.

dazzer1 profile image
dazzer1 in reply to dunestar

Thank you. Your comments are much appreciated. I will certainly give it a go. No harm in trying!. Thanks again.

tunybgur profile image
tunybgur

Hi Dazzer,The research I did after I was put on statins confirmed that statins also reduce the levels of CoQ10 but the evidence about the effectiveness of supplements is mixed.

Apparently as you get older the body is less able to convert CoQ10 to the more usable Ubiquinol therefore it's best to take Ubiquinol rather than CoQ10.

I take 100mg of Natures Best Ubiquinol every day and I have never had any muscle or energy problems, but as always it's difficult to prove a negative.....

I think it's important to source your supplements from reliable companies as there are quite a few fake or poor quality supplements out there, it costs me about 50p/day.

Your choice, good luck.

dazzer1 profile image
dazzer1 in reply to tunybgur

Thank You tuybgur. Thank you for sharing your experiences. I think I will give it a try and see how I go. Thanks Again.

MountainGoat52 profile image
MountainGoat52

CoQ10 was discussed at some length at the rehab sessions I attended. Of those that were taking / had taken it, there were some that said they felt a benefit while others didn't. I decided to bear it in mind as I was doing well after the muscle pain that I had suffered due to statins had been resolved.... by stopping them. Eventually curiosity won and I did try a 50mg dose to see whether it made any difference, but i could not detect any. I guess it's a case of try it and see.

dazzer1 profile image
dazzer1 in reply to MountainGoat52

Thank you GWP1952. Your experiences are very much appreciated. I think I will give it a go and see if I benefit. Thanks Again.

MountainGoat52 profile image
MountainGoat52 in reply to dazzer1

I wonder whether I didn't take enough. I have since read that 100mg is the standard dose. Anyway, the change in statin had solved the muscle aches for me, so I was more interested in performance in relation to exercise. As I said, no improvement detected.

I hope it works for you. 😀

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