Does CoQ10 Boost the Immune System?
It seems that the immune system is getting a lot of attention recently, especially in terms of what kind of supplements can support it. Probably, we would guess, on account of the whole global pandemic that is going on. Luckily, we think we have a great supplement that can help with your body’s overall wellness but can also help support your immune system and its ability to use energy properly!Â
Think of history and the terrible wars that unfortunately permeated its timeline. What is always needed by one force to fight another? Energy! This is why CoQ10, one of the primary sources of fuel for your body’s energy complex, is crucial to ensuring healthy immune system function.Â
Mitochondria help with pretty much every facet of the immune response. White blood cells, which are the business-end of the immune system, need to have a very reliable network of mitochondrial energy in order to effectively carry out their essential protective mission. If mitochondrial health and efficiency begin to decline, there can be serious adverse effects on all parts of the body, including the ever-vital immune system. The mitochondria actually can produce free radicals as a byproduct, and if they aren’t producing enough CoQ10, there may be unpleasant results to say the least.Â
Eating healthy and participating in regular robust exercise can help you, but if you’re getting into the golden years, it may seriously benefit you to ask your physician if it’s time to start thinking about a CoQ10 supplement to help give your immune system the support it deserves to stay as healthy as possible.
What Exactly is Coenzyme Q10?
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a substance naturally produced in our body. It plays an essential role in the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is a vital and potent fuel used by all cellular processes within the body. CoQ10 is present in many food sources that we typically consume anyway, as long as we aren’t vegans! Some dietary sources of CoQ10 include cauliflower, organ meats (e.g., liver), beef, pork, salmon, tuna, nuts, olive oil, sardines, and other fatty acid-rich fish. CoQ10 is known to be a powerful antioxidant and is central to the health of the cellular power stations, the mitochondria. CoQ10 is usually present in sufficient levels in most people; however, some people may have certain conditions that decrease the amounts of CoQ10 in the body, along with naturally having CoQ10 levels decrease with the passing of time, which may lead to a deficiency that can be successfully addressed with supplementation.Â
CoQ10 is not a vitamin, though some may be confused that it is since both CoQ10 and vitamins are regulated as supplements and thus subject to the same rules. Vitamins are essential components needed by your body that come from external sources, while CoQ10 is something we can naturally produce on our own.Â
For most males and females below the age of 55, their body’s natural stores should be enough to sustain the critical processes CoQ10 supports. However, it may still be a good idea to take the supplement, according to some, because they theorize that your body’s declining levels of CoQ10 result in body-wide side effects like increased oxidative stress and functional damage to tissues. With this type of damage resulting from CoQ10 deficiency, it’s no wonder that some are eager to begin supplementation even though they’re not quite up there in years just yet.
How Does CoQ10 Work?
CoQ10 is commonly referred to as ubiquinol even though it’s actually ubiquinone, though the mistake to use the terms interchangeably isn’t completely technically wrong. In simple terms, CoQ10, i.e., ubiquinone can actually be transformed into ubiquinol, which is effectively a much better performing antioxidant because it has more capacity to tackle more free radicals.Â
While CoQ10 (ubiquinone) has strong antioxidant properties, ubiquinol's are even better. So, if you take, make, or consume CoQ10, your body’s levels of both ubiquinol and CoQ10 will be increased since CoQ10 can be transformed into ubiquinol.
Supplementing CoQ10 with CoQ10-SR®
CoQ10 is what is called a “crystalline” substance. Crystalline substances cannot be easily absorbed, so you have to pick a formula with the right form of CoQ10 if you want to get better absorption through cell membranes. This is something that you should watch very carefully. Many supplements may be advertised to you with their vendors knowing full-well that the CoQ10 you just bought from them can’t effectively get absorbed into your system. Despite this, they lead you to believe it does. Â
Quality of Life has developed a formula that specifically addresses this issue so your body can actually absorb CoQ10 and experience the myriad of health benefits it has to offer in keeping multiple body systems functioning properly.Â
Since CoQ10 is poorly absorbed, more absorbable versions of the compound have been developed to deliver a more easily absorbed by our body. A number of new methods have been developed to increase bioavailability for those wishing to correct a CoQ10 deficiency. Â
CoQ10-SR® is different than your average supplement of CoQ10 because it delivers sustained release of the critical substance over a 24-hour period, and also contains MicroActive® CoQ10, the only form of the substance that has been shown in human clinical studies to have universally enhanced absorption across every single subject that was tested. Quality of Life only provides supplements that have been thoroughly researched in at least one human clinical study, not just animal studies.Â
The following was found about CoQ10-SR® :
- It doubles CoQ10 levels from baseline in only 3 weeks*
- It delivers sustained release over 24 hours*
- It is 3x better absorbed than regular CoQ10*
- It is 2x better absorbed than enhanced bioavailability CoQ10 softgels*
Who Can Benefit From CoQ10?
CoQ10 can be a little more difficult to test for compared to other compounds in the blood, although it is possible to do so. The substance is actually found less concentrated in the blood compared to most vitamins or supplements because it actually primarily resides in the tissues, which is why blood testing can be difficult and not always the optimal way to determine whether or not a CoQ10 deficiency exists. CoQ10 levels in the blood aren’t even that important because of its functionality, either. The substance is primarily needed in your muscles and vital organ tissue including the brain, heart, and lungs, amongst others.Â
CoQ10 is generally made less and less over time by the human body as it ages. Heart disease and other health conditions are correlated with a deficiency in the compound due to its body-wide role in cell function. Sometimes, it can also be hard for the body to naturally absorb CoQ10 in the first place due to its crystalline form, with absorption just getting worse with time due to lesser levels.Â
The fact that CoQ10 plays a significant role in energy production that affects virtually every cell in the human body also helps to explain why it’s so important to be aware if a CoQ10 deficiency develops.Â
Coenzyme Q10 supplementation may help with the following:
- CoQ10 deficiency in individuals taking statins*
- CoQ10 shares a similar synthesis process with cholesterol. This means people taking statin drugs for cardiovascular diseases like heart failure or high cholesterol may have their CoQ10 absorption pathway partially blocked, even if it’s for generally positive medical effects. CoQ10 becomes collateral damage in this process, and thus people may need to supplement their intake if they are dependent on these drugs and end up with CoQ10 deficiency
- Supporting musculoskeletal health and function*
- Supporting central nervous system health and function*
- Supporting immune cell health and immune function*
- Supporting regular metabolic processes*
- Supporting functional heart health*
It should be stressed that CoQ10 is not considered a drug, and should not be taken as a cure or direct remedy for any medical conditions. Dietary supplements are meant to promote a higher general level of health and wellness and address deficiencies. Nutritional supplements are not prescription drugs and should not be treated as such.Â
Sources:
