Q10, the biological charger for over 65s
A Spanish study shows how the deficiency of the coenzyme Q10, a biological battery charger, reduce mobility and this decreases the ability to generate the vital molecule. The problem affects women more. The Q10 is a key piece of the biological puzzle, particularly for the brain, heart and muscles. Organs that need more energy and are more vulnerable. If cellular mitochondria are the body’s batteries, this naturally occurring lipid is a kind of regeneratorresponsible for electron transport and a key antioxidant for the functioning of the body.
Q10, regenerator and antioxidant
Its deficiency, linked to aging, generates energy insufficiency linked to mitochondrial disorders, heart disease, stroke and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. The Andalusian Center for Developmental Biology (CABD) study in Antioxidants revealed that it is also the cause and consequence of frailty in people over the age of 65, as well as a factor related to cardiovascular risk. The study, for the first time, associates low levels of this coenzyme with sarcopenia (the loss of muscle mass, strength and function). cause of frailty in older people, with a higher incidence in women. The study shows that the Senior people who have more symptoms or markers of frailty have less coenzyme Q10 in their blood plasma.
Q10, a deficiency is a contributing cause of diabetes, neurogenerative diseases and aging
The primary deficiency of this molecule occurs in people who cannot synthesize it, mainly due to genetic causes. But the secondary one seems to be the cause or consequence of chronic conditions, such as diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, or aging. The lower presence of this fundamental lipid thus generates a spiral of decline that must be reversed: “With less physical activity, Q10 levels drop and the lower these levels, the less exercise capacity. It is a vicious circle and, moreover, dramatic because you lose functionality and also the ability to recover it ”, reads the study.
Q10, increase physical activity and improve nutrition
There are several complementary strategies to break this trend. The first is to increase physical activity in a regular and progressive way. The second is correct this deficit through food. It is a valuable help comes from ours Mediterranean diet and, in particular, the consumption of nuts and a variety of vegetables with vegetable oils. In this way the direction of the spiral can be reversed: correcting the deficiency allows for more exercise and this helps to increase the levels of coenzyme in the blood. They also exist on the market specific supplements, but which must always be taken under medical supervision and it is not necessary to take them every day or in large quantities, especially as they can also be counterproductive when combined with other drugs.
Q10, the presence improves the health of blood cases
With these precautions, the benefits of a greater presence of coenzyme Q10 are evident. The increase in plasma levels improves blood vessel health, prevents damage from vascular ruptures which could be associated with the formation of blood clots and also increases physical capacity by improving the arrival of nutrients to the muscle. The association of physical activity in seniors with high levels of CoQ10 not only improves endothelial capacity (the lining of blood vessels), but also reduces the release of vesicles and the factors involved in inflammation and aging. In the research other findings indicate that CoQ10 levels are directly high linked to lower cardiovascular risk due to its relationship with cholesterol, particles to which the coenzyme is associated to reduce the risk of heart attack.
Q10, women suffer from a higher deficit than men
A University of Colorado Boulder study, published by the American Heart Association, tested a 20-milligram daily supplement with Q10 in people over the age of 60. The result showed benefits in the endothelium and in increasing blood flow. According to a review published in the Journal of Internal Medicine, deficiencies in elements such as iron, selenium, zinc, copper and coenzyme Q10 can affect the function of the energy-producing mitochondria of heart cells to contribute to failure. Another indication of the study is that women have higher CoQ10 deficiencies than men. This is thought to be related to the evolution of muscles after menopauseeven if it is a field still to be explored.