Anyone who knows me, know’s I’m a firm believer in taking supplements. I am after all a pharmacist. My friends kid that my handbag is full of pills. This is true but they hardly complain when my pills have stopped them from bloating up like a puffer fish or stopped them running to the loo.
Today I want to talk about my trusty companion, CoQ10/Coenzyme Q10. Apart from traveling, blogging and talking about medication, I also like to talk about running. You see, running is my life. I love long distance running because 1. I happen to be good at it, and 2. It helps me clear my head, 3. I can damn near eat anything I want, whilst keeping me in tip top shape.
Well then, CoQ10 is just a God sent for long distance running.
Personal experience: Taking 2 tabs stat (at lunch time) helps me run faster and for longer, come evening time and we set out for our 15km run. Of course the right dosage is 1 tablet (ubidecarenone 10 mg) 3 times daily after meals, but I’m really bad with pills. So, as long as you don’t cross the threshold, I’m sure you’ll live. I have taken 3 stat before, but in the long run, it made my body feel hot/dehydrated (heaty) and gave me slight insomnia. I might try taking 3 stat in the morning instead then, instead of at lunchtime, to see if that helps with the sleep.
CoQ10 is amazing. For me, it really works. The most obvious effect is when sprinting uphill. It takes less effort on my heart, which seems to beat steadily, and I feel less winded. Basically, I can run harder for longer, before I get tired. If you think about the mechanics behind it, it totally makes sense. CoQ10 plays a key role in producing energy in heart mitochondria, the part of a cell responsible for the production of energy in the form of ATP. ATP is a molecule in body cells that functions like a rechargeable battery in the transfer of energy. The more you have, the more energetic you feel. Coenzyme Q-10 been tried for treating inherited or acquired disorders that limit energy production in the cells of the body (mitochondrial disorders) and for me, it works for running!
About CoQ10:
Coenzyme Q-10 (CoQ-10) is a vitamin-like substance found throughout the body, concentrated in the heart, liver, kidney, and pancreas. It is available freely in small amounts in meats and seafood. The “Q-10” refers to the chemical make-up of the substance and it was first identified in 1957. Coenzyme Q-10 is most popularly used in Japan for heart disease, especially congestive heart failure but it is also used extensively in Europe and Russia. Most of the coenzyme Q-10 used in the US and Canada and even in Asia, is supplied by Japanese companies. Coenzyme Q-10 is manufactured by fermenting beets and sugar cane with special strains of yeast.
Other uses for coenzyme Q-10:
Used to treat heart and blood vessel conditions such as congestive heart failure (CHF), chest pain (angina), high blood pressure, and heart problems linked to certain cancer drugs. It is also used for diabetes, gum disease (both taken by mouth and applied directly to the gums), breast cancer, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, muscular dystrophy, increasing exercise tolerance, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), and Lyme disease. Some people have also used coenzyme Q-10 for strengthening the immune systems of people with HIV/AIDS, male infertility, migraine headache, and counteracting muscle pain sometimes caused by a group of cholesterol-lowering medications called “statins.”
You’re a pharmacist! Wow. That i din’t know. Hehe.. Used to take up pharmacy in Uni. You do look good. In fact very very fit & good! 🙂 Anyway, thanks for a very informative post on CoQ10. This would help me a lot with what I’m currently into.
LOL thanks woman! so kind:) Yeah coQ10 is great for running! I use it when training for my marathons:)
Hi, I am having trouble feeling at my best for training (crossfit) at 6am. Do you think coq10 would help? When would I take it for best effect? I don’t run much, most of my training is short high intensity bursts
Yes it would help Kelly, but you need to take it a couple of hours before your workout – Ideally take early morn at breakfast.
Hi Citi, bit of a long-shot, have been through the mill spine op-wise (multiple), still suffer with lots of pain; but what really gets me is a constant weekly cycle of ‘complete fatigue’ for 2 days a week with a 3rd day required just to pull back out of these severe energyless crashes Sure, attempting to reduce meds to possibly help reduce severity/ frequency, any harm/mileage in trying q10 whilst trying to restore energy levels when these lows are hitting? Thanks!
Yeah, coQ10 is approved for heart failure (Eisai’s Neuquinone) so it should help with the heart workload really. Let us know how it goes.