CoQ10, will now be added to many foods and drinks?

July 28, 2008

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CoQ10 (coenzyme Q10, ubiquinone) is a compound in the body that is essential for life. It is found in mitochondria, which are the powerhouses of cells. Mitochondria convert the energy that is in the food we eat, into a form of energy that the body can use.

CoQ10 can function as an antioxidant and is included in some dietary supplements that are sold for their antioxidant properties.

Since our cells need CoQ10 our bodies make it. However, there are several studies that suggest that as we age that we make less CoQ10, and that we start to become deficient. CoQ10 supplementation has been investigated for efficacy in a number of diseases including cancer, Parkinson’s and high blood pressure (hypertension). There is some evidence that this compound might be helpful but the jury is still out.

The most common treatment for high cholesterol are statins (mevacor ( lovastation) Zocor (simavastatin), lipitor, pravachol, lescol, crestor). These drugs have a very slight risk of myopathy (muscle damage). Studies sugest that statins may lower the level of CoQ10 in the body and for some who may have lower levels of CoQ10 to start with, this may lead to myopathy. Some doctors now suggest taking CoQ10 supplementation.

CoQ10 is not soluble in water. If you open up a capsule of CoQ10 there is an orange oil. The CoQ10 is dissolved in the oil, and gives it an orange color.

The fact that CoQ10 is not water soluble has limited what it can added too. Now a chemist has found a way to make it disperse in water using nanotechnology, using detergent micelles that have a lipophilic (fat loving) center will take up CoQ10 into the center. These micelles are stable in water.

This is being touted as being a way to add CoQ10 or any other water insoluble compound to supplements. I do wonder though where the nanosphere will release the CoQ10 in the gut or whether it will pass on out.

More information can be found in a Science Daily release.

Addendum added later: I also wonder whether the CoQ10 in water and not taken with dietary fat will be efficiently absorbed. For instance more lycopene is absorbed from tomatoes when they are consumed with oil.

photo credit: fdecomite