Coenzyme Q10 is a molecule naturally present in mitochondria and in the nucleus of cells and is especially abundant in the tissue of vital organs such as the heart, liver, kidneys and pancreas, as well as in blood plasma associated with lipoproteins that transport cholesterol.

In the human body, it is synthesized in the liver and can also be obtained through food, although the dietary intake is very low, because it is found in small quantities in the foods that are part of our usual diet and the foods with the highest content, such as the heart and liver of pigs and cattle, are low-consumption foods.

This coenzyme has two essential functions: energy production and the antioxidant effect. On the one hand, it is essential for energy production processes since, in cells, it is involved in the transport of electrons and in aerobic cellular respiration, participating in the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is a fundamental nucleotide in obtaining cellular energy. It also acts as an antioxidant in the body, due to its chemical structure and its ability to accept or give up electrons. In other words, the main functions of coenzyme Q10 are to convert energy from carbohydrates and lipids into usable energy, and to protect cells, tissues and organs from the oxidative and damaging action of free radicals that are involved in aging processes and in the development of health problems such as heart disease and

cancer.

In the human body, it comes in three forms depending on its oxide/reduction state. The oxidized form is called ubiquinone (Q), the reduced form ubiquinol (QH2) and there is an intermediate oxide-reduction state in which the molecule is called ubisemiquinone

(Q).

The reduced form (ubiquinol) plays an antioxidant role in different tissues, protecting cell membranes from lipid oxidation.

Several factors can cause a drop in coenzyme Q10 levels that will influence energy production processes and multiple functions of the body. The content of coenzyme Q10 decreases in the human body in the natural aging process. With age, its production and the ability to convert the Q10 coenzyme to the form of ubiquinol decreases, which is how the form that the body uses to perform its antioxidant function has been mentioned. It is estimated that after the age of 20 it decreases to a reduction of 65% at the age of 80. But in addition, there are also other causes for which the amount of coenzyme Q10 in the body may decrease, either because they increase consumption or because they cause its production to decrease. Among these causes, the main ones are: stress, certain chronic diseases, some medications such as statins to lower cholesterol or beta-blockers widely used in different disorders affecting heart function (such as hypertension, arrhythmia, etc.). In addition, exercise or physical overexertion consume energy and therefore increase the requirement

for CoQ10.

Due to the two main actions mentioned (energy and antioxidant) and based on multiple studies, coenzyme Q 10 supplementation is proposed as a measure for the maintenance of different physiological functions, related to cardiovascular health, low energy states (asthenia, tiredness, fatigue), for recovery from intense physical exercise or sports training and to prevent and recover damage caused by solar radiation and different environmental factors to the skin.

Cardiovascular health. Research suggests that the beneficial effect of coenzyme Q10 in preventing cardiovascular diseases is mainly due to its ability to inhibit the oxidation of LDL cholesterol (“bad cholesterol”) molecules, which is one of the causes of atheromatous plaque formation in blood vessels, a leading cause of serious cardiovascular problems. It has been found that levels of coenzyme Q10 tend to be lower in people with high cholesterol, compared to healthy people of the same age

.

On the other hand, as mentioned above, it has been observed that statins and some beta-blocker drugs can lower natural levels of coenzyme Q10 in the body and that supplementation with coenzyme Q10 could be beneficial for patients who take these medications both at the cardiovascular level and to help them conserve energy without affecting the effectiveness of the drugs. There is also evidence that the CoQ-10 supplement, together with conventional medical treatment, may provide certain benefits on high blood pressure, which has been proven

in several clinical studies.

It helps recovery in sports training and a source of energy against fatigue. The practice of exercise causes an overload of work on the heart and muscles, which are the organs that consume the most energy, and this also causes the release of free radicals that are produced in the process of obtaining the energy necessary to carry out these tasks. This increase in free radicals causes oxidation reactions that can end up damaging cells and causing muscle overload and fatigue, with reduced physical performance

.

Fatigue is the manifestation of energy depletion. Different investigations have proven that oral administration of ubiquinol, the reduced form of coenzyme Q10, improves physical performance and the subjective feeling of fatigue during exercise, increasing tolerance to effort and sports performance, especially in sports such as cycling, running or athletics, which involve a great

expenditure of energy.

Skin support (anti-aging effect). Aging and photoaging processes are associated with increased cellular oxidation. In part, it may be due to a decrease in coenzyme Q10 levels. Dietary supplementation of this coenzyme has been considered an effective way to maintain the level, which decreases both with age and under certain pathological conditions. CoQ10 plays an important role in the skin due to its bioenergetic and antioxidant properties and this effect could be related to the CoQ10 content of the skin itself, especially in the

epidermis.

Some studies have shown that prolonged intake of CoQ10 for at least two weeks can reduce wrinkles and provide other benefits related to the powerful antioxidant and energizing effect on the skin and improving the protection that the epidermis offers against the action of ultraviolet rays.

Safety. Coenzyme Q10 supplementation, especially in the form of ubiquinol, is considered safe and very well tolerated, although analytical and medical monitoring is recommended in people undergoing treatment and its use in pregnancy and breastfeeding is not recommended due to lack of data. The European Food Safety Agency (AESAN) considers the consumption of up to 200 mg daily to be acceptable from a safety point of view when used as a supplement

.