Studies are showing that among CoQ10’s most valuable benefits is its ability to help regulate high blood pressure, one of the most common and most deadly disorders among adults.
More than one in four adults has hypertension, and every year it is a contributing cause of hundreds of thousands of deaths. Uncontrolled, it can lead to heart attacks, stroke, kidney failure, and heart failure.
One of the most frightening aspects of the condition is the fact that its basically symptomless and often goes undiagnosed; it is estimated that a third of the people who have high blood pressure don’t know it.
Though hypertension can affect anyone at any time, risk factors increase with age. The risk for the condition rises sharply in post-menopausal women, and it is the cause of 3 out of 5 cases of heart failure in women.
Treatments for hypertension include lifestyle changes such losing weight, stopping smoking, decreasing the amount of salt in the diet, exercising regularly, and limiting alcohol intake.
Several types of drugs, including diuretics, alpha, alpha-beta, and calcium channel blockers, and certain enzyme inhibitors are commonly prescribed as a treatment in conjunction with lifestyle changes.
New research indicates that CoQ10 may be a safe and effective alternative or adjunct therapy for hypertension.
A natural vitamin-like substance that is found in every cell, coenzyme Q10 is both a powerful antioxidant and an important factor in the production of energy at the cellular level. In both respects, it can play a significant role in managing blood pressure.
Concentrations of CoQ10 are naturally highest in the organs that need it most, including the heart and kidneys.
Maintaining adequate blood levels of the coenzyme promotes heart health by providing more energy to the heart works more efficiently. It can also lower blood pressure by improving membrane fluidity, which in turn decreases blood viscosity.
Research indicates that supplementing the coenzyme may enhance the effectiveness of blood pressure medications such as diltiazem, metoprolol, enalapril, and nitroglycerin.
In numerous clinical studies, participants taking supplements were able to take lower dosages of the drugs. It has also been shown that some medications tend to lower CoQ10 blood levels, so supplementation is warranted.
