CoQ10 benefits women at all stages of life. A natural energy producer and powerful antioxidant, CoQ10 supplements could play an important role in maintaining health from pregnancy through menopause and beyond.
CoQ10 is a natural substance produced by the body and found in every cell. It’s primary function is the production of energy at the cellular level, but it also has very strong antioxidant properties. As such, it can prevent or repair damage done by free radicals (chemically imbalanced molecules which scavenge and damage nearby cells).
Prenatal Supplementation Reduces Risk of Complications
Studies all over the world have shown that women who took supplemental CoQ10 throughout their pregnancies had less occurrence of complications. In January 2009 the International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics reported on one of those studies, in which 197 women participated. Complications including high blood pressure were observed in more than 25% of the women who had been taking placebos, while only 14.4% of the women taking 200mg daily of CoQ10.
May Help Treat and Prevent Breast Cancer
The possible link between CoQ10 deficiency and cancer has been under investigation for more than two decades. An increasing body of research not only confirms the link, but suggests that supplemental CoQ10 could play a role in both treatment and prevention of many forms of cancer, including breast cancer.
Some of the most important new research on how supplements can effect breast cancer, done by a group of scientists headquartered in Denmark, showed remarkable results from supplementation with a group of 32 high-risk breast cancer patients. The study report says six of the participants experienced partial tumor regression and none of the participants died during the study, though the expected number of deaths among the group was four.
Menopause: Symptom Relief During, Heart Protection After
The body’s ability to produce coenzyme Q10 decreases with age, but during and after menopause women may actually need more of it than ever. Increasing blood levels of the coenzyme can boost the production of energy and may relieve many menopause-related problems, including hot flashes, depression and migraine headaches.
Heart disease is the number one cause of death in women, and it’s known that a woman’s risk of heart disease increases sharply after menopause. Many studies suggest that supplements of the coenzyme may significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in mature adults, and may even improve the functional capacity of the heart.
