Study Shines a New Light on Effects of Coenzyme Q10

If you've spent enough time in the fitness world, you're well aware that everything is not always as it seems. Exercise routines, diets and guarantees that work for one person may not work for another. It's important to remember that every body is different, and the reaction to various stimuli will therefore not always be identical. For this reason, it's important not to be sucked in by clever marketing campaigns and glitzy advertisements that promise results based upon the success of a few, or even just one, individual. There's a reason that most ads are marked with the disclaimer, "results not typical" - because more often than not, the statistics and selling points that are being used are the result of one exceptional person doing a combination of all the right things.s

And while this is true of recommendations pertaining to nutrition plans and exercise selections or programs, the "one size doesn't fit all" scenario emerges quite often when it comes to supplements as well. While a friend or family member may experience dramatic effects while using a certain supplement, you shouldn't expect to directly emulate that success. Of course, one should be aware of the differences in effects even for those supplements that don't promise amazing transformations or significant improvements in strength, muscle mass or body composition. Even supplements making more modest claims can fail to deliver the expected health benefits. And worse, some of these supplements can actually be detrimental to your health. Luckily, scientists continue to investigate the effects of these products to warn consumers of potential risks.

One possible threat from a seemingly safe supplement came to light in the latest edition of the Journal of Nutrition. The supplement in question is one that has risen in popularity recently and is now nearly ubiquitous, available in supplement stores, online and even in grocery stores and pharmacies. The culprit? Coenzyme Q10. The enzyme has been promoted for benefits such as slowing the aging process, preventing against oxidative stress, and stimulate energy production in cells. CoQ10 has also been promoted as a weight loss solution as it can stimulate the metabolism and aid in the prevention of cardiovascular disease.

While this all sounds very promising, there are some warnings that must be noted. The new Nutrition study analyzed the effects of CoQ10 through 25 months of supplementation. Unfortunately, the results were not beneficial. Moderate amounts of CoQ10 did nothing to prevent age-related losses in muscular strength, coordination, balance, learning and memory. To make matters worse, a higher dose decreased acuity of responses to auditory and physical stimuli, and actually impaired spacial learning and memory. As the researchers concluded, the results indicated that CoQ10 did not enhance fitness or provide anti-aging properties (1).

The lesson here is that even the most seemingly innocuous recommendations must be regarded with skepticism and researched appropriately. Based on the data from this study, the risks of CoQ10 seem to outweigh the possible rewards.

SOURCE:

1. Sumien, Nathalie, et al. Prolonged Intake of Coenzyme Q10 Impairs Cognitive Functions in Mice. Journal of Nutrition, 2009; 139(10): 1926-1932