Q. Why do I need coenzyme Q10?
Your body typically starts losing coenzyme Q10 after you turn 40. If you don’t have heart issues, or a family history of heart problems, taking a maintenance dose of coenzyme Q10 will go a long way in preventing future problems. Plus, it boosts your energy.
You also need to supplement with coenzyme Q10 if you’re taking statin drugs since they can deplete your coenzyme Q10 levels.
Coenzyme Q10 at a glance:
Strengthens and energizes your heart
Increases cellular and physical energy
Fights age-accelerating free radicals
Promotes normal homocysteine levels
Support healthy cholesterol levels
Supports immune health
Q. What is coenzyme Q10?
A. Coenzyme Q10 is a vitamin-like substance found in every cell’s mitochondria. It’s a necessary part of the chain of events that turns food into energy throughout your body. Without that energy, everything stops. That’s why I call coenzyme Q10 the spark of life.
This is why your heart thrives with high levels of coenzyme Q10—it requires enormous amounts of energy.
Coenzyme Q10 is also an antioxidant. Since it’s in every cell, it fights free radicals everywhere in your body. Your brain, arteries, joints, eyes all get tremendous protection against oxidation, a main cause of aging.
Q. How much coenzyme Q10 should I take?
A. Not everyone needs a large daily dose. If you’re currently dealing with heart concerns or taking statin drugs, you need to supplement with a high daily dose. If you are looking for preventive measures, a baseline coenzyme Q10 dose will do.
Most patients I’ve worked with fall into the high-dose category, but a lot of people fall somewhere in between the two ends of the spectrum. The coenzyme Q10 “cheat sheet” below should help you determine your needs.
At-a-glance coenzyme Q10 dosage recommendations:
Currently dealing with heart concerns; closely monitoring multiple risk factors, including blood pressure, cholesterol, CRP levels, homocysteine, 200 mg daily or more
Looking to greatly increase your physical energy and stamina, as well as protect your heart 100-200 mg daily
Concerned about your family history and/or have been told to watch certain risk factors such as cholesterol, weight, and homocysteine levels. 50-100 mg daily
Over 40 and looking to keep your heart strong and energy levels high. 30-50 mg daily
Q: Where do I find Coenzyme Q10?
A: CoQ10 can be found naturally in fish, meat, oil, beans and wheat. Although present in food, CoQ10 is considered as a vitamin that the body cannot synthesize therefore CoQ10 supplementation will be very helpful to the human’s body. Since CoQ10 serves as an agent of energy producer within every cell of the body, the optimal amount of CoQ10 intake is found to have some benefits.
Q: What are the benefits of Coenzyme Q10?
A: CoQ10 is proven successful in reducing the symptoms of:
Periodontal disease
High blood pressure
Congestive heart failure (CHF)
Q. Should I take a coenzyme Q10 supplement that has other nutrients?
A. A natural partner for coenzyme Q10 is fish oil, or any source abundant in omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFAs). EFA’s are also critical for a healthy heart, yet they provide benefits that differ from coenzyme Q10. Taking the two together gives you complete coverage for a strong, healthy heart.
Scienctific studies suggest that Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and omega 3 fish oil if taken together will have the maximum benefit. This is because the natural form of CoQ10 is in crystalline powder, which is insoluble in water, but has high solubility in lipids/fats (fat-soluble).
It is recommended to consume CoQ10 together with Fish Oil as it contains rich amount of fats for CoQ10 to be absorbed optimally into the blood stream for your everyday health.
The statements and products shown on this website have not been evaluated by the US Food and Drug Administration.
These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Many of my patients have found relief from hot flashes, and fatigue using DHEA, but it has many other benefits.
DHEA is a natural steroid and precursor hormone produced by the adrenals. It’s also available at health food stores and on-line as an over-the-counter supplement. Manufacturers hype it as a magic cure-all for many things: muscle loss, weight loss, osteoporosis, and depression — even menopause.
Dehydroepiandrosterone, or DHEA, is a steroid hormone synthesized from cholesterol and secreted by the adrenal glands. The adrenals are walnut-sized organs located right above your kidneys. The average adult makes about 25 mg of DHEA per day (some more, some less) with dwindling production as we get older. Men at all ages have more DHEA than women.
Natural DHEA production is at its highest in your twenties: by the time we reach seventy we only make about 20% of the DHEA we had when we were young.
Another reason is that DHEA is a very powerful precursor to all of your major sex hormones: estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. (Its molecular structure is closely related to testosterone).
When DHEA levels are low, your body does not have enough working material for proper endocrine function. This throws off your hormone production and you feel a general sense of malaise, along with other symptoms of hormonal imbalance — how severe depends on how many other demands are being made on your body at the same time.
Most of the women we see at our practice have some indication of adrenal imbalance, including symptoms of low DHEA levels, such as:
Extreme fatigue
Decrease in muscle mass
Decrease in bone density
Depression
Aching joints
Loss of libido
Lowered immunity
Many of my patients in menopause who are taking bioidentical hormones also take DHEA to promote a good overall balance and vice-versa. DHEA can be a great bridge through menopause.
In one study they found that women ages 65-75 taking DHEA along with calcium and vitamin D increased their bone density 2% each year during a 2 year study. This study used a dose of DHEA of 50 mg. This is not a huge increase, but if you have failed bisphosphonates or do not want to take them, it is worth consideration. Even if you are on prescription medications, ask your doctor if you should add this for extra benefit.
I recommend checking your hormone levels before supplementing with any hormones. If DHEA levels are too high, people may experience acne, facial hair, oily skin, etc. So I evaluate a hormone panel before adding any hormone to a regimen. If used appropriately, results can be good... if used randomly, results can be random.
There are multiple ways to take DHEA, sublingual, transdermal, etc. Find the way that is easiest for you. The way you can be consistent, always works the best.
The statements and products shown on this website have not been evaluated by the US Food and Drug Administration.
These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Resveratrol seems to be everywhere in the news these days. But another plant-based chemical, quercetin, is beginning to attract attention from researchers as well.
Recent studies suggest that resveratrol and quercetin might actually be more effective when taken together.
Both resveratrol and quercetin are polyphenols, a group of antioxidant chemicals found in many fruits and vegetables.
An antioxidant is a compound that destroys free radicals in the body, those atoms with unpaired electrons that cause damage to tissues and cells as they roam the body scavenging electrons from other atoms. The polyphenols have been found to have such health benefits as lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol in the body, and reducing the risk of heart disease and cancer.
In fact, many scientists believe that the polyphenols may be some of our most powerful natural agents for the prevention of chronic diseases of aging, and even for slowing the aging process. Resveratrol is found in the skins and seeds of red and purple grapes, and in dark-colored berries and peanuts; good sources of quercetin are onions, especially red onions, and the skins of apples. Significant quantities of both quercetin and resveratrol are present in red wine. Although both resveratrol and quercetin are polyphenols, of the two, only quercetin is classed as a flavonoid. These plant pigments provide color in fruits, vegetables, and flowers and wine as well.
Some recent research has suggested that quercetin boosts resveratrol. Impressive as the effects of resveratrol may be alone, they may be enhanced by working together with quercetin. For example, in a 2008 in vitro (test tube) study (Yang et al.), researchers investigated the effects of various combinations of quercetin and resveratrol on adipogenesis and apoptosis. Adipogenesis is the formation of fat cells, or adipocytes; and apoptosis is the process of programmed cell death, by which the body rids itself of old, unhealthy, or excess cells.
When maturing fat cells were treated with resveratrol and quercetin separately, resveratrol suppressed fat accumulation by 9%, while quercetin suppressed it by 15%. However, when given in combination, fat accumulation in the cells was decreased by more than 68%.
In addition, resveratrol and quercetin, administered individually, induced programmed cell death in mature fat cells by 18% and 15%, respectively. Given together, they increased apoptosis in mature adipocytes more than the single compounds did. These data may have significant implications for the development of products using resveratrol and quercetin for weight loss. The researchers stated, Taken together, our data indicate that combinations of resveratrol and quercetin can exert potential anti-obesity effects by inhibiting differentiation of preadipocytes and inducing apoptosis of mature adipocytes.
Some research scientists believe that the combination of resveratrol and quercetin may not be the only synergistic possibility.
It may be that a group of five compounds can work together in synergy to offer protection against heart disease and cancer. Resveratrol and quercetin, vitamin E, vitamin C, and selenium (a trace mineral) are being investigated together with this goal in mind.
Privita contains resveratrol and quercetin. It is blended with other compounds with estrogen blocker and aromatase activity.
Maqui/Resveratrol/Acai Ultimate contains resveratrol with vitamin E, vitamin C, green tea and selenium.
The statements on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
There are all-natural herbal formula that can support the reduction of estrogen through Chinese herbs.
Aromatase is a key enzyme in the synthesis of estrogen. Specifically, it converts androstenedione into estrone and testosterone into estradiol. For instance, evidence shows that breast cancer and prostate cancer tissues overexpress aromatase. Inhibiting aromatase, therefore, plays an important role in suppressing the deleterious action of estrogen on hormone related conditions. This is why Myomin is so helpful in uterine fibroids and other high estrogen disorders such as endometriosis.
An in vivo study demonstrated that Myomin inhibits the aromatase enzyme in the ectopic endometrium and ovarian tissue of rats. Aromatase was expressed markedly in the untreated ectopic endometrium of the positive control group. On the other hand, aromatase expression significantly decreased in the ectopicendometrium of the Myomin group after 28 days.
Similar to the ectopic endometrium tissue, aromatase expression was remarkably high in the untreated ovaries of the positive control group. After 28 days of therapy with Myomin, aromatase expression was significantly reduced in the ovarian tissue.
Image analysis of both the ectopic endometrium and ovarian tissues yielded elevated aromatase expression in the positive control group (108.9 and 149.8,respectively) in both tissues. After administration with Myomin for 28 days, aromatase expression reduced to 34.7 in the endometrium and 47.0 in the ovary. This translates to a 100% reduction of aromatase expression in the endometrium and an 85.6% reduction in the ovary compared to the negative control group.
Myomin has three functions:
Myomin inhibits the aromatase enzyme, effectively reducing estradiol levels by preventing the conversion of androgens to estrone and estradiol. This allows testosterone and estriol (the good estrogen) to accumulate. Aromatase inhibition has become a worthwhile target in many estrogen-dominant disorders
Myomin competes with estradiol at the estrogen receptors. This function is particularly effective in cases where estrogen receptors are fully stimulated (e.g. after HRT). Competing with estradiol prevents estradiol from binding to receptors. As a result, proliferation of cells is avoided and abnormal growth inhibited.
Myomin increases interferon (IFN) and interleukin-2 (IL-2). IL-2 induces the proliferation of immune cells, enhancing the body's ability to kill tumor cells. IFN stimulates natural killer cells and is active against tumors.
Myomin Reduces Estradiol Levels
One study performed at the Shanghai Medical School illustrates the effect of Myomin on estradiol levels of mice during pregnancy – a period when estradiol levels are especially high. Two groups of 12 mice each were used in the study. One group was used as the control. The other group was given Myomin beginning 15 days into pregnancy. Three days later (on the 18 th day of the study), the average estradiol level of the Myomin group was 7.22pg/ml, approximately seven times less than the control group. After 6 days of taking Myomin (on the 21 st day of the study), their average estradiol level was 8.81pg/ml while it was 85.98 pg/ml for the control group.
In another study, 90 female mice were divided into three groups. Each group was then given Myomin for 30, 60 and 180 days, respectively. The average estradiol levels after each period was 50.6, 36.6, and 32.4 pg/ml, respectively. After 180 days, the estradiol level stabilized. These results demonstrate long-term use of Myomin reduces estradiol in such a way that it maintains around the normal level. No side effects were reported in this study.
A human study involved 60 postmenopausal women with cysts and/or fibroids. Postmenopausal women were studied because their estradiol levels are more stable than those of premenopausal women. Initially, the average estradiol level was 74.52 pg/ml. After only 10 days on Myomin, their average estradiol level reduced to 38.84 pg/ml. The fibroids, cysts and associated pain gradually reduced.
Myomin and Estrogen Dominant Disorders
A study from Chang Hai Hospital involved 75 cases of fibrocystic breasts (70 women ages 18 to 52 years old and 5 men ages 62 to 64 years old). Sixty five percent of the women were under 35 years old. 25 cases were in the control group while 50 cases were in the Myomin group. Results of the study revealed that, in 14 cases, the fibrocystic breast completely cleared after 1 month of taking Myomin while, in 16 cases, the fibrocystic breast reduced 50% in size. Among the five men in the study, the cysts cleared completely in 3 cases. Overall, the effectiveness rate of Myomin is more than 60%, compared to the control group's 12% rate. In the Myomin group, in 48 out of 50 cases,associated pain cleared or tremendously reduced (p value <0.05) while in the control group, pain reduced in only 12 out of 25 cases.
A 1994 clinical study was conducted on 255 patients with ovarian cysts and endometriosis. After 5 months, Myomin was effective on 147 patients (57%) while some improvements was observed in 87 patients (34.1%). No effect was observed in only 21 patients.
Another study was conducted on both pre- and postmenopausal women with ovarian cysts. In one study from the Chang Hai Hospital in Shanghai, China, 85 female patients with ovarian cysts were involved, with ages ranging from 27to 64 years old (more than 50% of them between 34 and 45 years old). Out of the 85, 40 cases were related to endometriosis (hyatidiform cyst), 44 cases were simple ovarian cysts and 1 was a case of ovarian cancer. After 1 to 3 courses of the herbal formula, the cysts and symptoms of 15 patients completely cleared with no recurrence 3 months after the study. In 34 patients, the size of the cyst reduced by 50% and some of the associated symptoms were relieved.
Y. Dikansky, DDS from NY, has a 38 year old female patient with an ovarian cyst for 8 years. The cyst was 3.7x6x2. After 3 months on Myomin, the cyst cleared.
A 2000 study at the Shanghai Medical School was performed on 60 patients with small uterine fibroids. It revealed that if Myomin is used in combination with Revivin, it is 69.2% effective on uterine fibroids that exceed 2.5cm³ in size. Another alternative would be to combine Myomin with Angiostop, an angiogenesis inhibitor.
The potential applications of aromatase inhibitors in many health conditions are continually increasing. They have been shown to reduce the risk of recurrent breast cancer, especially when used for a longer period. However, the aromatase inhibitor drugs in the market today are indicated for postmenopausal women only. This is very limiting especially since more and more premenopausal women are developing estrogen-related conditions. It is for this reason that the results of these studies on Myomin are significant. As stated before, Myomin has been used in clinical studies and found to be effective in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women with ovarian cysts, fibrocystic breast and endometriosis as well as in men with fibrocystic breast. It is able to produce these favourable results by inhibiting aromatase and consequently reducing estrogen levels.
Myomin and Men: More Information:
Aromatase inhibition is important in men as well. As men age, testosterone is being more readily converted to estrogen through the aromatase enzyme. Increased estrogen levels can lead to problems such as prostate cancer, prostatitis, and even gynecomastia. Evidence suggests that local aromatase expression in the prostate increases malignancy. In fact, the level of aromatase expression in malignant prostate tissue is comparable to that in breast cancer tissue. As a result, local estrogen levels are also promoted at the prostate tumor site, increasing growth. Aromatase inhibitors like Myomin will help block the action of aromatase, thereby minimizing the depletion of testosterone and reducing estrogen levels.
Myomin for Relief of Menopausal Symptoms
Myomin has also been reported to be effective in reducing the severity and frequency of hot flashes in some women. Although its exact mechanism on this particular function remains to be elucidated, it may be explained by Myomin's ability to compete with estrogen at the cells' estrogen receptors. It should be noted, however, that some women experience worsening of symptoms with Myomin. This is probably due to very low levels of estrogen in these women.
Myomin for Abdominal Fat
An aromatase inhibitor like Myomin can also reduce abdominal fat. Abdominal obesity is associated with decreased testosterone levels (or hypogonadism) and increased estradiol levels. Hypogonadism leads to the deposition of fat in the abdomen. As fat accumulates, aromatase activity increases at the site, causing more testosterone to be converted into estradiol. Taking testosterone or DHEA supplements is not enough because if aromatase is uncontrolled, then testosterone and DHEA will eventually be converted to estradiol. Adding anaromatase inhibitor like Myomin blocks the action of aromatase, effectively preventing the testosterone from being converted into estradiol. This leads to more muscle mass and the loss of abdominal weight.
PriVita contains natural aromatase inhibitors like myomin, but also contains superfoods like pomegranate and resveratrol. It also contains high ORAC compounds like Green Tea.
The statements and products referred to throughout this site have not been evaluated by the FDA. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or condition. If you have a health condition or concern, consult a physician or your alternative health care provider. Always consult a medical doctor before modifying your diet, using any new product, drug, supplement, or doing new exercises. We recommend you educate yourselves on the scientific / nutritional facts.
