Is CoQ10 the Anti-Aging Answer?

An ever-increasing body of research indicates that CoQ10 may actually be able to slow down or even reverse the aging process as it effects the body's production of energy.Coenzyme Q10, often referred to as CoQ10 or Vitamin Q, is actually a naturally-occurring substance found in every cell in the body. It's function is to help the cellular mitochondria, the "power plant" of every cell, convert fats and sugars to energy.Since it was first discovered in the late 1950s this natural substance has been intensively studied and it has been proven to help in the treatment of Parkinson's disease and heart disease. It is also believed to be a powerful aid to the maintenance of cardiac health and aid in lowering cholesterol.CoQ10 supplements have become an important tool for medicine, and the fact that side effects are both rare and exceptionally mild makes it a potentially useful product for almost everyone. But valuable as it already is, there is reason to believe that the benefits it can offer have only begun to be discovered.The most exciting research on this substance is in the area of anti-aging. An increasing number of studies indicate that CoQ10, a powerful anti-oxidant, could be one of the keys to preventing a host of age-related disorders including Alzheimer's disease

Though the exact mechanism of Alzheimer's remains unclear, it is thought that the ravages of the disease are largely attributable to  brain cell damage and death from oxidative stress. CoQ10's intensive anti-oxidant properties are believed to inhibit oxidative stress and actually improve brain condition, according  2006 finding reported in the Behavioural Brain Research journal.

CoQ10 has also been shown to substantially enhance Vitamin E's known anti-inflammatory effect, increasing Vitamin E's effectiveness by as much as 20%. This could play a huge role in reducing the risk of age-related vascular diseases including heart disease, the world's biggest killer.

The anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of this coenzyme are also being studied for their effect on brain health and cognitive abilities, especially as related to aging. It is being tested for effectiveness in preventing or treating a host of age-related disorders, including macular degeneration, adult-onset diabetes, and prostate cancer. It is even known to work against skin aging.

The body's production of Coenzyme Q10 starts to drop off in the 20s, which would indicate that most people could benefit from supplemental CoQ10 as they move into middle age and beyond.

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