Subject: Study – Dietary Supplement Coenzyme Q-10 May Slow Parkinson's

Parkinson's is a progressive disorder that affects about 500,000 Americans. It results from degeneration of nerve cells that produce a neurotransmitter called dopamine, which is needed to control muscle activity. Symptoms include tremors, stiffness and a shuffling gait. Standard medical treatment includes the prescriptive drug levodopa, which is converted into dopamine in the brain.

Research has suggested that the energy-supplying structures inside cells known as mitochondria may actually be impaired in Parkinson's disease.

CoQ10, a natural compound made in the body, is believed to help mitochondria function. Earlier research by Shults and others found that CoQ10 levels were lower than normal in Parkinson's patients. They theorized that supplementation of CoQ10 might help preserve nerve cell function.

1. Due to its role in energy production, CoQ10 has been studied in infertile men. Preliminary research showed increased sperm counts in a group of infertile men.
2. Researchers have explored the effects of CoQ10 supplementation in people with periodontal disease which has been linked to CoQ10 deficiency. Double-blind research shows that people with gum disease supplementing CoQ10 achieve better results than those who did not.
3. People with type 2 diabetes have been found to have significantly lower blood levels of CoQ10 compared with healthy people. Thus, research suggests that CoQ10 is involved in the body's utilization of carbohydrates and help lower blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.
4. Virtually every cell of the human body contains CoQ10. The mitochondria, the area of cells where energy is produced, contain the most CoQ10. The heart and liver contain the greatest amount of CoQ10.
5. CoQ10 appears to increase the heart's tolerance to a lack of oxygen, helping to improve heart function in certain patients.
6. Due to its effect on heart muscle, researchers have studied CoQ10 in people with heart arrhythmias reporting significant improvements with supplementation.
7. Positive improvements have been reported in people with cardiomy opathies – the group of diseases affecting heart muscle.
8. Angina patients taking 150 mg per day of CoQ10 report a greater ability to exercise without experiencing chest pain.
9. CoQ10 appears to control blood pressure by reducing resistance to blood flow.
10. CoQ10 also is valuable for building immunity.