1 CoQ10 is required to convert the energy from fats and sugars into usable cellular energy. Yet, the body’s production of CoQ10 declines significantly with advancing age.2 With an ample amount of CoQ10, the mitochondria can work most efficiently throughout the entire body including the most densely populated area, the heart.3 CoQ10 is also a potent antioxidant, helping protect proteins, LDL, and DNA of mitochondria from oxidation and supporting mitochondrial function.4

More people are supplementing with CoQ10 than ever before. One reason is increased awareness that "statin" drugs used to lower LDL and cholesterol deplete CoQ10 levels in the blood, and possibly the tissues.5

What most doctors don’t know, however, is that normal aging may result in more of a reduction in CoQ10 than taking statins. For example, while statin drugs have been shown to reduce plasma CoQ10 by 40%6 the aging process reduces CoQ10 levels in the heart muscle wall by 72%.7 What is particularly frightening is the deficit caused by the dual effects of aging8 and statin drug use that can result in severe depletion of cellular vitality.6

When CoQ10 is orally ingested, only a certain percentage is actually absorbed into the bloodstream. Findings in human subjects indicate that higher doses of CoQ10 provide significantly better effects than the doses supplement users typically take.