Coenzyme Q10, or CoQ10, was once a niche extensionknown in health circles for its potential benefits Heart health and fertility. But the antioxidant star is now on the rise for a new reason: its purported ability to promote longevity.
CoQ10’s appeal has grown as researchers explore it Effects on different conditionsSmall studies, for example, reveal that it may help Enhance insulin sensitivityto cut Frequency of migraine attacksand Relief of muscle pain from statins It is used for high cholesterol. But recently, there’s been excitement about its broader anti-aging potential because of the way it supports our mitochondria, which you may remember from high school biology as the “powerhouse of the cell.”
This role has catapulted CoQ10’s ticket into the longevity club, along with other supplements thought to help mitochondria (such as urolithin A and… Nicotinamide mononucleotide, or NMN). There’s even a synthetic derivative of CoQ10 specifically designed for better absorption by mitochondria, called metoquinone (or MitoQ), that’s gaining buzz among consumers. Celebrity trainers and Athletes To boost energy, recovery andCellular health“.
But is CoQ10 all it’s cracked up to be when it comes to longevity? Read on to learn more before getting a bottle of this supplement.
Why do people take CoQ10 for longevity?
Our cells naturally produce CoQ10, a molecule that acts as a conveyor belt for charged particles within our mitochondria, enabling them to “efficiently create adenosine triphosphate, or ATP,” the “cellular energy currency.” Anthony Molina, Ph.Dsays a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Diego, who studies biomarkers of aging. This is important, as all cells depend on this energy to complete their daily functions. As we age, the number of mitochondria and their ability to produce energy decline, a process involved in the development of many age-related diseases, notes Dr. Molina. Meanwhile, CoQ10 levels also decline with age, leading to the idea that we should take it in supplement form to improve mitochondrial health (and thus overall health).
Besides its role in energy production, CoQ10 is also an essential nutrient Antioxidants It is “very powerful at capturing free radicals,” or volatile molecules that can damage cells, Daria Moakley Rosen, Ph.Dprofessor of chemistry and systems biology at Stanford University and co-author Machines of Life: How taking care of your mitochondria can transform your health, Self says. By stabilizing these molecules, CoQ10 may help prevent the buildup of this damage (also known as oxidative stress) and also contribute to aging and the development of chronic diseases.
