From Q10's vantage point he could spot a number of men, at least he believed them to be men. This is what, he was taught , men looked like. These men were wearing mostly white. They had big, thick coke-bottle glasses and pocket protectors. "These must be scientists," he thought. "I've heard about them from the glial cells." The glial cells were another overlooked part of the body so Q10 thought they could be friends. And he was right. Since the glial cells worked in the brain they were privy to all sorts of information and weren't above sharing it. Consequently, little Q10 was a wealth of information. But no one seemed to be interested. Well, what about these scientists. They always want to find out new and interesting things. He would simply tell them. Tell them what though? That they were scientists? They knew that. He thought and thought for hours, and for a coenzyme that's a long time. Then in a flash on inspiration that rivaled Archimedes he had it! He would tell them all about him! It's something he'd wanted to do for years, but no one would listen. Well now was his chance. "Now's my chance!" he exclaimed.

"Yes we know, I just told them," said the narrator.
"Oh sorry about that! I just got so excited I lost track of where we were," apologized Q10. "You can go on now."
The narrator replied, "Thank you. Just stick to the script now, if you don't mind."
"There's no reason to be snotty!" retorted the pretentious coenzyme. "Hey, I heard that!"
"Heard what?" questioned the narrator.
"You called me pretentious! I am not!"
"I said no such thing."
"You did so it's four lines up, right there in the middle."
"I didn't SAY it. The writer wrote it! But I have to say I'm beginning to agree with him. Can we please get on with it."
"Fine, but I do so under protest! I want to have words with that writer."
"Whatever! Let's just get going. The readers are growing restless."

We apologize for any inconvenience. And we thank you for not clicking away. And now on with our tale. . .

CoQ10 made it his hobby, nay his duty to let everyone know the wonders he could perform. Now if he could only get their attention. "Hello! Mr. Scientist. Oh, sorry, Dr. Scientist!" shouted CoQ10 to no avail. The scientist seemed to be preoccupied with some papers. "What's that you're reading?" CoQ10 strained hard to make out the report. "Effects of Coenzyme Quinone 10 on Cardiovascular Health as seen in Beef Heart." Or something not too dissimilar to that. "Hey, that's about ME! They're writing about me!" Filled with zeal and a renewed sense of hope he read on, "Presented by Dr. Frederick Crane of Wisconsin, U.S.A., 1957. Hey, way to go, Doc!"

CoQ10 was finally discovered! Over the next couple of years he would be named (Ubiquinone because it was discovered that CoQ10 was in just about every cell) and have his entire chemical structure determined.

"That won't hurt will it?"
"Not a bit!"
"Good! Who named me?
"Professor Morton of England."
"Ahh! And who did that other thing with the chemical thingy?"
"CoQ10 research pioneer Dr. Karl Folkers."
"What a guy!"

Well, by this time the entire family was getting noticed. In the mid-1960's, coenzyme Q7 was used in the treatment of congestive heart failure. Other discoveries would follow involving many of the Ubiquinone family. It was discovered, in 1972 by Dr. Folkers and Dr. Gian Paolo Littarru of Italy, that CoQ10 was deficient in those with heart disease. And then, by the mid-1970's, technology had caught up with discovery. Japanese chemists perfected the industrial technology of fermentation to produce pure CoQ10 in significant quantities.

"And I thought I was ubiquitous before! Hey, when do we get to the part where I divulge all of my worldly secrets?"
"We've already begun. Haven't you been paying attention?"
"Yeah, but I mean the real juicy stuff."
"Patience, we're getting to that."

Much has been researched and shown regarding this coenzyme's potential to enhance cardiovascular health and provide necessary life energy. It's major proponents, (including Dr. William Judy, Ph.D. and Dr. Stephen Sinatra, M.D.), are vocal about CoQ10's astounding restorative ability for the human heart that has been damaged through some type of coronary event.

"I didn't know Ol' Blue Eyes was a doctor!"
"Not Frank Sinatra. Dr. Stephen Sinatra. He wrote The Coenzyme Q10 Phenomenon."
"Oh! Well, the best is yet to come!"
"I'm ignoring that!"

In 1985, Dr. Per Langsjoen reported proof from double-blind studies that CoQ10 has a profound impact in cardiomyopathy. The aforementioned events were all significant in the development of this nutrient's usage in cardiovascular health.

According to Dr. Beth Ley, Ph.D., in her book, Coenzyme Q10: All Around Nutrient for All-Around Health!, CoQ10 is similar, molecularly, to vitamin K and could also be considered a relative of vitamin E. " While CoQ10 is found in virtually every cell in the body, its concentration varies depending on the tissue type and location. The heart tissue contains more CoQ10 than any other organ in the body. Therefore, CoQ10 is needed. This could be in any organ, tissue or system in the body -- the brain, kidneys, lungs, pancreas, periodontal tissues, immune system, etc. If the body is low or deficient in CoQ10, supplementing CoQ10 is likely to be beneficial, having a wide range of variable effects depending upon the individual."

Ley pointed out several factors that can lower your level of CoQ10. These include: alcohol consumption, age, usage of certain medications (such as mood regulating drugs or psychotropics), elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels, strenuous exercise, male gender (hormone concentrations), nutrient status (notably of taurine, tyrosine, methionine, vitamins C, B5, B6, B12, folate, selenium) and other stressors such as illness, extreme cold, etc. (As with everything else, lifestyle habits often impact nutrient status and the body's ability to function properly. So, if you smoke, do yourself a favor and quit; watch your diet, exercise regularly and moderately; give yourself time to sleep well, drink plenty of water and not alcohol, etc.)

CoQ10 is an energy provider. Ley noted that CoQ10 is essential for the body's production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), manufactured in the mitochondria of the cell. "Succinate dehydrogense-co-Q-10 reductase is the enzyme needed for the production of ATP," she writes. "CoQ10 is the key to the process that produces 95 percent of cellular energy." (We've touched on this, but it looks more official this way.)

Writes Sinatra, "CoQ10's bioenergic activity is probably its most important function. Such energy enhancement occurs in the mitochondria. It is there, in the so-called cellular boiler room, that coenzyme Q10 acts as an essential component in the electron transport chain were metabolic energy is released. It is the generation of this chemical energy that supplies the vital force so necessary for life."

CoQ10 is also a powerful antioxidant, writes Ley. When taken routinely, coenzyme Q10 helps stave off the aging process via providing protection from oxidative damage that occurs in "fat-soluble media such as cell membranes, which are composed of fatty acids. It also works with vitamin E to prevent damage to lipid membranes and plasma lipids. Like other antioxidants, CoQ10 also offers protection against the accumulation and deposit of oxidized fats in blood vessels, which can lead to atherosclerosis."

CoQ10, as is most abundant in heart tissue, has become a prominent nutrient in cardiovascular health. And there are numerous studies indicating its positive role for the heart. In her book, Heart Health for Women: Easy Steps to Prevent Heart Disease Naturally, Carol Simontacchi, M.S., C.C.N., points out several such trials. One Danish study comparing CoQ10 therapy to standard medications showed that adding CoQ10 improved stroke index significantly (stroke index is the amount of blood forced out of the heart into the body with each pulse or beat of the heart), as well as causing significant improvement in pulmonary capability (lung function), and other areas.

A study published in American Journal of Cardiology in 1990 "indicated that an improvement in heart function was associated with the intake of CoQ10 and an increase in blood levels of the nutrient," Simontacchi notes. The study involved 126 patients diagnosed with myocardial failure, and after a year, more than 100 of the participants showed improvement, "showing that CoQ10 is safe and effective in the treatment of congestive heart failure and cardiomyopathy."

Both U.S. and Japanese studies showed that the addition of coenzyme Q10 to the diet lowered blood pressure by approximately 10 percent following tow months of taking the nutrient. Also, when patients with angina pectoris were given CoQ10, reported Simontacchi, their abilities to exercise improved significantly. One large Italian study, involving 2,664 congestive heart failure patients, examined the effects of between 50 and 150 mg. of CoQ10 supplementation daily for 90 days. "The results were dramatic," she reported. "Fifty-four percent experienced improvement in at least three symptoms: 79 percent had a decrease in edema, 78 percent had lower pulmonary edema, and 75 percent experienced fewer heart palpitations."

Sinatra writes that there are 10 strong potential uses for coenzyme Q10 in cardiovascular situations: angina pectoris; unstable anginal syndrome; myocardial preserving agent during mechanical or pharmacological thrombolysis; myocardial preserving agent for cardiac surgery; congestive heart failure; diastolic dysfunction; toxin-induced cardiotoxicity (from Adriamycin); essential and renovascular hypertension; ventricular arrhythmia; mitral valve prolapse; and oxidation of LDL (prevention).

Well, there it is. The world has discovered and embraced CoQ10. Where we go from here is up to us. . .

"Wait, wait, is that it?"
"Well, yes. We started out with an anecdote, included the facts, and now we're summing it all up."
"Yeah, but I have so much more to say."
"All right, but hurry up. These people have things to do."
"Okay, okay. Achem. I'd like to thank all the members of the Academy, my lovely wife and children, my family. I am the American dream. I started out a nobody, an unknown and you took me in. You made me your idol and worshipped me! As well you should. Because without me. . ."
"Hold on! What are you going on about? This isn't the Academy Awards!"
"Yeah, but I'm a star!"
"No you're not. You don't even have a wife, let alone children. You're an essential element in the body. That's all."
"But, life couldn't exist without me. You read the article."
"You and a slew of others. You work with them and aide them. Never forget your roots."
"Sorry. But you love me you really love me!"
"Hey! Stop that. Say goodnight to all the nice people."
"Goodnight to all the nice people."
"Very funny!"

And now the legal stuff:

This article was compiled by Feel 21, Inc. In-House Columnist Anthony Anderson using information obtained, with permission, from Vitamin Retailer magazine and is provided for educational (plus a little bit of entertainment) purposes only by your local retailer. No part of this article is intended as medical advice. Always consult your health care provider for any medical problems.

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