High blood pressure and high cholesterol treatment

Ongoing clinical studies suggest that a regular course of CoQ10 supplements may lower blood pressure.

It is known that common cholesterol-lowering medications deplete the levels of this coenzyme and it has been found that supplemental doses correct the deficiency, providing crucial antioxidant protection without effecting the drugs' efficacy.

CoQ10 is a vitamin-like substance that is necessary for an important step in the production of energy in the body. CoQ10 is also a potent antioxidant. The mechanism by which CoQ10 exerts such a dramatic blood pressure-lowering effect is not currently known.

At least five other clinical trials have shown a blood pressure-lowering effect of CoQ10. While most studies have shown a more modest blood pressure reduction, one other clinical trial found an effect similar to that seen in the new study. This is the first study to focus specifically on ISH.

Humans can synthesize CoQ10, but there may be situations where supplementing with extra CoQ10 may be beneficial. In particular, people with diabetes and people on certain cholesterol-lowering medications have been shown to have low blood levels of CoQ10 compared with the rest of the population.

Some, but not all, preliminary clinical trials have shown a significant difference in absorption between different preparations of CoQ10. This study used the hydrosoluble form of CoQ10, a form found in one previous clinical trial to be the most efficiently absorbed in humans.