I just came across a 2008 thread called "Coenzyme Q10 May Shorten Your Life!"
The thread is closed, so I couldn't comment on three points the original post made.
Point 1.
"Instead of using massive doses of Q10 to attempt to increase brain Q10 levels it may be more important to find ways to reduce brain levels of Q10. The neuroprotective effects of the popular statins may be because statins reduce Q10 levels. The benefits of a calorie restricted diet (ref) for HD mice may be due to less Q10."
This claim is really only speculation, and doesn't really match up with what most scientists think. Yes, some medicines, like statins, can impact with your Q10 levels, but it's generally not a good idea to purposely lower your brain's Q10 levels.
Statins are given to bring down cholesterol levels by stopping an enzyme that makes cholesterol. If statins do anything good for your brain, it's probably because they lower cholesterol and might have some anti-inflammatory effects, not because they impact with your Q10 levels.
Eating fewer calories might have some health perks, like helping you live longer and keeping your brain in good shape. But saying all these benefits come from cutting your Q10 levels is too simple. Eating less affects lots of things in your body, and scientists are trying to figure out exactly how it all works.
So, while Q10 levels can change because of certain medicines and diets, saying that deliberately lowering your brain's Q10 should be your goal for a better brain doesn't have strong scientific backing.
Point 2.
"Q10 is thought to cause oxidative damage. The blood brain barrier protects the brain from the effects of Q10 supplementation but there is no protection from the muscle damage found in HD patients."
Q10 is more of a good thing than a bad thing. It's an antioxidant that helps fight oxidative damage, rather than causing it.
The claim mentions that the blood-brain barrier protects the brain from the effects of Q10 supplementation. But the blood-brain barrier only lets certain things through, and Q10 is one of the ones that can pass through it. So, it actually benefits your brain by helping to keep it healthy.
As for the part about muscle damage in HD (Huntington's disease) patients, it's essential to understand that Q10 isn't out there causing muscle problems. Some research suggests that Q10 might have benefits for people with HD by providing support to their muscles.
Point 3.
"Under certain circumstances, Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) may become a pro-oxidant. These circumstances are conditions in which hypoxia or lack of oxygen occurs. In cases of shock, heart attack, stroke, or poor circulation, CoQ10 auto-oxidizes and unleashes massive amounts of various free radicals that damage delicate tissues and because CoQ10 is necessary for electron transport and ATP (chemical energy) production, cellular death may ensue."
Yes, under the circumstances mentioned, Q10 can become a pro-oxidant. But under normal circumstances, Q10 helps with moving electrons and producing ATP in your cells.
Edited by osris, 24 September 2023 - 07:16 PM.
