| If asthma is getting you down, it's possible that | | | | lower in people with asthma. Researchers |
| increasing your levels of CoQ10 could benefit your | | | | speculate that sub-optimal concentrations of |
| breathing as well as your energy and endurance. | | | | CoQ10 may very well play a role in the severity |
| Coenzyme Q10 is a natural substance found in the | | | | of asthma. Small trials have indicated that |
| mitochondria of every cell. Its primary function is | | | | supplemental dosage of the coenzyme improved |
| to assist in the production of energy at the cellular | | | | the condition. |
| level but it is also a powerful antioxidant capable | | | | In addition, researchers have observed a link |
| of neutralizing free radicals, which are chemically | | | | between low CoQ10 levels and the use of |
| unstable molecules formed when the cells interact | | | | corticosteroid preparations commonly used to |
| with oxygen and other substances. | | | | treat acute asthma attacks. In a recent open |
| Free radicals scavenge and injure other cells, and | | | | randomized crossover trial, CoQ10 was |
| the damage they do has been shown to play a | | | | administered to 41 bronchial asthma patients in |
| large part in a whole host of diseases ranging | | | | conjunction with corticosteroid inhalants for a |
| from cardiovascular problems to metabolic | | | | period of 32 weeks. The results showed that the |
| disorders like diabetes and even age-related | | | | patients used the inhalants less when they were |
| illnesses like Alzheimer's disease. | | | | taking the coenzyme supplements. |
| In asthma patients, free radical damage is | | | | Raising the serum levels of the coenzyme could |
| believed to increase and exacerbate the chronic | | | | also improve energy and endurance, both of |
| mucosal tissue inflammation characteristic of the | | | | which are commonly adversely effected by |
| disease. Though research on the link between | | | | asthma. A recent Japanese study showed that as |
| CoQ10 and asthma is ongoing, preliminary findings | | | | little as a week of regular 300 milligram |
| appear to not only support this theory, but | | | | supplements had a marked positive effect on |
| indicate that raising serum levels of the coenzyme | | | | physical ability during exercise, as well as on the |
| could provide relief to asthma patients. | | | | amount of post-exercise fatigue experienced. It |
| In numerous studies it has been found that blood | | | | was also shown to greatly enhance oxygen |
| levels of the coenzyme tend to be significantly | | | | utilization and reduce recovery time. |