To Your Health! by The Record-Review

Page 2a the record-review c To Your Health!

NEWS NOTES

Friday, october 14, 2011

Statins + coQ10?

new advances for keeping cholesterol in check conditions when making a decision.

COnTinuEd FROM paGE 1a

Drs. Frank Ennis, Frank Corvino and Paul Sethi are members of ONS.

Conference to focus on children the oNS Foundation for clinical research and education will present Pediatric and adolescent Sports Medicine Update, a one-day medical conference on Saturday, oct. 15, from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Noble conference center at greenwich hospital at 5 Perryridge road. the half-day program will feature presentations by orthopedic, sports medicine and neurosurgery specialists on recent information regarding diagnosis and treatment for musculoskeletal conditions and injuries affecting children through adolescence. The conference is aimed at professionals in the medical arena: physicians, nurses, physician assistants, physical and occupational therapists, athletic trainers and coaches. greenwich hospital association is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing education credit for physicians who attend. The conference is being offered free of charge due to an anonymous gift. Lunch and program materials are included. to register visit www.oNS-foundation.org and click the link “Conference registration” or call (203) 869-3131. orthopedic surgeon Frank ennis, M.d. is the conference program chair-

man. The conference keynote address will be presented by Bob Bigelow, co-author of a book titled “Just Let the Kids Play,” and a former NBA first round draft choice. “Today’s children have a unique set of physical challenges given the unprecedented level of sports participation,” dr. Ennis said. “For pediatricians and other medical professionals who treat children, it is important to understand the nature of the injuries that are occurring, and which treatments offer the best chance for full recovery. This conference brings together a unique group of medical specialists who routinely diagnose and treat sports injuries in children. Their clinical observations and experience make this conference an especially valuable learning opportunity.” The objectives of the conference include a review of the normal function of the musculoskeletal system in children, presentations on the most effective nonoperative and operative management of conditions resulting from injuries related to sports activities and the latest information on injury prevention strategies. For more information, visit oNS-foundation.org.

To Your Health! A special section of

THE RECORD–REVIEW 264 Adams Street, Bedford Hills, NY 10507 • 914-244-0533 • www.record-review.com PUBLISHER...........................................................................................................................Deborah G. White SECTION EDITOR..............................................................................................................................Todd Sliss ART DIRECTOR...................................................................................................................... Ann Marie Rezen ADVERTISING DESIGN..........................................................................................................Katherine Potter ADVERTISING SALES ............. Francesca Lynch, Thomas O’Halloran, Barbara Yeaker, and Marilyn Petrosa

and are at risk for heart failure or cardiomyopathy. In an article published in the journal biofactors, cardiologist and researcher dr. Peter Langsjoen said, “the depletion of the essential nutrient CoQ10 by the increasingly popular cholesterol lowering drugs, hMg-coa reductase inhibitors (statins), has grown from a level of concern to one of alarm,” adding, “With ever higher statin potencies and dosages and with a steadily shrinking target LdL cholesterol, the prevalence and severity of CoQ10 deficiency is increasingly noticeable.” also known as Ubiquinone or vitamin Q, Coenzyme Q10 is a naturally occurring compound found in every cell in the body. CoQ10 plays a key role in producing energy in the mitochondria, the part of a cell responsible for the production of energy in the form of atP.

Other conditions treated with CoQ10

Controversy over CoQ10 supplements

CoQ10 supplements are available over the counter. A typical CoQ10 dosage is 3090 mg per day, taken in divided doses, but the recommended amount can be as high as 200 mg. CoQ10 is fat-soluble, so it is better absorbed when taken with a meal that contains oil or fat. The clinical effect is not immediate and may take up to eight weeks. They are usually orange colored tablets, capsules or gel caps, found at pharmacies and in health food stores. Although it is one of the most expensive, in Japan, it is among the top three best-selling nutritional supplements, and popularity in this country is on the rise. So, shouldn’t we all be popping gel caps along with our daily statins, just to be on the safe side? Therein lies the rub. Experts are hesitant to recommend this because of a lack of evidence that CoQ10 supplements will actually improve health. Although it sounds, logically, as though it would, the medical community at large insists on rigorous clinical trials before it will blindly endorse any supplement. And those clinical trials sometimes surprise us. To complicate matters, because supplements are not heavily regulated, the potency and bioavailability of one brand might differ significantly from another. The Mayo Clinic website explains that, although the levels of CoQ10 in the body can be increased by taking supplements, it

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Coenzyme Q10 is essential to heart health, but is supplementation right for everyone?

remains controversial as a treatment. The American Heart Association takes the position that, until the safety and effectiveness of CoQ10 is further evaluated, it cannot recommend taking it regularly. however, some researchers, such as dr. Nicholas Perricone, author, of “dr. Perricone’s 7 Secrets to beauty, health and Longevity,” believe that CoQ10 is probably one of the best-researched antioxidant, anti-inflammatory vitamins and that studies show that it provides protection to all of the body’s organs. In his discussion about cellular repair, Perricone says that cellular energy production declines as people age and that substances such as CoQ10 are critical in maintaining enough energy in the cell so that it can repair itself. in their book, “you: the owner’s Manual,” drs. Michael roizen and Mehmet oz maintain that the body naturally produces CoQ10 only when it is not lacking in vitamin C, the B-complex vitamins or folate. in his book “the UltraMind Solution,” dr. Mark hyman says that coenzyme Q10 is lowered by common drugs, including the cholesterol-lowering statins, betablockers and hypoglycemic drugs. He says that CoQ10 is made by the same enzyme in our bodies as cholesterol is, thus the lowering of CoQ10 if we take statin drugs. We literally shut down our production of Coenzyme Q10.

roizen and oz discuss their belief that CoQ10 helps the heart and that it may also help prevent aging of the brain. In discussing studies of Parkinson’s disease and hypertension, they report that high doses seem to decrease symptoms of the disease as well as decrease high blood pressure. Additionally, roizen and oz contend that, based on the studies they have reviewed, many additional people could benefit from taking CoQ10 supplements, for various conditions. a few of Popescu’s patients take coQ10, and some of Wynn’s use the supplement to control myalgia — which many researchers believe is caused by reduced CoQ10 levels in muscles, due to statin use. The lack of research on a link between statin use and CoQ10 supplementation, coupled with expense, makes Wynn hesitant to recommend it to patients, though he doesn’t consider it dangerous. The Mayo Clinic does concede that few side effects of CoQ10 have been reported, and that any reactions tend to be mild and stop without additional treatment. Because most health organizations and doctors are not comfortable recommending supplements for specific, unproven applications, though, the decision to take (or not to take) CoQ10 really lies with the consumer, who might want to consider personal health

ExpErtisE

Countering statin side effects is only one reason that people take CoQ10. Lower levels of CoQ10 have been found in patients suffering from gum disease, migraines, Parkinson’s disease, heart failure, cardiomyopathy, high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney failure and obesity. double-blind research suggests that CoQ10 supplements may reduce symptoms of heart disease, such as shortness of breath, swelling and difficulty sleeping. In one study, people with heart failure were randomized to receive either CoQ10 (2 mg per kg body weight) or a placebo, in addition to standard treatment. Those who took the CoQ10 had a significant reduction in symptom severity and fewer hospitalizations. Several small trials have found coQ10 might be helpful for certain types of cardiomyopathy. Preliminary research has found that increasing CoQ10 may increase levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is lowered in people with Parkinson’s disease. it has also been suggested that CoQ10 protects brain cells from damage by free radicals. A small, randomized controlled trial examined the use of 360 mg coQ10 or a placebo in 28 Parkinson’s patients. after four weeks, CoQ10 provided a mild but significant improvement in early symptoms, as well as marked improvement in visual function. a larger 16-month trial funded by the National Institutes of Health explored the use of coQ10 (300, 600 or 1,200 mg per day) versus a placebo in 80 patients with early stage Parkinson’s disease. the results suggested that CoQ10, especially at the 1,200 mg per day dose, produced a major reduction in disability compared to those who took a placebo. In a 12-week randomized controlled trial, 74 people with type 2 diabetes were randomized to receive either 100 mg CoQ10 twice daily, 200 mg per day of fenofibrate (a lipid regulating drug), both, or neither, for 12 weeks. CoQ10 noticeably improved blood pressure and glycemic control. Even though it’s a personal choice, anyone considering CoQ10 supplementation should consult a physician first, especially if there are health conditions or disease at play, as CoQ10 may compound, interfere or interact with other supplements or medications.

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