The Milwaukee Times Weekly Paper
Thursday, November 28, 2013 - Wednesday, Decmeber 4, 2013
An NCON Publication
Health & Fitness
Talking Health with Dr. Carter
11
By Dr. Lester Carter Owner, Carter Drug Store
Coenzyme Q10: Breakthrough with CoQ (part 4) Supplemental CoQ10 not only improves the quality of life, it also saves lives
Coenzyme Q10 has been called the miracle nutrient of the 21st century. It has been shown to energize the body, strengthen the heart, revitalize the immune system, control periodontal disease, normalize blood pressure, overcome infertility, reverse the effects of aging, and more. Enhanced immunity Our bodies retain extra supplies of CoQ10 where they are needed most: the heart, the liver, and the immune system. CoQ10 is a way to give that system a boost. According to the National Cancer Institute, animal studies have shown that coenzyme Q10 helps the immune system work better and increases the body's ability to resist certain infections and types of cancer. In a study comparing antibody production in young and aging mice, the young mice produced 300 units of antibodies and the old mice
only about 130 . When treated with CoQ10, aging mice increased their production to 240 units, nearly double. Similar results have been found in limited human studies. Chronically ill patients took 60 mg per day for 1-2 months. The CoQ10 supplementation was associated with a significant increase in antibodies. Researchers concluded that the coenzyme may prevent the immune suppression which commonly occurs with chronic illness. Further experiments have demonstrated the ability of CoQ10 to reduce the number and size of chemically induced tumors in mice. Since human tumors manifest in the same way as mouse tumors, scientists anticipate that the human response to CoQ10 will be equally beneficial. CoQ10 has already been used as an adjunct to Adriamycin, a chemotherapy agent, to reduce its side ef-
fects which include weakening of the heart muscle. Sources and subalimentation Dr. Stephen T. Sinatra contends that functioning on low levels of CoQ10 is like running a high octane engine on low octane fuel. Meats and fish, especially mackerel and sardines, are very high in CoQ10. Cereals, particularly brans; nuts, especially peanuts; dark green vegetables like spinach and broccoli; soybeans; and canola, soy and sesame oils are all rich food sources. CoQ 10 supplementation
only works if there is a deficiency of coenzyme Q10. Once we pass 40 most of us are deficient. From that point, we can get our CoQ10 needs met only preformed in food or with CoQ10 supplements. In addition, aging, poor eating habits, infection, stress, and strenuous exercise affect our ability to provide adequate amounts. People taking statio type cholesterol lowering drugs (e.g., Lovastatin) compromise CoQ10 production in the body. Ironically, the very drugs which lower cholesterol endanger the heart. Although there are no clinical studies providing information on the use of CoQ10 for prevention, if you are over 30, add CoQ10 to your supplement program. For healthy people, the usual dose is 30-60 mg once a day. Because CoQ10 is fat-soluble, absorption is significantly improved when it is taken with a fat-containing food. In
addition, some people experience a major increase in energy when they take CoQ10 supplements. This lead to trouble sleeping. In this case, take the supplements during the day with food. The ability of individual bodies to uptake Q10 varies greatly. Some patients attain good blood levels on 100 mg per day while others require 200-300 mg to attain the same levels. Remember, coenzyme Q10 works like a vitamin not like a wonder drug. One to three months or longer may be necessary to saturate deficient tissues. Please note: Studies have shown that health status declines when CoQ10 supplements are discontinued. Continued next week: Miscellany
Black patients less likely to ask for lower-cost meds African American patients may feel less comfortable than white patients asking doctors if they can take cheaper drugs, a recent survey from an emergency department shows. White patients in the study were also more likely to be aware of low-cost prescription drug programs, according to lead author Dr. Preeti Dalawari, of Saint Louis University School of Medicine, and her colleagues. They said the study supports recommendations that doctors talk with patients about how much drugs cost
and ways to overcome high price tags. Such discussions may help people stick more closely to their prescribed medications. “There are viable low cost pharmacy options that patients, especially those who have difficulty obtaining medication, should be aware of,” Dalawari told Reuters Health in an email. “If we, as Emergency Medicine physicians, are doing the prescribing, we need to make sure we advocate for the patient and let them know of these options.” “This is not really a racial is-
sue,” Dr. Robert Solomon, a spokesperson for the American College of Emergency Physicians, said. Instead, it’s “something we ought to be applying across the board.” Solomon was not involved with the current study. As an emergency department (ED) doctor at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he said he teaches doctors-in-training to pay attention to whether what they are recommending is possible for a patient. “What we’re dealing with is physicians not doing what told Reuters Health. they should be doing,” he Dalawari and her team surveyed 552 mostly African American and white adults who came to an urban ED in the Midwest. Participants answered questions about the affordability of their medications, perceptions about doctors’ habits of prescribing lowercost medicines and whether they felt comfortable asking doctors for cheaper alternatives to the medicines they were originally prescribed. Community Mental Health & Mental Health Counseling Almost half of African Americans said doctors can do a better job of finding Accepting Applications for Classes that Begin in Summit in January cheaper medications. The same sentiment was voiced Specializations in Integrated Preparation for licensure as a by one-quarter of white paCommunity Mental Health and professional counselor in Wisconsin tients. Substance Abuse Services for Children, and other states Yet African Americans Youth and Families or Adults. were less likely to say they felt comfortable asking doctors for cheaper medications. About 72 percent of them In Wisconsin would feel comfortable havFor more information, contact pcmhadmissions@snhu.edu, 800-730-5542 or visit our web pages at http://www.snhu.edu/53.asp ing that conversation com4288553-01
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pared to almost 83 percent of whites, the researchers report in The Journal of Emergency Medicine. Most of the survey respondents - 86 percent - said doctors do a good job of prescribing lower-cost prescription medications, however. “I found it surprising that 86 percent of the participants actually thought that physicians were doing a good job prescribing low cost medications, given the possible extra steps involved in the ED setting to find this information,” Dalawari said. The participants reported taking an average of four medications every day, and 44 percent said they were unable to afford at least one of their drugs. One in four respondents said they had trouble paying for their medications at least half of the time. (Continued on pg. 12)