I have a passion for ships, so I鈥檝e travelled and seen much of the world this way. But I鈥檇 never been to Alaska. So I recently joined a group of cardiologists on an educational cruise to a U.S. state blessed with magnificent scenery. It was a good learning experience, with one glaring omission.
Toward the end of the conference, I asked a specific question. For several days, all the speakers had discussed the value of cholesterol-lowering drugs (CLDs) to prevent heart attack. They had also discussed drugs to treat heart failure. But none had mentioned the vital importance of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) to either prevent or treat a failing heart. Studies show that CLDs decrease the amount of this enzyme, and millions of people are taking CLDs.
Speakers agreed it was a good question. But they explained they would never prescribe drugs that had not been scientifically tested. I begged to differ, as several studies have shown CoQ10 is essential for providing energy to the heart.
Today, heart failure is the fastest-growing cause of heart trouble in North America. Old hearts, like old cars, travel only so many miles before they wear out. A car without gas comes to a sudden halt. Similarly, a deficiency of CoQ10, which has been called 鈥渢he spark plug of our motors,鈥� saps energy from our hearts. Studies show that the higher the dose of CLDs, the more CoQ10 is removed from cardiac muscle.
Dr. Karl Folker, one of the early pioneers of CoQ10, says that a 25 per cent deficiency in COQ10 is enough to cause illness. A 75 per cent decrease can cause death. Since our hearts beat 100,000 times daily, there鈥檚 more CoQ10 in the heart than any other organ, and it needs constant energy.
There are also 100 trillion cells in our body that require continuous energy to carry out a myriad of metabolic tasks to keep us well. So many North Americans on CLDs are tired, have muscle cramps, muscle weakness or have emotional problems due to a lack of CoQ10.
Several years ago, at a meeting in London, England, researchers suggested a surprising new reason for heart failure, cholesterol-lowering drugs. These drugs are very effective in inhibiting an enzyme needed in the manufacture of cholesterol. But, unfortunately, this enzyme is also required for the production of CoQ10. It鈥檚 a great example of what can go wrong when humans start changing the body鈥檚 physiology.
So I found it amazing that my question failed to trigger some discussion by cardiologists aboard. It would be ironic if history shows that CLDs, promoted for years as a way to prevent heart disease, might in fact be causing it.
Dr. Khursheed Jeejeebhoy, professor of nutrition at the University of Toronto, reported years ago that the heart muscles of patients suffering from heart failure show decreased levels of CoQ10. And that CoQ10 therapy along with the energy producing substances taurine and carnitine improves cardiac performance.
Another report in the American Journal of Cardiology shows that a daily dose of 150 milligrams of CoQ10 decreased the incidence of angina by 50 per cent. It鈥檚 believed that CoQ10 allows the heart to work harder before oxygen lack causes angina pain. Research also shows that as we age, the body鈥檚 ability to extract CoQ10 from food decreases.
This medical meeting aboard ship reaffirmed that doctors ignore important facts about natural remedies. There is enough scientific evidence to show that anyone taking CLDs should be taking CoQ10. It鈥檚 available at health-food stores.
