Coenzyme Q10

Coenzyme Q10 is an oil-soluble substance withCoenzyme Q10 is finds place in the membranes
vitamin-like properties. The substance is containedof several organelles and the primary role of this
in most types of eukaryotic cells and is a primarysubstance is to generate energy in the cells. The
substance present in mitochondria. it is anhighest concentration of CoQ10 is in the inner
important ingredient in the electron transport chainmembrane of mitochondrion. CoQ10 is present in
and is useful in several important biologicala lesser amount in some of the following
activities like aerobic cellular respiration and ATPorganelles:
generation. These comprise 90 percent of energy· Endoplasmic reticulum
generation in the human body· Peroxisomes
Discovery· Lysosomes
Coenzyme Q is pronounced like Coke U-10.· Vesicles
Professor Andrew L. Crane and his colleagues atLevels of Coenzyme Q10 in the body
the University of Wisconsin-Madison EnzymeThe production of Coenzyme Q10 takes place
Institute were the first to discover the substancewithin the human body itself and comes of use in
back in the year 1957. In 1958, Dr. Karl Folkersthe basic functioning of body cells. However, the
and coworkers at Merck came up with thelevels of these substances go down as one ages.
chemical structure of the substance.Also patients with the following chronic diseases
Alternative Namescan have low levels of CoQ10:
· Ubiquinone· Heart conditions
· Ubidecarenone· Muscular dystrophies
· Coenzyme Q· Parkinson's disease
Abbreviated Forms· Cancer
· CoQ10· Diabetes
· CoQ· HIV/AIDS
· Q10Several medical drugs have also been found to
· Qlower the levels of CoQ10 in the human body.
Chemical CompositionTaking in of CoQ10 supplements externally, can
Coenzyme Q10 is chemically 1,4-benzoquinone,again boost in the levels of the substance in the
where Q is referred to the chemical group -body, although it is still under research if
quinone and 10 is referred to the chemicalreplacement of "low CoQ10" is actually beneficial
subunits of isoprenyl.or not.
Biochemical role