April 18, 2011
By Jessica Forbes MS, CCN
This month we are focusing on CoQ10, our most recently added product. I thought it would be useful to share some of the science behind how CoQ10 is produced in the body.
CoQ10 is made in all cells of the body in varying quantities and is necessary for the synthesis of ATP, the source of energy that fuels the biochemical processes of life. Research indicates that the average person requires a daily replacement of approximately 500 mg of CoQ10. Even more may be needed in people who expend more biochemical energy on a daily basis whether due to disease processes such as diabetes and neurological issues or due to excessive stress and over-exertion. Most people only obtain about 5 mg per day of CoQ10 from food, so the rest is made up from the body’s own endogenous production. CoQ10 synthesis requires at least seven known vitamins (B2, B3, B5, B6, folic acid, and C) so a deficiency in any one of these nutrients can slow production of CoQ10. There’s one more reason to eat a nutrient dense diet! The biochemical pathway that produces CoQ10 is closely intertwined with the pathway that produces cholesterol, so those on cholesterol-lowering medications (particularly statins, which directly block this pathway) are particularly vulnerable to CoQ10 deficiency. To help boost your levels of CoQ10, be sure to eat a balanced whole foods diet to encourage your body’s own production of this important nutrient, and consider adding a CoQ10 supplement.
For more on the science behind CoQ10 including clinical recommendations, pharmacology, and research-based indications see the article Coenzyme Q10 from the journal American Family Physician.
NOTE: This blog is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified healthcare practitioner. If you are on prescription medications and/or are under the care of a physician, please consult with them before taking nutritional supplements.


Most people know that Vitamin C is great for colds, but did you also know that it plays a tremendous role in heart health? With our focus this month on healthy hearts I thought it would be fun to share a few facts regarding this incredible supplement.
Red yeast rice is a type of yeast that has been found to be, in many cases, as effective as statins to lower cholesterol without the negative side effects. Below is a link to a Discovery Health article that discusses the benefits of red yeast rice in more detail.