The effectiveness of Coenzyme Q10 for myocarditis and heart failure: Why don’t doctors recommend it?

What is Coenzyme Q10, and why are we deficient in it?

Coenzyme Q10 is an antioxidant that comes from two sources: food, such as animal organs, beef, sardines, and peanuts, and our body's own synthesis process. This synthesis requires an amino acid called tyrosine, eight types of vitamins, and trace minerals. If any one of these is missing, Coenzyme Q10 cannot be produced. Therefore, our body’s natural sources of it are limited, and the materials needed for its synthesis are indispensable. Additionally, some people may experience impaired Coenzyme Q10 synthesis due to bodily dysfunction.

Why do we need Coenzyme Q10?

Think of the body like a car, with the mitochondria (the powerhouse of the cells) acting as the gasoline. Mitochondria require at least three types of enzymes, all of which need Coenzyme Q10 to function. Without Q10, the mitochondria can't work efficiently. In short, Coenzyme Q10 plays a critical role in helping the body produce energy, acting as a vital booster for the heart!

Studies show a positive correlation between certain diseases and Coenzyme Q10 deficiency.

Research has found that people with heart disease, diabetes, and cancer all have notably low levels of Coenzyme Q10. Moreover, the severity of heart failure is positively correlated with the extent of Coenzyme Q10 deficiency. In other words, the more severe the heart failure, the greater the lack of Coenzyme Q10. A recent study by Baggio & Co. surveyed over 2,600 heart failure patients, and nearly 80% of those who took Coenzyme Q10 experienced improvement. Of those, 54% saw significant improvement in the three main symptoms of heart failure. While Coenzyme Q10 cannot completely cure heart failure, the study shows it can significantly slow disease progression, improve symptoms, and enhance quality of life.

Why is Coenzyme Q10 effective for heart failure?

Coenzyme Q10 is not a drug, but rather a nutrient. Our heart is essentially a muscle, and when it weakens for any reason, providing the nutrients it needs to produce energy can be incredibly helpful. This nutrient is often heavily depleted, leaving the heart muscle deficient in Coenzyme Q10. When patients with heart failure supplement this nutrient, the heart regains energy, improving its weakened state. Regular and proper supplementation of Coenzyme Q10 can significantly improve conditions of heart weakness (such as ejection fraction), even if it doesn't cure them.

Why don’t doctors recommend Coenzyme Q10?

1: Coenzyme Q10 is a nutrient, not a drug. It’s a natural product first synthesized by the Japanese, and it can’t be patented by the FDA. Without the incentive of profit, pharmaceutical companies have no reason to spend the immense amount of money required to get it FDA-approved. We all know the high costs involved in promoting a new drug.

2: Most doctors are unfamiliar with Coenzyme Q10. Particularly in the past, many doctors didn’t know about Coenzyme Q10 or its benefits. Doctors study medicine, not nutrition, and Coenzyme Q10 is considered a nutrient, not a drug. While doctors are well-versed in medications, they often know less about natural nutritional products, which fall outside their academic training.

3: The indirect influence of pharmaceutical reps. It’s undeniable that doctors are influenced by the pharmaceutical industry. While they may not want to admit it, pharmaceutical reps who visit doctors’ offices play a large role in shaping their knowledge of new treatments. It’s unlikely a pharmaceutical rep would present a report on the benefits of Coenzyme Q10 for myocarditis and heart failure—there’s no profit in it, and it might not be seen as professional, as research reports are just that: research.

Advice for heart disease patients

Supplementing nutrients to help manage diseases is called complementary therapy. Of course, patients with myocarditis and heart failure should continue following their prescribed treatment plans from their doctors. However, it’s recommended that patients also try supplementing minerals (like calcium and selenium) and antioxidants (vitamins A, C, and E), especially sufficient amounts of Coenzyme Q10 (300-500mg per day). These supplements have no side effects, so it’s worth a try. They can support your weakened heart in carrying out its essential functions, thereby improving your overall health.