A nutrient that saves the heart

When babies are born and don’t weigh very much, they run a greatly increased risk of heart problems. But a study funded by the British Heart Foundation and the Medical Research Council shows that a nutrient crucial for everyone’s heart health can help fight off this type of heart disease.

In lab tests, researchers at the Institute of Metabolic Science at the University of Cambridge in England found that providing the supplement co-enzyme Q10 (CoQ10) keeps cells in the aorta from aging too quickly and therefore can stem the development of cardiovascular difficulties.

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CoQ10 is made by the body and is necessary for the proper function of mitochondria – tiny energy-producing units in each cell. The nutrient is needed to protect the mitochondria and the cells from being damaged by destructive molecules called free radicals that are a byproduct of cellular energy production. If CoQ10 is insufficient, oxidative stress can occur that distorts the structure cell proteins, membranes and genetic material. But supplements can offset the shortfall in CoQ10.

The scientists discovered that in babies with low birth weights, white blood cells have less CoQ10 and that reflects damage in the aorta.

“Our study has answered a question that has puzzled doctors for some time now – why children of low birth weight who grow quickly are prone to heart disease in later life,” says researcher Susan Ozanne. “We believe it’s because they are deficient in co-enzyme Q. As this molecule is also then deficient in the individual’s blood cells, it may be possible to develop a simple blood test capable of diagnosing the amount of damage to their aorta and therefore likely to develop heart disease.”

Carl Lowe

By Carl Lowe

has written about health, fitness and nutrition for a wide range of publications including Prevention Magazine, Self Magazine and Time-Life Books. The author of more than a dozen books, he has been gluten-free since 2007.

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