Coenzyme Q as known as vitamin Q fights cellular aging and fatigue. Here’s where to find it, what it’s for and why it’s so precious to the body.
Vitamin Q is a very important organic molecule for health and well-being. With a high antioxidant power , it helps slow down cellular aging and fights tiredness , giving significant bursts of energy.
What is Vitamin Q
Vitamin Q is the second name by which coenzyme Q is identified, also called ubiquinone (from the Latin ubi, everywhere) because it is a substance that is produced in all the cells of the body. It is an organic molecule that has a structure very similar to that of vitamin K and vitamin E.
It is classified among the fat-soluble vitamins and can be stored by the body to be used when needed, which is why it should not be taken continuously.
What is vitamin Q used for?
Vitamin Q has a high antioxidant power and helps to transfer energy from the cells. It is present in large quantities in the cells of important organs of the human body such as the heart, liver, pancreas and kidneys. This coenzyme also makes the skin much more elastic , contrasting wrinkles and stretch marks , plus it provides the body with the strength necessary to eradicate any type of tiredness.
Its antiaging action derives from the fact that this molecule prevents the loss of elastin and collagen, thus slowing down the formation of wrinkles and helping to maintain skin tone. For this reason coenzyme Q is often present in anti-wrinkle creams and rejuvenating cosmetics.
It also performs an important function on the immune system , strengthening it and fighting infections and free radicals. Regulates insulin because it reduces blood sugar levels (therefore it is particularly suitable for diabetics) and also manages to lower LDL levels (bad cholesterol).
Vitamin Q contain foods
Vitamin Q is present mainly in chicken, beef and pork, with a higher concentration in the liver. A high concentration of coenzyme Q is also found in seafood as well as in some types of fish , especially tuna, salmon, sardines and mackerel.
This molecule is also produced by the body itself which, however, with the passage of time and age begins to release less and less.
What is the daily requirement of vitamin Q
The daily requirement of vitamin Q ranges from 100 to 200 mg. It is not obvious that those who follow a diet high in foods rich in coenzyme Q will be able to maintain high levels of ubiquinone. With advancing age, for example, the liver is able to convert less and less ubiquinones from food and to assimilate them, so it is advisable to take vitamin Q supplements (especially after the age of 50).
However, one must not exceed the doses for adults, 50 to a maximum of 200 mg of vitamin Q per day are recommended.
For coenzyme Q, the maximum daily intake defined by the Directorate General for Food Safety and Nutrition of the Ministry of Health is precisely 200 mg, which must not be exceeded.
Since it is a fat-soluble molecule, it is preferable to take it with a meal rich in fat to allow the body to absorb it better. Some supplements associate ubiquinone with olive oil precisely to make it easy to digest.
What causes vitamin Q deficiency
Vitamin Q deficiency can lead to various cardiovascular and respiratory health problems , which is why a possible low level of this molecule in the body should not be taken lightly.
Closely related to heart and breathing disorders is the typical problem caused by the lack of coenzyme Q a general state of profound tiredness, a weariness that makes any physical or mental activity difficult.
On the aesthetic side, however, little vitamin Q causes wrinkles, stretch marks, dry and lifeless skin, with dull colors and an unhealthy appearance.
Why is it not considered a true vitamin?
It is often referred to as vitamin Q but should be called coenzyme Q. Coenzymes differ from vitamins because they are synthesized by the body at the cell level unlike vitamins.
When you need to supplement with vitamin
Coenzyme Q is produced by the body and is present in the cells of all organs. Furthermore, diet contributes to supplementing the levels of ubiquinone, however there are cases in which it would be better to resort to synthetic supplements or at least to a specific diet based on foods rich in vitamin Q.
Aging is one of the factors that leads to the need for supplementation because from the age of 40 the human body begins to produce smaller quantities of this molecule.
Malnutrition, such as a diet high in fat, complex sugars, and processed foods, could also lead to a vitamin Q deficiency. The intake of certain drugs could cause a decrease in the coenzyme Q contained in the cells this is the case of statins, used in the treatment of LDL cholesterol.
Finally, in cases of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, diseases of the cardiovascular system, tumors and diabetes, the concentration of vitamin Q is considerably reduced and it is necessary to try to raise its levels by taking supplements.