coenzyme Q10 supplement to reduce high blood pressure

[Loaded]

Over the last few years my blood pressure has slowly crept passed normal and safe levels. There are a few life-style changes I can make, such as increasing exercise and reducing alcohol and salt consumption, but researching alternative treatments on the internet I came across coenzyme Q10.

http://www.prevention.com/health/health-concerns/how-lower-blood-pressure-naturally/6-take-supplement

"In a review of 12 studies, researchers found that coenzyme Q10 reduced blood pressure by up to 17 mmhg over 10 mmhg."

It's naturally occurring but mainly in foods I don't like or can't eat. it's also available as a supplement.

So, the reason for my thread:

Has anyone used this supplement before?

If yes, can you purchase in Chiang Mai?

I found this old thread but it was archived:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/450378-co-enzyme-q10/

[Ulysses G.]

I don't know much about coenzyme Q10, but potassium also lowers blood pressure and is found in many fruits and vegetables. Coconut water and bananas are great natural sources.

[purplesage]

Roselle tea, also known as hibiscus, lowers blood pressure and is also a powerful antioxidant. Grown in Thailand and easily available.

[SICHONSTEVE]

I have used this for many years now and it is excellent!!! I buy it over the internet from Healthspan.

Make sure you buy ubiquinol and not ubiquinone though even though it is more expensive.

I also buy Krill oil from them and this is probably better at reducing blood pressure than C0Q10 (coenzyme Q10).

[hellodolly]

It is definatly a help in lowering the blood pressure and as an antioxidant.

The big problem with it is that they do not really regulate the industry and very often it is a waste of money. You need to find a proven quality brand. Not easy to do as they all claim to be quality and have testimonials to that. I do not take them any more since moving here to Thailand. I did before and can not really say they helped me. Just living here has just about brought me back to normal. I now use a small dose from my doctor.

[Loaded]

Your advice is much appreciated.

I did some further research on the ideas above and discovered research that shows 2 bananas a day reduces BP. There are many benefits from having a high potassium & magnesium but low sodium diet. I plan to start my days in future with a bowl of bran, raisins and 2 bananas, which will give me all the potassium and magnesium I need, plus a cup of roselle tea. Cutting back on beer will also help in a number of ways. First, reduce BP directly, second, reduce weight around the waist (cause of high BP) and reduce weight in general. I'll see how the BP moves and if I need another push, I'll buy Q10 from Healthspan.

[purplesage]

Alcohol in moderation actually helps to lower blood pressure, although perhaps best consumed in the form of a glass of red wine with your dinner.

[SICHONSTEVE]

Your advice is much appreciated.

I did some further research on the ideas above and discovered research that shows 2 bananas a day reduces BP. There are many benefits from having a high potassium & magnesium but low sodium diet. I plan to start my days in future with a bowl of bran, raisins and 2 bananas, which will give me all the potassium and magnesium I need, plus a cup of roselle tea. Cutting back on beer will also help in a number of ways. First, reduce BP directly, second, reduce weight around the waist (cause of high BP) and reduce weight in general. I'll see how the BP moves and if I need another push, I'll buy Q10 from Healthspan.

Your plan seems reasonable on the whole and shows you have researched it pretty thoroughly.

There are a few improvements that can be made though - try to avoid grains as much as possible (especially wheat and corn) and eliminate all processed/refined foods. Do not eat ANYTHING with 0% fat or sugar, or that has healthy or diet contained within the label.

You should only use two types of oil and bin the rest!! For cooking use organic virgin coconut oil (expensive but has so many health benefits as against vegetable/canola/refined palm oil etc: which are health wreckers) and cold pressed organic olive oil for low temperature cooking and dressings (still expensive, but you can't buy health)!!

Eat as many vegetables (raw if you can), nuts, and slightly less so, fruits, unless they are berries, as some contain quite high amounts of fructose (much worse than sugar) as the liver has to process 100% of this as against nearer 50% of normal sugar.

If there is one thing I could advise you to do, that is to check out Dr. Mercola's website and better still to subscribe to his news letters (completely free) and they arevery informative with a huge archive of articles on literally any health aspects you can think of.

I took a lot of supplements, did some exercise and ate good food (in smaller quantities) and in 2 months I went from being overweight, verging on pre-diabetes, having moderately high BP, NAFD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease), high cholesterol, elevated liver enzymes, inflammation (this is causal of most bodily disease) and feeling like 'death warmed up' EVERY morning, listless, fatigued, no energy and with early morning bachaches that disturbed my sleep.........to, I lost weight, normal blood sugar levels, normal BP, healthy liver with normal liver enzyme levels, my cholesterol went from 260 down to 150 (200 is normal) so I let it move up slightly and my bad cholesterol (LDL) halved from 180 to 90. My inflammation disappeared, I didn't feel rough/tired/fatigued/listless anymore, in fact I feel about 30 rather than 70 (as before).

If you want to know a bit more about this you can e-mail me if you want.

My biggest claim to fame is I reversed a mate of mine's diabetes type 2 in less than 2 months without those killer statins that his doctor recommended to him!!

[Rimmer]

Moved to Health Forum

[Tolley]

Garlic is very effective and proven to regulate blood pressure in many people so that is another alternative worth considering along with some of the other good ideas in this thread.

[Sheryl]

Garlic is very effective and proven to regulate blood pressure in many people so that is another alternative worth considering along with some of the other good ideas in this thread.

Please provide your sources (reliable ones i.e. valid scientific studies) when making such statements.

To my knowledge, there is evidence to suggest some efficacy in some people but it would not warrant the term "very effective". http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19017826

There is certainly no downside to trying it.

The two home measures most effective for controlling BP remain, however: (1) losing weight and (2) reducing sodium intake. these 2 measures alone will avoid the need for medication in many (but not all) people.

[SICHONSTEVE]

Garlic is very effective and proven to regulate blood pressure in many people so that is another alternative worth considering along with some of the other good ideas in this thread.

Please provide your sources (reliable ones i.e. valid scientific studies) when making such statements.

To my knowledge, there is evidence to suggest some efficacy in some people but it would not warrant the term "very effective". http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19017826

There is certainly no downside to trying it.

The two home measures most effective for controlling BP remain, however: (1) losing weight and (2) reducing sodium intake. these 2 measures alone will avoid the need for medication in many (but not all) people.

Reducing the amount of sodium is not necessarily correct. It is more the case of altering the ratio of sodium to potassium in the blood (in favour of the potassium).

Doctors prescriptions (other than if it is dangerously high and needs bringing down as a matter of emergency) should only be used in my opinion as the last resort, as these tablets almost always do more harm than good.

I don't particularly trust doctors anymore as they do not seem to understand illnesses these days preferring to rely on what they learned in their university days and being governed according to what big pharma want so that they can maximise profits, at the patients expense!!

[jrtmedic]

A high K+ will , for sure, kill you !

[JetsetBkk]

Your advice is much appreciated.

I did some further research on the ideas above and discovered research that shows 2 bananas a day reduces BP. There are many benefits from having a high potassium & magnesium but low sodium diet. I plan to start my days in future with a bowl of bran, raisins and 2 bananas, which will give me all the potassium and magnesium I need, plus a cup of roselle tea. Cutting back on beer will also help in a number of ways. First, reduce BP directly, second, reduce weight around the waist (cause of high BP) and reduce weight in general. I'll see how the BP moves and if I need another push, I'll buy Q10 from Healthspan.

Alternatively there are these places where trained people check you over and give you stuff in packets for money. 'Clinics', I think they are called.

[chiang mai]

Your advice is much appreciated.

I did some further research on the ideas above and discovered research that shows 2 bananas a day reduces BP. There are many benefits from having a high potassium & magnesium but low sodium diet. I plan to start my days in future with a bowl of bran, raisins and 2 bananas, which will give me all the potassium and magnesium I need, plus a cup of roselle tea. Cutting back on beer will also help in a number of ways. First, reduce BP directly, second, reduce weight around the waist (cause of high BP) and reduce weight in general. I'll see how the BP moves and if I need another push, I'll buy Q10 from Healthspan.

Your plan seems reasonable on the whole and shows you have researched it pretty thoroughly.

There are a few improvements that can be made though - try to avoid grains as much as possible (especially wheat and corn) and eliminate all processed/refined foods. Do not eat ANYTHING with 0% fat or sugar, or that has healthy or diet contained within the label.

You should only use two types of oil and bin the rest!! For cooking use organic virgin coconut oil (expensive but has so many health benefits as against vegetable/canola/refined palm oil etc: which are health wreckers) and cold pressed organic olive oil for low temperature cooking and dressings (still expensive, but you can't buy health)!!

Eat as many vegetables (raw if you can), nuts, and slightly less so, fruits, unless they are berries, as some contain quite high amounts of fructose (much worse than sugar) as the liver has to process 100% of this as against nearer 50% of normal sugar.

If there is one thing I could advise you to do, that is to check out Dr. Mercola's website and better still to subscribe to his news letters (completely free) and they arevery informative with a huge archive of articles on literally any health aspects you can think of.

I took a lot of supplements, did some exercise and ate good food (in smaller quantities) and in 2 months I went from being overweight, verging on pre-diabetes, having moderately high BP, NAFD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease), high cholesterol, elevated liver enzymes, inflammation (this is causal of most bodily disease) and feeling like 'death warmed up' EVERY morning, listless, fatigued, no energy and with early morning bachaches that disturbed my sleep.........to, I lost weight, normal blood sugar levels, normal BP, healthy liver with normal liver enzyme levels, my cholesterol went from 260 down to 150 (200 is normal) so I let it move up slightly and my bad cholesterol (LDL) halved from 180 to 90. My inflammation disappeared, I didn't feel rough/tired/fatigued/listless anymore, in fact I feel about 30 rather than 70 (as before).

If you want to know a bit more about this you can e-mail me if you want.

My biggest claim to fame is I reversed a mate of mine's diabetes type 2 in less than 2 months without those killer statins that his doctor recommended to him!!

Statins are used to lower cholesterol and not really related to Type II Diabetes, and by the way, diabetes is not reversible.

[partington]

I don't particularly trust doctors anymore as they do not seem to understand illnesses these days preferring to rely on what they learned in their university days and being governed according to what big pharma want so that they can maximise profits, at the patients expense!!

I'd prefer to be treated by someone who studied medicine at a university and therefore has worked hard for 7 years plus to attain an extensive knowledge of a highly technical and difficult subject, than follow the undigested ramblings of a highly biased and inaccurate website like Mercola's.

Often people with zero knowledge can be taken in easily by these websites, because they don't know what they don't know (if you see what I mean). So for example, a quite literally meaningless statement like "the liver has to process 100% of fructose not 50% like normal sugars" is accepted by people who don't know any biochemistry, because they don't realise how silly it is. (What does "process" mean? What is a "normal" sugar? both meaningless terms in context)

This is not a criticism of people not knowing biochemistry - why should they? Except when they try to give authoritative sounding advice on biochemical matters in public forums. Then responsibility dictates knowledge of your subject ( much as you would obtain if you went to university and spent 3 years learning things like the sequence of reactions determing glycolysis,Krebs cycle, and so on.)

I wouldn't critcise someone who didn't know anything about jet engine maintenance, but I would not fly in a plane just serviced by someone who had read a couple of (wrong) articles on it on the net.

Statins are a treatment for high cholesterol not diabetes.

[chiang mai]

For the OP; CoQ10 is manufactured in the liver and is depleted by using statins, in that respect it is sometimes recommended as a replacement therapy although more commonly CoQ10 is touted as an anti-aging supplement - it is widely available in most pharmacies in Thailand. Perhaps read the following or similar, BTW, CoQ10 is not naturally occuring in foods, once again, it's made by the liver.

http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/heart-failure/tc/coenzyme-q10-topic-overview

Edited June 19, 2013 by chiang mai

[Tolley]

Garlic is very effective and proven to regulate blood pressure in many people so that is another alternative worth considering along with some of the other good ideas in this thread.

Please provide your sources (reliable ones i.e. valid scientific studies) when making such statements.

To my knowledge, there is evidence to suggest some efficacy in some people but it would not warrant the term "very effective". http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19017826

There is certainly no downside to trying it.

The two home measures most effective for controlling BP remain, however: (1) losing weight and (2) reducing sodium intake. these 2 measures alone will avoid the need for medication in many (but not all) people.

is fairly thin and at most suggests mild efficacy for people with mild hypertension http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8064171

How about this study:

http://www.wagnerproducts.com.au/health-blog/comments/_thread_/aged-garlic-extract-reduces-blood-pressure

[jrtmedic]

Two issues of importance

1.This was a VERY small "trial" with only 79 patients being involved !

2. The "aged garlic" was used as an adjunct treatment !

NB ADJUCT = A thing added to something else as a supplementary rather than an essential part !

[SICHONSTEVE]

A high K+ will , for sure, kill you !

Who has mentioned a high potassium level??

[Tolley]

Two issues of importance

1.This was a VERY small "trial" with only 79 patients being involved !

2. The "aged garlic" was used as an adjunct treatment !

NB ADJUCT = A thing added to something else as a supplementary rather than an essential part !

Yes and what is your point? The adjunct means that you also need to look at lifestyle things like diet, weight, stress as you do i f you are taking prescription meds too etc

Please note that it also said that it was just as effective as the over the counter prescription meds for blood pressure without the side effects.

Edited June 19, 2013 by Tolley

[SICHONSTEVE]

For the OP; CoQ10 is manufactured in the liver and is depleted by using statins, in that respect it is sometimes recommended as a replacement therapy although more commonly CoQ10 is touted as an anti-aging supplement - it is widely available in most pharmacies in Thailand. Perhaps read the following or similar, BTW, CoQ10 is not naturally occuring in foods, once again, it's made by the liver.

http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/heart-failure/tc/coenzyme-q10-topic-overview

.....and this is why statins are killers!!

Don't bother getting it from a pharmacy as this is more than likely ubiquinone which is much less biovailable with a majority of it simply passing through you!!

[SICHONSTEVE]

Two issues of importance

1.This was a VERY small "trial" with only 79 patients being involved !

2. The "aged garlic" was used as an adjunct treatment !

NB ADJUCT = A thing added to something else as a supplementary rather than an essential part !

Yes and what is your point? The adjunct means that you also need to look at lifestyle things like diet, weight, stress etc

Please note that it also said that it was just as effective as the over the counter prescription meds for blood pressure without the side effects which are also adjuncts to high blood pressure treatment.

Correct!!

[Sheryl]

Garlic is very effective and proven to regulate blood pressure in many people so that is another alternative worth considering along with some of the other good ideas in this thread.

Please provide your sources (reliable ones i.e. valid scientific studies) when making such statements.

To my knowledge, there is evidence to suggest some efficacy in some people but it would not warrant the term "very effective". http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19017826

There is certainly no downside to trying it.

The two home measures most effective for controlling BP remain, however: (1) losing weight and (2) reducing sodium intake. these 2 measures alone will avoid the need for medication in many (but not all) people.

is fairly thin and at most suggests mild efficacy for people with mild hypertension http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8064171

How about this study:

http://www.wagnerproducts.com.au/health-blog/comments/_thread_/aged-garlic-extract-reduces-blood-pressure

That is not a study, that is a commercial site stating what, according to them, is in a study. Please use original scientific journals as your source. in this particular case not big difference but it is not at all uncommon for commercial sites to seriously misstate research findings.

[partington]

Tiny effects, tiny numbers of patients (~20 per group, placebo group ended up as 13 people!), all patients were already on at least one and usually two "big pharma" hypertension medications during the entire course of the study and significant effects were only seen when data from two placebo group patients were removed from the study because they changed their big pharma medication half way through. This study shows a possible small effect, that would need to be confirmed in a larger group.

Not evidence for powerful effects in my book.

EDIT:

Also even though they described this study as showing that the garlic was as effective as antihypertensive medicine without the side effects this is not an accurate description because they have no information on what would happen to patients not already on antihypertensives (they continued to take, and sometimes changed their big pharma meds during the course of the study, so how could the researchers tell what side effects there would be without antihypertensives)

and the paper itself describes bloating and flatulence as side effects of the garlic treatment http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3561616/

Edited June 19, 2013 by partington

[jrtmedic]

This is my last comment on this subject -----

Wagner is a company which sells "alternative health" products !

The link you provide goes directly to the Wagner commercial site ! --------- There is no link to the original research publication !

The site includes the following disclaimer !

Legal Notice and Disclaimer

The information accessed through this web site is to inform you on our range of products and their use. Wagner does not engage in offering professional medical or health advice. The information accessed through this web site is not intended to be complete or to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease. If you have a health problem or suspect you have a health problem, please consult your doctor or health advisor.

In fact the ONLY link is to stockists of Wagner products !

Very reassuring !

[Sheryl]

Two issues of importance

1.This was a VERY small "trial" with only 79 patients being involved !

2. The "aged garlic" was used as an adjunct treatment !

NB ADJUCT = A thing added to something else as a supplementary rather than an essential part !

Yes and what is your point? The adjunct means that you also need to look at lifestyle things like diet, weight, stress etc

Please note that it also said that it was just as effective as the over the counter prescription meds for blood pressure without the side effects which are also adjuncts to high blood pressure treatment.

Correct!!

No, incorrect. The research did NOT say "it was just as effective as the over the counter prescription meds for blood pressure without the side effects which are also adjuncts to high blood pressure treatment". That statement is made on a commercial site selling the supplement.

Read the actual study. http://www.nature.com/ejcn/journal/v67/n1/full/ejcn2012178a.html

It was indeed small in size, limited to people with uncontrolled severe hypertension, and the supplement was given in addition to, not instead of, conventional BP meds. No comparison was made of garlic alone to antihypertensive medications alone. BTW there were some minor side effects associated with garlic use, sufficient for a few people to drop out of the study.

I see no problem at all with people taking garlic in addition to regular medication, or even to people with mild hypertension trying it first to see if they can avoid the need for other medication. But I see a big problem with exaggerated claims and uncritical acceptance of statements made on commercial websites.

[jrtmedic]

Sheryl -congratulations on digging that ref. out

Agree 100% with your comments !

I also have HUGE problems with exaggerated claims and uncritical acceptance of statements made on commercial websites and with the ill-informed people who spread this nonsense on Forums.

[Tolley]

Two issues of importance

1.This was a VERY small "trial" with only 79 patients being involved !

2. The "aged garlic" was used as an adjunct treatment !

NB ADJUCT = A thing added to something else as a supplementary rather than an essential part !

Yes and what is your point? The adjunct means that you also need to look at lifestyle things like diet, weight, stress etc

Please note that it also said that it was just as effective as the over the counter prescription meds for blood pressure without the side effects which are also adjuncts to high blood pressure treatment.

Correct!!

No, incorrect. The research did NOT say "it was just as effective as the over the counter prescription meds for blood pressure without the side effects which are also adjuncts to high blood pressure treatment". That statement is made on a commercial site selling the supplement.

Read the actual study. http://www.nature.com/ejcn/journal/v67/n1/full/ejcn2012178a.html

It was indeed small in size, limited to people with uncontrolled severe hypertension, and the supplement was given in addition to, not instead of, conventional BP meds. No comparison was made of garlic alone to antihypertensive medications alone. BTW there were some minor side effects associated with garlic use, sufficient for a few people to drop out of the study.

I see no problem at all with people taking garlic in addition to regular medication, or even to people with mild hypertension trying it first to see if they can avoid the need for other medication. But I see a big problem with exaggerated claims and uncritical acceptance of statements made on commercial websites.

I think you are nit picking here.

Fact.There is research out there that suggests aged garlic extract can lower blood pressure.

Yes there might be some exaggerated claims because it is a commercial website but the fact remains it could be a viable alternative for those with blood pressure issues and it could help them avoid taking over the counter meds which have much worse side effects.

For certain it wouldnt hurt it you tried it. Simple as that.

[SICHONSTEVE]

This is my last comment on this subject -----

Wagner is a company which sells "alternative health" products !

The link you provide goes directly to the Wagner commercial site ! --------- There is no link to the original research publication !

The site includes the following disclaimer !

Legal Notice and Disclaimer

The information accessed through this web site is to inform you on our range of products and their use. Wagner does not engage in offering professional medical or health advice. The information accessed through this web site is not intended to be complete or to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease. If you have a health problem or suspect you have a health problem, please consult your doctor or health advisor.

In fact the ONLY link is to stockists of Wagner products !

Very reassuring !

They have been forced by the FDA (which has been severely infiltrated by big pharma) to state this as they know that supplements work just as well (usually better) without the 'killer' side effects and they don't need the competition. In fact they are paranoid about it!!

Have you opened up a box of prescription pills lately?

They often warn you about things such as "these tablets" can cause strokes, heart attacks, a multitude of allergies, pain, discomfort, coma and even death.

Now that is really reassuring!!!.

...and don't you think that pharmaceutical companies do a little bit more hard selling, advertising and giving free gifts or plane tickets (for doctors) to attend seminars promoting their 'deadly' products, than these commercial websites do??