Coenzyme Q10, health products or drugs?

Coenzyme Q10 is very popular in recent years, which is inseparable from the publicity of health products. Some advertisements even beautify coenzyme Q10 as omnipotent, which can not only protect the heart, resist oxidation and aging, but also reduce blood pressure and fat, fight cancer and improve human immunity. Some careful friends find that coenzyme Q10 can be matched in the hospital, imported coenzyme Q10 can also be bought at the health care products counter in the shopping mall, and coenzyme Q10 is even added to some cosmetics. Does this belong to drugs or health care products?

Coenzyme Q10 was discovered in 1957. It is the only coenzyme Q substance in human body, also known as ubiquinone. It is a fat soluble quinone compound. Its structure is similar to vitamin K, vitamin E and plastid quinone. With the continuous in-depth research of medicine, coenzyme Q10 has been proved to have many effects, such as antioxidation, scavenging free radicals, alleviating fatigue and protecting cardiovascular system. In addition to medicine, coenzyme Q10 can also be used as an additive in cosmetics and food. Therefore, coenzyme Q10 is also an important raw material in food, cosmetics and other industries. In China, CoQ10 is commonly used in the adjuvant treatment of cardiovascular diseases, such as viral myocarditis, cardiac insufficiency, congestive heart failure and so on. The main effect of coenzyme Q10 on myocardium is to promote cellular oxidative phosphorylation, which has a certain protective effect on ischemic myocardium; Increasing the output of cardiac blood is conducive to the treatment of heart failure; Improve chronic hyperemia and anti arrhythmia, and provide sufficient energy for myocardium. In addition, coenzyme Q10 has other approved indications in China: adjuvant treatment of hepatitis; Reduce some adverse reactions caused by cancer radiotherapy and chemotherapy. In addition, there is no definite evidence that the routine supplement of coenzyme Q10 can bring benefits to the efficacy of some health products in reducing blood pressure, blood lipid and anti-aging. Although coenzyme Q10 is a drug approved for marketing in China, it does not mean that it is a first-line drug for the treatment of diseases. It is also clear in the instructions of the drug that it is only used for adjuvant treatment. The FDA has not approved coenzyme Q10 as a drug, but only as a food supplement, that is, it belongs to health products. At present, domestic and foreign guidelines do not recommend the routine supplement of coenzyme Q10 in the treatment of chronic heart failure, that is, most people can absorb and synthesize coenzyme Q10 through diet without routine supplement. If coenzyme Q10 is lacking for some reasons, it can be supplemented appropriately, which is also beneficial to the heart.

Coenzyme Q10 is higher in sardine, animal viscera, peanuts and other foods. But a normal diet can only consume 2-5 mg of coenzyme Q10, which is not enough for patients who need supplementation. So, oral medicine or health care products must be taken. The guiding dose in China is 30 mg per day, while the recommended dose of foreign health products is generally large. There is no consensus on the supplementary dose, which needs to be determined according to the drug composition, treatment purpose, blood drug concentration and other factors. The adverse reactions of coenzyme Q10 are relatively mild, including nausea, stomach discomfort, loss of appetite, etc. Therefore, it is recommended to take it after meals. If you take more than 300 mg orally every day, there will be an increase in serum aminotransferase, which will lead to liver damage in serious cases. Long term high-dose administration should be avoided. It is worth noting that coenzyme Q10 is structurally similar to vitamin K and can competitively inhibit the anticoagulant effect of warfarin. It can not be used at the same time for patients taking warfarin orally. In this reminder, patients who need to supplement coenzyme Q10 should not blindly eat health products. It is more recommended to supplement coenzyme Q10 and take medicine according to the doctor's order to ensure the safety of medication.