Our recent column on supplements for sharper thinking seemed to really resonate with GTD Times readers so I thought I’d continue with another compound; Co enzyme Q10. Thanks to Oliver Nielsen for reminding me of this important natural health aid.

Co enzyme Q10, also called CoQ10 as well as ubiquinone is one of the most powerful and important natural products known. It has broad efficacy across a huge spectrum of different physiological elements in the body. Research has found that in addition to its ability to fight free radical damage, CoQ10 is crucial for cellular energy production, plays a role in modulating immune function with respect to allergies, has been seen in preliminary studies to be anti-mutagenic (mutagenesis is part of the development of malignant cells or cancers), helps to support the body’s ability to control blood sugar, can improve athletic performance, and is critical for normal cardiac function. It has also been shown to be protective of the liver when using certain medications, and can dramatically improve energy levels that can be compromised when being treated with cholesterol lowering medications like lovstatin that work, in part, by inhibiting a compound that is needed for the cellular energy cycle but which also supports the production of cholesterol.

That’s quite a long list! Unlike many natural substances, CoQ10 has been the subject of extensive study due to its role in bioenergetics or the basic process by which the cells in our bodies convert a chemical called ATP into energy. Many scientists and nutrition authorities are big believers in CoQ10 and as a result there’s a substantial body of research including numerous human trials that show that CoQ10 supplementation works in both healthy humans and in those with various pathologies.

One area that’s sure to be of interest to anyone focused on improving personal productivity is how CoQ10 relates to cognitive function. While not a nootropic (intelligence increasing compound like vinpocitine), scientists have found that there is an age related decline in the CoQ10 concentration in many parts of the body and in particular within the brain. While it has not been definitively determined that age-related mental decline and even diseases such as Alzheimer’s are tied directly to CoQ10 levels, there is strong evidence that reduced CoQ10 plays a role in the ontology of these diseases.

Interestingly, some researchers now believe that Alzheimer’s is actually a form of diabetes that some are calling type III diabetes. Since CoQ10 has a role in helping reduce certain aspects of Type I and Type II diabetes, it can be reasonably inferred that it would also be of use in helping to stave off or even correct a third type of diabetes - however this is only hypothesis at this point and remains to be clearly elucidated in peer reviewed research studies.

Clearly, while we know quite a lot about the benefits of CoQ10, there’s still vastly more we need to discover. While the jury may be out on the treatment of specific diseases with CoQ10, what isn’t in question is that adding CoQ10 to your daily dietary supplement regimen can be of real value no matter what your condition and regardless of your age.

Editor’s note: Several years ago I authored a very detailed paper on CoQ10 for a client. I am happy to make this document available to readers of GTD Times with my complements: coq10-ensorb-revised.pdf

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In my previous life I was a biochemist. Lots of people wonder how I ended up working in technology but that’s a longer story than you want to read on a Friday morning. As I was sitting here, however, it occurred to me that some of my past experience might be of value to the GTD crowd. In particular my knowledge of dietary supplements and how they work is something that I figured you might find interesting and perhaps even useful.

Many people things that dietary supplements are all crap and judging from some of the commercials on television these days I can see why. It’s too bad that this junk is allowed on the airwaves because it tends to obscure some products that actually work and in some cases can work wonderfully. I spent more than a decade of my life researching natural compounds for pharmaceutical companies and I can tell you that there are natural products that have powerful and in some cases even pharmacological effects.

Over the next few months - providing your feedback is positive - I’ll do brief write-ups about some of the very best natural ingredients - many of which you can use to help you stay focused, sleep better, relieve insomnia, control your weight, reduce stress, lower cortisol (the “stress hormone”), improve your memory, reduce oxidative stress (prevent free radical damage), and much, much more.

I know that it may seem hard to believe - again because of the damnable television advertising that is IMO nothing short of criminal - but there really are some products supported by truly excellent research that have demonstrable benefit and which are not only effective, but also safe and reasonably cheap too.

One category that I’m sure you’d be keen to learn about are those products that can improve your mental acuity. There are a couple of dozen compounds that do this in various ways - in fact more than it would be reasonable to even briefly describe in a blog post. There are two, however, that are, from my experience, truly exceptional and which you can find online or in better health food stores if you want to try them for yourself. Please note that I am not affiliated with any supplement marketer or manufacturer and am not listing specific web sites or brand names. Everything I write about is for the actual raw material. Use Google to find them if you’re up for a boost.

Vinpocitine: My number one favorite supplement for mental acuity is an extract of periwinkle called vinpocitine. This natural extract, which is actually sold in Europe as the drug Cavinton, has been used for several decades to improve concentration, support memory and interestingly for the treatment of altitude sickness. Vinpocitine works in several ways, first, it is a cerbro vaso dilator, thus it improves blood flow to the brain, secondly it enhances the brain’s ability to use glucose - which is one of only two energy substrates available to the human brain (the other being ketones). Vinpocitine also improves oxygen uptake by the brain. This combination of functions greatly improves cognitive function and, unlike many supplements, these effects are not the result of cumulative doses, but are conferred by the consumption of just one 5mg dose of the active ingredient.

Vinpocitine has a long history of safe use - even people with migraine headaches (who frequently have problems with cerebro-vaso dilators) can use vinpocitine safely - I know this for a fact as I suffer from migraine and have never had a problem with vinpocitine.

Acetyl-l-Carnitine: Another supplement that I’ve found very effective for helping improve my mental acuity is acetyl-l-carnitine. This suppment,which is an acetylated form of the nutrient carnitine has been researched extensively for its functions in the human body. Among these the most important are its role in cellular energy production (it becomes something called acetyl-co-A which is part of the body’s process for creating ATP out of glucose) as well as for its ability to support production of the primary neurotransmitter acetylcholine which is what your brain uses to allow neurons to communicate with one another.

While vinpocitine helps make you noticeably sharper, my experience with ALCAR or acetyl-l-carnitine is more related to improving memory than sharpening my focus (although many of my colleagues felt that it was the best non-stimulant ingredient of all for increasing mental focus). The research currently being conducted is focusing on using ALCAR in patients with age related mental decline, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer diseases.

ALCAR is a bit on the pricey side, but for some people the results are so significant that they’d probably pay ten times the cost for this very safe and demonstrably effective supplement.

I hope you enjoyed this little glimpse into a bit of what I know from my prior life. Please let us know if you liked this article and more will follow. Of course it should be mentioned that I am NOT A DOCTOR and this post and any like it are for your information only and should not be construed as prescriptions or specific recommendations. What works for me may not work for you and as with any supplement you are taking this at your own risk. I highly recommend that if you are being treated for any serious health condition or if you are pregnant or nursing that you speak with your physician before taking ANY dietary supplement.

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