You might have heard of Coenzyme Q10, a popular supplement that can help protect cardiovascular function and boost energy levels. CoQ10 is often recommended to people who have heart conditions as it’s been shown to support healthy mitochondrial function, slow the effects of aging, and also reduce the side effects of statins. 

As good as that sounds, increasing your levels of CoQ10 isn’t as simple as taking any old supplement off the shelf. We’ll explain more about this below. 

We’ll also tell you about a supplement that CAN increase your CoQ10 levels effectively and efficiently: MitoQ. 

First, let’s have a quick biology lesson on the tiny organelles powering your body: mitochondria. 

Our bodies are made up of trillions of cells. Inside each cell is the mitochondria, which are known as the “powerhouse” of a cell. These tiny organelles are like a digestive system within the cell itself. They take in nutrients, break them down, and use them to create molecules of energy for the cell known as ATP. ATP is the fuel that every one of our cells needs to keep us alive and functioning properly.  

This biochemical process (and many others) that happen within the cell is called cellular respiration. Many of the reactions involved in cellular respiration happen in the mitochondria.

In short, mitochondria are the engines of the cell that maintain our energy levels.

Some cells have several thousand mitochondria while others have none. Your muscles require a lot of energy, so they have the most mitochondria, while neurons have much fewer. 

If a cell isn’t getting enough energy to function properly, more mitochondria can be created. Sometimes mitochondria can grow larger or combine with other mitochondria. It all depends on what the cell needs. 

Here’s a breakdown of the many roles of the mitochondria: 

1. Converting the food you eat and the air you breathe into energy
2. Sending messages to other components within the cell
3. Regulating vital calcium levels
4. Producing and regulating body heat
5. Tailoring the cell to perform specific functions
6.  Controlling cell growth and cell self-destruction

In order for your body to perform at its best, your mitochondria also need to be performing at their best. 

One of the most important roles of the mitochondria is to create adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the “fuel” for your cells. ATP is produced within the mitochondria by a metabolic system called the aerobic pathway. This involves combining the food you eat and the oxygen you breathe into energy that the cell can use. Your body requires a certain amount of oxygen, carbs and fats to produce energy via this pathway. 

During physical activity, the aerobic pathway is the main form of energy production. It’s especially important for exercise that is longer in duration. ATP provides energy to your muscles by shuttling energy molecules within the cells.

The more effective mitochondria are at producing ATP, the better your athletic performance. 

It’s hoped that supplements such as MitoQ may help to achieve similar results in humans.

Signs that your mitochondria are functioning poorly

• You're constantly fatigued or lacking energy
• You suffer from fluctuating hormones or mood swings
• You seem to gain weight easily
• You crave sugar or carbs
• You struggle to exercise for as long or as well as you used to
• You find it harder to recover from a training session
• Your skin is showing signs of aging
• You feel stressed or anxious
• You have difficulty sleeping properly each night
• You have health issues regarding blood pressure or circulation
• You suffer from brain fog or poor concentration

Athletes

Anyone taking statins

Liver health