Co-enzyme Q10 - aka CoQ10 - aka Ubiquinone

Nature's Sunshine Coenzyme Q10

My comments a moment ago regarding the research on statins and diabetes risk inspired me to look into whether the increased incidence was a result of decreased levels of CoQ10. Coenzyme Q10 is produced by the body but levels diminish when an individual is taking something like a statin medication - or a supplement like Red Yeast Rice (http://www.naturessunshine.com/us/product/red-yeast-rice-120-caps/558/?support=3222472) which is an herbal cholesterol-lowering supplement. Replacement of the CoQ10 (http://www.naturessunshine.com/us/product/co-q10-50-mg-30-softgel-caps/4109/?support=3222472) is essential, but often not done and not even discussed by the physician prescribing the statin meds.

So this is what I have found thus far. 
1. Mice given Co-Q10 who had lab-induced Diabetes, showed a reduction in
damage to their kidneys! Yeah! Big problem as Diabetes progresses, as protein and sugar starts to spill over into the kidneys damaging them, taking it from just Diabetes to Kidney failure.
2. Depressed levels of CoQ10 lead to oxidative stress which damages lipids, protein and DNA. "Cardiovascular diseases, cancers, neurologic dysfunctions, muscle weakness, and other pathologies are attributable in part to decreased cellular CoQ10".
3. CoQ10 is essential for ATP production. ATP = energy for the body. Mice tested were given CoQ10 and then had to swim to exhaustion. Those with with CoQ10 had greater endurance and increased glycogen levels in the liver as compared to those without CoQ10. Yeah! Who doesn't want more energy for exercise??
4. And here's where it all kind of ties together: "...the formation of ROS [reactive oxygen species], that, in excess and over time, causes chronic oxidative stress, which in turn causes defective insulin gene expression and insulin secretion as well as increased apoptosis." Those ROS's are the very things that CoQ10 keeps on the down-low!!

Alright, let me pull this altogether in simpler terms. If you take a statin medication, or simply are getting older - your levels of CoQ10 are going to diminishing. Combine getting older with the statin medication and you've got a seriously low level of CoQ10. CoQ10 helps to create energy in your body which can make it easier to exercise for longer periods of time - and exercise can help to ward off the development of Type 2 Diabetes by making cells more receptive to insulin and sugar. CoQ10 also protects the body against free radicals (those ROS's we mentioned in #2 and #4 above), when free radicals go unchecked we end up with damage to cells, tissues, kidneys, pancreas, etc. If you already have diabetes, damage to the kidneys is what we're trying to avoid, and damage to the pancreas can help encourage development of diabetes as this is the organ which produces insulin! So what can you do? Well, if you are already taking a statin med, get yourself some Coenzyme Q10. If you're getting older, get some too. And if you fall in both those groups - um, well... I think you get the idea. 

1 - Sourrisa KC, Harcourta BE, Tangc PH , Morleya AL, Huynhb K, Penfolda SA, et al. Ubiquinone (coenzyme Q10) prevents renal mitochondrial dysfunction in an experimental model of type 2 diabetes. Free Radical Biology and Med. 2012:52(3);716-723.
2 - Lance J, McCabe S, Clancy R, Pierce J. Coenzyme Q10 - A Therapeutic Agent. MedSurg Nursing. 2012:21(6);367-371.
3 - Dam J, Fu X, Ji R. Antifatigue effect of coenzyme Q10 in mice. J Medicinal Food. 2010:13(1);211-
4 - Jin X, Wai Kei Lam C, Yan SK, Yang H. Oxidative stress and diabetes mellitus. Clin Chem Lab Med. 2011:49(11);1773-.