One of the most important nutrients necessary for the functioning of cells, Coenzyme Q10 is used to process energy in the body. It may also play a role in the development of certain diseases, including the mitochondrial diseases.
There has been some interest in it as a treatment for diabetes due to a possible increase in blood sugar processing and blood pressure, though the evidence is far from conclusive. In this article, I’ll look at the recent research to see if there is any possibility of using CoQ10 as a treatment for diabetes.
There is always interest in new treatments for diabetes, and CoQ10 does play a role in energy production and hence blood sugar processing as well.
For instance, on the popular site Medical News Today, one user wrote in wondering if the deficiency in CoQ10 is an actual cause of diabetes. He said that Type 1 diabetics’ bodies’ switch to using fat for energy, with an implication that their bodies’ are not using CoQ10 for energy production like the rest of us. While this is just an admittedly unscientific opinion, what does the research show?
There has actually been some concern that CoQ10 supplementation may cause blood sugar to drop too low in diabetics, although many recent studies do not support such a dramatic change. Some studies have shown a definite increase in the efficiency of insulin secretion, although the jury is still out on whether this is sufficiently beneficial to diabetics.
That doesn’t tell us much, does it?
OK. Let’s dig a little.
On the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine website, CoQ10 is described as a possible benefit to the heart in diabetic patients, but that very few studies on the specific connection between CoQ10 and type 2 diabetes have been performed. A search of Google Scholar does indeed show few direct scientific studies. Leading us back to square one. The research is simply inconclusive at this point, so let’s see if there are any indirect benefits for diabetics.
In an older study published in Alternative Medicine Review, CoQ10 was definitely shown to improve the health and survival rate of people with various heart problems, such as congestive heart failure. The study then goes on to call for more research into the effect of CoQ10 on diabetes; since the article is from 1996, it seems curious then that we have not had more research into this area by now.
Another fairly old study, which has since been supported by others, shows a significant decrease in blood pressure in a group of 109 patients taking CoQ10 supplements along with their regular blood pressure meds. Many of them were even able to stop taking some of their medications.
Good stuff, but now we’re moving away from diabetes treatment.
And unfortunately, that’s where we stand right now. There just hasn’t been enough good studies specifically addressing any connection between diabetes and CoQ10. And what has been done is inconclusive.
However, CoQ10 most definitely has a positive effect on heart health and blood pressure, and these can both be issues with diabetics. It is also considered a relatively safe supplement to take, with no known or suspected longterm dangers.
