Balancing the responsibilities of a private practice is

tricky. 

There are so many aspects of patient care and many

daily decisions to make— including recommending

supplements for your clients. 

I find supplements one of the fascinating aspects of

nutrition practice.

Even in a private practice, nutriceuticals are an area of

nutrition study that can demonstrate the medicinal and

therapeutic value of certain nutrients because they are

given in a somewhat controlled fashion.

I consider my client’s supplement recommendations as

one of the more time consuming and significant

aspects of my care.

They are based on many factors, including: medical

history, diet adequacy, level of illness, efficacy of use,

budget and tolerance. …a supplement triage of sorts.

There is no magic supplement or recipe that fits

everyone.

Although, we must be cautious not to overuse

supplements, we also must be careful not to overlook

their beneficial use.

Understanding anatomy and physiology and system

biology will help support your rationale for how you

determine and prioritize your client supplement

recommendations.

Did You Know?   The Multi-purpose, “Co-Q 10”  (ubiquinone)  works on many systems.

Most nutritionists are aware of CoQ10, BUT, do you

actually recommend your clients to supplement with

CoQ10?

I do and here’s why. They feel better.

The majority of my clients who take CoQ10 with a few

exceptions notice a difference in their energy level vs.

when they are not taking it.

This change in energy is not like that attained from a

stimulant such as caffeine, but a more homeostatic

energy change.

Energy can be one of those ambiguous, intangibles in

life.

Boy, when you have a little energy, it’s usually

perceived as a plus. providing it’s not from a “jacked

up” sympathetic nervous system.

Why would supplemental CoQ10 have this effect?

Ubiquinones are a class of fat-soluble compounds that

are involved with how the body utilizes energy in the

mitochondria of the cell—specifically, the electron

transport system.

This reaction is happening all over your body to make

ATP, so you can breath, read, write, move and live your

life.

Food provides the calories or substrate for your body

to produce ATP in your cells. Mitochondria and ATP

are two big hints here why CoQ10 is so important.

Mitochondria, as tiny as they are, are the energy

production plants of the cell.

Ubiquinol, the reduced and more active form of

ubiquinone is directly associated with over 95 percent

of the body’s cellular energy production …need I say

more?

Maintaining adequate levels of CoQ10 is one step

towards protecting our mitochondria.

Much of the earlier research on Co Q10 was with the

heart and congestive heart failure.

Heart cells have an ultra demand for ATP because they

are working 24-hours/day constantly beating supplying

blood to your cells.

They contain far more mitochondria than any other

organ in the body.

Young, healthy bodies generally make enough CoQ10

but production slows down as we age and certain

medications actually block the process.

Statin drugs are the most well known for this feat. So,

in the process of reducing cholesterol production,

statins also impede CoQ10 production, not a helpful

side effect.

Other medications including blood pressure can lower

CoQ10 too.

Newer research is showing benefit beyond the heart,

protecting cells throughout the body; including

improved glucose management, reducing inflammation

and even managing migraines for certain people.

Some research shows benefit with relatively low

dosages—100-200 mg/day.

People taking supplemental CoQ10 should monitor

blood sugars and consider all medications; CoQ10

may interfere with drug thinning medications such as

Coumadin.

CoQ10 supplementation carries low risk and modest to

high benefit.

Consider it with your clients especially for those on a

statin, anyone over 50 or with a chronic health

condition and feeling “low energy”.

A healthy mitochondria contributes to a healthy you.

Did You Know? —CoQ10 Research

• CoQ10 can help and prevent migraines in certain people? See here

• CoQ10 can lower blood glucose in PCOS? See here

• CoQ10 has anti-inflammatory properties and can lower TNF-a and hs CRP. See here

• CoQ10 has positive effects on metabolic syndrome? See here