Coenzyme Q-10 with Lipoic Acid, provided by Douglas Laboratories, supplies 60 mg of Coenzyme Q-10, along with 50 mg of Alpha-Lipoic acid, carefully blended in a base of red wine proanthocyanidins.
FUNCTIONS Alpha-lipoic acid is a nutritional coenzyme that participates in the energy metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates and fats, with a particular role in blood glucose disposal. It is also able to scavenge a number of free radicals. Alpha-lipoic acid is unique among biological antioxidants, because it is soluble in both water and lipids. This allows it to neutralize free radicals just about everywhere in the body, inside and outside the cells. Due to its unique sulfur-containing structure, alpha-lipoic acid can scavenge several types of free radicals, such as the highly reactive hydroxyl, and singlet oxygen free radicals. It is also capable of suppressing the generation of free radicals in the first place, since alpha-lipoic acid chelates transition metals, such as iron and copper. Because alpha-lipoic acid is involved in so many different antioxidant functions in virtually all body tissues, it has been called the universal antioxidant. Besides being a universal free radical scavenger, alphalipoic acid can also recharge other antioxidant systems throughout the body. As mentioned earlier, it can extend the activity of vitamins C and E. In addition, alpha-lipoic acid can also regenerate glutathione. Coenzyme Q-10 (or ubiquinone) is an important rate-limiting nutrient that is a cofactor in the mitochondrial electron transport chain, the biochemical pathway in cellular respiration from which adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and metabolic energy is derived. Since nearly all cellular activities are dependent upon energy, coenzyme Q-10 is essential for the health of all human tissues and organs. Coenzyme Q-10 is a naturallyoccurring antioxidant nutrient which retards free radical formation in biological systems. Coenzyme Q-10 resembles vitamin E and vitamin K in chemical structure. Biochemically, it functions much like vitamin E in that it participates in antioxidant and free radical reactions.
INDICATIONS Coenzyme Q-10 with Lipoic Acid may be a useful dietary supplement for individuals wishing to supplement their diet with a more complete antioxidant defense.
