CoQ10 – Could It Mean The End Of Dialysis?
There have been so many recent advances and discoveries in the field of medicine that people tend to forget there are still more than 20 million Americans suffering from devastating diseases such as chronic kidney disease. Also, there are more than a million others that are at risk of getting the disease. This disease often leads to kidney failure, which requires costly painful dialysis treatments.
Fortunately, experts constantly look for alternative cures for different diseases, one of which is Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). CoQ10 may reduce the need for dialysis because it has properties that can make the kidneys function properly. This may reduce the risk of getting chronic kidney disease and renal failure.
Coenzyme Q10 is ubiquinone and this alternate name comes from the work “Ubiquitous,” which is used to describe something that can be found everywhere. CoQ10 is a natural compound that can be found in every cell of the body. It actually plays a part in the production of energy in the mitochondria or the cells. It often comes in the form of a supplement that needs to be taken regularly. This supplement is said to be able to help treat diabetes, heart failure, and kidney failure.
Dialysis is a treatment for chronic renal failure which entails removing toxins and wastes from the blood. It actually acts as a substitute for the kidney when it fails to function. Although dialysis assists in kidney function, it may cause some negative effects such as low blood pressure and infection. In some cases it can even aggravate heart problems. In addition, dialysis treatment is expensive and may cost more than $50,000 a year because it must be done on a regular basis. Just another reason researchers look for alternative cures and treatments for kidney failure such as CoQ10.
Research indicates that this supplement may reduce the need for dialysis. Persons with kidney disease seem to have low levels of this supplement in their bodies. Therefore, taking the supplement increases the levels of the supplement in the kidney patient’s body to a more healthy level. People with renal failure tend to have very low CoQ10 levels because some of their body systems are not functioning normally.
In one particular study, the number of people who needed to undergo dialysis significantly decreased from 21 to 12 when patients took CoQ10 supplement. The idea that this supplement may reduce the need for dialysis is a concept that is currently being explored by many researchers.
It has been reported in the Journal of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine, that researchers have reported the results of a very well-designed trial of this supplement. This report indicates that the supplement might have a powerful role as adjunctive therapy in patients with end-stage kidney disease. Also in some cases even reducing or averting the need for dialysis. According to another study, it was found that treatment with this supplement decreased the progress of renal dysfunction in many patients suffering with end-stage disease. Some of these patients were also able to stop dialysis over the course of the 12-week trial.
Although the research is still in the early stages there have been significant improvement among the study group. This may be a tremendous discovery for so many people suffering with kidney disease. It may be a ray of hope for people who now have no hope.
As with any supplement you intend to add to your diet, consult with your primary health care provider before you begin.