- http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/lifestyle-guide-11/supplement-guide-coenzymeq10-coq10
- http://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/coenzyme-q10/background/hrb-20059019
OUR NUTRIENT GUIDE
Our Star Nutrients
CoQ10
Let's have a heart to heart
How much do I need?
Unlike the other essential vitamins and nutrients, there’s no universally recommended daily value for CoQ10. However, the most recent scientific studies suggest there are cardiovascular health benefits from taking a CoQ10 supplement which is why you’ll find this in our formulas.*
Why we include it
Mind if we have a look at your mitochondria? These are specialized organelles in your cells that use CoQ10 to help convert oxygen and nutrients into cellular energy. Mitochondria, with the help of CoQ10, are what power the cells in your body, especially those with high energy requirements including your heart, brain, liver and kidney cells.
Your body produces CoQ10 naturally, but multiple enzymes, cofactors, vitamins and trace minerals are needed for this to occur. Even if you are a perfect, healthy human, the amount your body makes decreases with age.
We include CoQ10 in SmartyPants supplements to help fill those nutrition gaps and support heart health.*
Where can I get it
CoQ10 is found naturally in some food, but it’s important to note that even the dietary sources with the highest amounts (organ meat) are at insufficient levels to make up for the body’s lowered production of CoQ10 due to aging. Yet, you should still try and make eating foods containing CoQ10 a part of your regular diet.
Foods with CoQ10 include:
- 3 oz beef – 2.6 mg
- 3 oz herring – 2.3 mg
- 3 oz Rainbow trout – 0.9 mg
- 1 oz peanuts – 0.8 mg
- 1 oz pistachios – 0.6 oz
- ½ cup broccoli (boiled) – 0.5 mg
- ½ cup cauliflower (boiled) – 0.4 mg
- 1 medium orange – 0.3 mg
We recommend you seek the advice of your pediatrician or primary care provider before making changes to you or your child’s nutrient intake.