The Role of Mitochondrial Energy in Supporting Cardiovascular Health

Did you know that our heart beats 100,000 times per day and pumps over 2,000 gallons of blood through our blood vessels?

The blood that our heart pumps around the body delivers the necessary oxygen and nutrients that every organ and cell needs to do its work[1]. To do this vital work, our hearts require an incredible yet sustained amount of energy to perform at its peak. This energy is mainly generated by the cardiac mitochondria, which are cell organelles responsible for supplying adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to the heart[2].

Mitochondria also acts like a second digestive system, transforming the food we eat into energy that cells in our bodies utilise, known as ATP[3]. The right supply of ATP helps meet the energy demand that the heart consumes in every heartbeat[4].

The heart is also an organ with a high rate of metabolism that requires an important amount of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)[5]. CoQ10 is an antioxidant that can be found throughout the human body in cell membranes, especially in mitochondria[6].This nutrient acts as an energy transfer molecule, helping promote the health of our tissues and major organs like the heart.

However, mitochondria are susceptible to environmental toxins, nutrient deficiencies, and oxidative damage[7]. A healthy diet and regular physical activity can help our mitochondria perform and thrive, but sometimes it is not enough. Supplementation might be needed to help these powerhouses produce the necessary energy that our heart needs to operate.

As we age the natural levels of CoQ10 in our bodies start decreasing. Ubiquinol levels peak at age 21, and by age 80 they may decrease by up to 65%[8]. Taking Ubiquinol, the active form of CoQ10 supplementation, could help our cardiac cells reach their daily energy demands and potentially enhance heart health and function[9].

Always read the label. Use only as directed. If symptoms persist consult your healthcare professional.

[1] Healthdirect.gov.au. 2021. Circulatory system. [online] Available at: <https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/circulatory-system> [Accessed 9 August 2021].

[2] Chen, L., & Knowlton, A. A. (2010). Mitochondria and heart failure: new insights into an energetic problem. Minerva cardioangiologica, 58(2), 213–229.

[3] Bscb.org. 2021. Mitochondrion – much more than an energy converter | British Society for Cell Biology. [online] Available at: <https://bscb.org/learning-resources/softcell-e-learning/mitochondrion-much-more-than-an-energy-converter/> [Accessed 9 August 2021].

[4] Åsa B. Gustafsson, Roberta A. Gottlieb, Heart mitochondria: gates of life and death, Cardiovascular Research, Volume 77, Issue 2, 15 January 2008, Pages 334–343, https://doi.org/10.1093/cvr/cvm005

[5] Chen, L., & Knowlton, A. A. (2010). Mitochondria and heart failure: new insights into an energetic problem. Minerva cardioangiologica, 58(2), 213–229.

[6] Saini R. (2011). Coenzyme Q10: The essential nutrient. Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences, 3(3), 466–467. https://doi.org/10.4103/0975-7406.84471

[7] Hassinen I. (2007) Regulation of Mitochondrial Respiration in Heart Muscle. In: Schaffer S.W., Suleiman MS. (eds) Mitochondria. Advances in Biochemistry in Health and Disease, vol 2. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-69945-5_1(Accessed 9 August 2021).

[8] Barcelos, Isabella P.d., and Richard H. Haas 2019. “CoQ10 and Aging” Biology 8, no. 2: 28. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology8020028

[9] Sharma, A., Fonarow, G., Butler, J., Ezekowitz, J. and Felker, G., 2016. Coenzyme Q10 and Heart Failure. Circulation: Heart Failure, 9(4), p.e002639.