When Should You Take A Q10 Test?
Q10 levels can be measured by a blood test. A DNA test can help identify traits associated with Q10. This information can help those with heart issues, women interested in beauty/healthy skin, and many others.
The best time to get a Q10 test is…now. This is because your levels of Q10 – an essential antioxidant that keeps your cells healthy -- decrease with age. As soon as you know your Q10 levels, you can begin to monitor this essential nutrient in your body. This is true whether your concern is heart health, beauty, or any of the other myriad ways that Q10 supports your body.
Q10 levels can be determined by a blood test. A DNA test can then tell you whether you have genetic markers for a Q10 deficiency. Armed with this information, you can make informed decisions about your diet and Q10 supplementation.
What are the Benefits of Q10 for the Heart?
According to the Mayo Clinic, Q10 is important to maintaining a healthy heart. Benefits include:
· Improved symptoms of congestive heart failure
· Possible reduction in blood pressure
· Potential aid to recovery after heart surgery
Q10 is also used to treat migraines and Parkinson’s Disease. (It’s also being used to treat other ailments like Parkinson’s disease and diabetes, though the jury is still out as to its effectiveness.)
Q10 as A Beauty Booster
Q10 is probably best-known for its role in the $50 billion women’s health and beauty supplement market. Q10 supports the regeneration and repair of cells. Because Q10 protects cells from decay, it is involved in keeping skin from drying out, cracking, wrinkling, spotting, and otherwise showing signs of age.
Q10 is an antioxidant – a term that has become something of a buzzword in the beauty products and diet supplements industry. Antioxidants slow the progress of cell decay. This is why they are included in “anti-ageing” skin care products. We cannot offer an opinion as to whether Q10 beauty products will give you youthful, glowing skin. In a medical context, Q10 is introduced through diet supplementation – not topical creams.
The Link Between Our Genes and Q10 Levels
Q10 typically enters the body through food such as meat, fish and whole grains. If you have a disease or a genetic propensity that causes low Q10 levels, these food sources may not be sufficient, and you may want to consider Q10 supplementation.
But wait! you say: are you saying my Q10 levels could be determined by my genes?
The answer is: yes, in part.
Scientific studies have established a link between Q10 levels and our genes. This is a major finding, because if we identify which genes are causing our Q10 levels to decline faster than others, we may be able to use gene therapy or other treatments to help boost our Q10 levels. This is not science fiction: genetic science is moving ahead at lightning speed. Only 10 years ago, no one could sequence human DNA for under $1000, and it was a cumbersome operation. Today, you can do it for $99 and carry your DNA on a thumb drive.
What is Q10 Important?
Q10 is a coenzyme that was discovered in 1957. It is essential to healthy cell function and is found in every cell in the body. Q10 is a nutrient: it supports healthy skin, brain and lungs. It may also protect against diabetes and cancer, though these connections have yet to be fully established. This is why it is helpful to determine if your Q10 levels are in a healthy range.
Your DNA and Q10 Levels
A scientific study has already linked Q10 levels to specific genes. In time, genetic science may develop protocols such as gene therapy to address any hereditary basis for low Q10.
Knowing your Q10 levels – and having a DNA profile uploaded to a site like Genomelink – will help you stay informed about Q10 levels and the latest findings in genetic science.
Photo by Adam Nieścioruk on Unsplash
