Can vitamins help cancer patients?

Feb 28 2010 by Mieka Smiles, Sunday Sun

NEW research has revealed that terminal cancer patients who take a daily cocktail of vitamins could extend their lives by two years or even longer. MIEKA SMILES takes a look at the so-called "wonder supplement" at the heart of the study and talks to one woman who says it’s helped to turn her life around.

Each capsule contains 100mg of CoQ10, a vitamin-like substance, which plays a vital role in the body’s energy supply mechanism.

The company claims that the CoQ10 product has a range of health benefits.

Zena Thomson, 50, tried the product.

The mother-of-two says she was going through a difficult time in her life – she was overweight, being treated for suspected epilepsy and was suffering from fatigue: "I’m a real believer in the power of vitamins, minerals and dietary supplements.

"I eat healthily and exercise as much as I can, but you can’t get all the nutrition you need from your diet any more, so I think supplements are a necessity."

Zena, a shop manager, of West Monkseaton, Whitley Bay, works full time, helps babysit her five-year-old grandson, and has two grown-up children, so says she needs to keep her energy levels up.

But she found herself going through a slump in her mid 40s: "It was the worst period of ill-health I had ever gone through in my life.

"I was overweight and suffering from a few health problems, but luckily I’ve been able to put that behind me." Zena took control through exercise, a healthy diet and an active lifestyle.

She says: "I now have porridge for breakfast, fruit, nuts, and seeds throughout the day and a healthy dinner at night, but I would never go without my daily vitamins and supplements.

"CoQ10 gives me the energy boost that I need. I felt a difference after taking it for just a week."

"As well as CoQ10, I take other products too, such as a multivitamin and Bio- CLA+ Green Tea."

CoQ10 was first discovered in 1957 by Professor Fred Crane.

It is found in all tissues, and has two main functions within the body, namely energy production and as an antioxidant.

CoQ10 levels peak around the age of 21, but gradually fall as you get older.

As well as losing CoQ10 as you get older, your levels will also decrease if you’re ill, drink too much or do a lot of intense physical exercise.

Heart and cancer patients have reported very low levels of CoQ10 and it is now known that muscles, including the heart, and liver have a particular need for CoQ10 due to their exceptionally high energy requirement.

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Coenzyme Q10 facts

CoQ10 is also called ubiquinone, a name that signifies its ubiquitous (widespread) distribution in the human body.

It is used by the body to transform food into adenosine triphosphate (ATP) – the energy on which the body runs.

CoQ10 is a powerful antioxidant that protects the body from free radicals and helps preserve vitamin E, the major antioxidant of cell membranes and blood cholesterol.

The role of CoQ10 in energy formation also relates to how the body uses carbohydrates.

Preliminary research suggests that a close relative of this nutrient lowered blood sugar levels in a group of people with diabetes. People with type 2 (adult onset) diabetes have been found to have significantly lower blood levels of CoQ10 compared with healthy people.

Virtually every cell of the human body contains CoQ10. It is concentrated in the mitochondria, the area of cells where energy is produced.

The heart and liver contain the greatest amount of CoQ10.

CoQ10 is found primarily in fish and meat, but the amounts in food are far less than what can be obtained from supplements.