How long can I take Q10?
Q10 is generally considered a very safe substance. Long-term studies of more than 5 years as well as studies with high daily doses have shown that it is safe to take supplements of Q10 for a long period. In addition, supplementation of Q10 does not reduce the body's own production of the substance. After cessation of supplementation, the body's Q10-level returns to the same level as before. This is proof that Q10 supplementation does not affect the body's ability to synthesize it. Everything indicates that you can safely continue to take Q10 for life.
Are there adverse effects from Q10?
In studies in which Q10 has been tested, daily doses up to 1500 mg have not caused adverse effects of a serious nature. There have only been a very few cases of adverse effects of a mild nature. Symptoms like headache, dizziness, nausea, constipation, diarrhea and indigestion can occur in rare instances. It cannot be excluded, however, that some of these symptoms may originate from the capsule material or added vegetable oil, and not from the Q10 itself.
Does cholesterol lowering drugs reduce the body's level of Q10?
Yes, there is now a great deal of evidence from scientific studies on the consequences of this effect. The type of medication in question is commonly referred to as "statins". Statins are a class of cholesterol-lowering drugs that act by inhibiting the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase, which reduces the body's production of the substance mevalonate. From mevalonate, several substances are formed in the liver, including cholesterol and Q10. You cannot lower the body's cholesterol production in this way without also lowering its production of Q10.
There are different types of statins working in different ways, and they are not equally strong. The most common complaint about the adverse effects of statins is muscle pain. The pain occurs when the muscles have to work with too little energy. However, not everybody experiences adverse effects from statins. The effect differs from individual to individual depending on how much Q10 is required to normalize the body's Q10 level during statin treatment. You must monitor your own body’s needs.
How much Q10 do we need?
Our needs for Q10 are individual. Healthy young people usually have no need for supplementation of Q10. Healthy adults should take maybe 30 - 60 mg daily. Elderly people could take maybe 100 mg daily. People in therapeutic treatment have been given up to 300 mg daily - occasionally even more than that.
How long does it take for Q10 to work?
From the moment you swallow a Q10 softgel capsule, which is best absorbed with a meal that contains some fat, it will take 6-8 hours before the Q10 is emptied into the blood from the lymphatic vessels. There is also a threshold value for the blood level of Q10 that has to be attained before the tissue can absorb the Q10 sufficiently. This threshold value of serum Q10 has not been established with certainty, but researchers believe that it is approx. 2 - 2,5 ug/ml.
In practical terms, this means that it is advisable to start with a slightly higher daily dose and then reduce the dose after some time if necessary. Take Q10 for at least a month, but do not expect maximum absorption in the tissue until after at least six months of use.
What is the source of Alerten's Q10?
Alerten's Q10 is extracted from the content produced in specialized yeast cells, but the Q10 itself is completely free of yeast components. The reason for the use of yeast as a source of Q10 is that we can extract Q10, which is completely identical to the form that the body produces itself. Please be aware that there is also synthetic Q10 on the market.
How can I avoid eating the gelatin in the Q10 capsules?
You can cut a small hole in the softgel capsule with a pair of scissors and squeeze the contents of the capsule out in a spoon or directly into your mouth.
Is the gelatin in your Q10 capsules Halal certified?
Yes. All the bovine gelatin of Mega products including Alerten is Halal certified. The certification comes from the Halal Department of the Islamic and Cultural Centre of Thailand which recognized by JAKIM.