(Embargoed until 12 October 2000)
In a symposium presented at the 41st annual meeting of the American College of Nutrition by seven scientists and clinicians the metabolic role of Carnitine and Co-enzyme Q10 -classically separate entities of long standing history - revealed new information of the further metabolic functions of each compound and more importantly the advocacy that the combination of both compounds provides for an augmented potential in the prevention of heart disease.
Carnitine was discovered in 1905 and its structure elucidated in 1927 but the first of its' functions in metabolism was reported in 1962. It is synthesized in the body from the amino acid lysine which is rarely deficient in affluent nations. The clinical deficiency of carnitine was reported in 1973 with the defect in its' transport role in fatty acid metabolism described in 1988. Carnitine now appears to function as a facilitator of all the macronutrients: lipid(fat), carbohydrate and protein explained Peggy Borum Ph.D., FACN of the University of Florida. Further according to Dr. Massimo Picari of Rome carnitine is a part of a secondary (back-up) antioxidant defense system.
CoEnzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a very lipophillic (fat loving) ubiquinone (a structure somewhat analagous to Vitamin K but with a very long tail of carbons - isoprene units) that is located in the membranes of cells, in particular in the "furnace" of cells called mitochondia. . Its' chemical structure explains Dr. Fredrick L. Crane of Purdue University (who first isolated it in 1957 and its' role in heart muscle documented in 1972) ensures the location of CoQ10 deep in the lipid bilayer of all animal cell membranes and it permits several functions. Primary is the control of energy transformations (electron transfer), with degrees of radical formation leading to the formation of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) -the "currency" of energy for the body. CoQ10 can further acts as an antioxidant of lipids at the deepest level or can regenerate other antioxidants such as vitamin E. It becomes apparent that both Carnitine and CoQ10 contribute to the antioxidant defense system.
CoQ10 is not a "sterol" compound about 50% of it is synthesized in the body in the early stages of the cholesterol synthesis pathway, thus "statin" drugs (e.g. Mevacor, Lipitor etc.) which depress the synthesis of cholesterol also suppresses the synthesis of CoQ10. The irony is that the lowering of blood cholesterol levels by statin drugs can increase myopathies (damage to heart and other muscle fibers) due to the induced deficiency of CoQ10 . Thus supplementing with CoQ10 is recommended for anyone on extended statin drug therapy. However, CoQ10 has very poor absorption. The optimal bioavailability of CoQ10 requires a special processsing, which can also incorporate Carnitine. It now appears that both compounds - Carnitine and CoQ10 - are important to the integrity of the heart muscle and thus prevention of heart failure. As further clinical trials are conducted, physicians will give these vital compounds greater attention in the prevention and treatment of heart disease.
Contact information: October 12-15, Alexis Park Resort, Las Vegas, NV Tel: 706-796-3340 For Carnitine questions, Dr. Peggy Borum, Univ of Florida, Tel: 352-392-7553, [email protected] For Coenzyme Q10 questions, Dr. Fred Crane, Purdue Univ, Tel: 309-383-2215.
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