"Among the 32 Coenzyme Q10 supplements tested we found no detectable CoQ10 in one product, another with only 71 per cent of its claimed amount, and a third product that exceeded its claimed amount by 75 per cent. Such variations are of obvious medical concern in managing disease," said president of ConsumerLab.com Tod Cooperman.
CoQ10 acts as an antioxidant and is also involved in energy production. The human body has the ability to make its own CoQ10 but after the age of 20 the production levels decline and the body's demand grows. Foods highest in CoQ10 include beef, spinach, sardines, albacore tuna, and peanuts.
ConsumerLab.com first warned of potential problems with CoQ10 in November 2000 when it found a product that contained only 17 per cent of its claimed amount.
"A patient can go from a zero dose to a 175 per cent dose just by switching brands," said Dr Cooperman urging people to use CoQ10 products that have been independently tested.
Over the past year, sales of CoQ10 products increased 22 per cent in the US mainstream channel and 30 per cent in the health food store channel according to research firms AC Nielsen and Spins.
With antioxidant properties CoQ10 can counteract free radical damage and provide significant protection against UVA-induced depletion of cell membrane - in other words, it will prevent damage to collagen and elastin production process to stop wrinkles - with its benefits for the cosmetic market sales of CoQ10 are now thought to exceed $200 million across the US.
The CoQ10 Product Review listings are available at ConsumerLab.com