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Alternative medicine

By Mayo Clinic staff

One alternative remedy that has shown promise is the supplement coenzyme Q10. This coenzyme, which is naturally present in your body, can improve blood pressure and circulation when taken as a supplement. Researchers have found that coenzyme Q10, taken in daily doses of 100 to 200 milligrams, improved small vessel blood flow in people with diabetes and coronary artery disease, and could have a similar effect in people with small vessel disease.

As with any other alternative therapy, talk to your doctor before adding coenzyme Q10 supplements as part of your treatment.

References
  1. Mayo Clinic Health Letter. "Small vessel heart disease." October 2007. Vol. 25, No. 10, pp. 1-3.
  2. Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource. "Small vessel heart disease." February 2008. Vol. 12, No. 2, pp. 1-2
  3. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. "What is coronary microvascular disease?" September 2007. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/cmd/cmd_all.html (Viewed 4-22-08).
  4. Camici PC, Crea F. Coronary microvascular dysfunction. New England Journal of Medicine. 2007, Vol. 356, pp. 830-840.
  5. Playford DA, et al. Combined effect of coenzyme Q10 and fenofibrate on forearm microcirculatory function in type 2 diabetes. Atherosclerosis. 2003, Vol. 168, pp. 169-179.
  6. Tiano L, et al. Effect of coenzyme Q10 administration on endothelial function and extracellular superoxide dismutase in patients with ischaemic heart disease: a double-blind, randomized controlled study. European Heart Journal. 2007, Vol. 28, pp. 2249-2255.
  7. Kurth T, et al. Migraine and ischaemic vascular events. Cephalalgia. 2007;27(8):965-975.
  8. Barrett BJ, et al. Differences in hormonal and renal vascular responses between normotensive patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease and unaffected family members. Kidney International. 1994;46(4):1118-1123.
  9. Schoenfeld Y, et al. Accelerated Atherosclerosis in Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases. Circulation. 2005;112(21):3337-3347.

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Oct. 17, 2008

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