Coenzyme Q10, also known as ubiquinone, is actually a family of related substances known as the ubiquinones. The name comes from the fact that the substance is ubiquitous (found almost everywhere) in both foods and in the body. Produced by the body, ubiquinone facilitates the conversion of carbohydrates into energy.
Cardiologists have been using ubiquinone to strengthen the heartbeat in patients with weak hearts for many years. Recent research on coenzyme Q has indicated that it has beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system and skeletal muscle performance and that it may exert a protective effect against the degeneration of neurons.