Idebenone is a synthetic variant of CoQ10, which is essential for energy production. It can replace CoQ10 in the body and has antioxidant properties. It has been tested for use against Friedreich’s ataxia and is marketed as a skin cream.
Idebenone is a synthetic variant of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). It is an organic compound that is in the quinone family, and is almost identical in structure and function to CoQ10. The word idebenone is pronounced as ‘eye-deb-eh-known’, with an emphasis on the second syllable.
This compound was originally made in the late 1970s and early 1980s when research was done on the function of coenzyme Q10. CoQ10 is an essential part of the electron transfer chain, which is an integral step in the production of the body’s main source of energy, adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Organs that have the highest energy requirement will also have the highest concentration of ATP and CoQ10. Without enough coenzyme Q10, the human body will not be able to produce enough energy to function and will die. Looking for an even more functional version of CoQ10, the researchers synthesized several test drugs, but very few were stable or even safe. Idebenone showed promise, so more research was done on its capabilities.
Data now show that idebenone and CoQ10 are interchangeable in the human body, and idebenone can supplant CoQ10 in the electron transfer chain without deleterious effects. Both substances are in effect antioxidants, which means that they can limit the amount of free radicals present in the body. They do this by inhibiting the ability of free radicals to create lipoperoxides, which are cells whose lipid walls have removed electrons. Once an electron has been removed from a membrane, cell damage is inevitable and can cause mutagenic and carcinogenic effects.
Idebenone has also been tested for use against Friedreich’s ataxia. This condition was first documented in the 1860s by a German physician named Nicholaus Friedreich. It is an inherited condition that damages the nervous system over time, resulting in speech problems, cardiac degradation, and difficulty walking. The condition affects one in 50,000 people in the United States. Clinical trials have shown that idebenone is effective in mitigating the rate of heart damage, but ineffective in stopping the progress of ataxia, which refers to any awkward movement or unsteadiness.
Recently, CoQ10 has been shown to be a moderately effective skin treatment for reducing wrinkles. Idebenone cream is also marketed as a skin cream, but there have been limited trials to determine its usefulness. Despite its history as an analysis of CoQ10, many companies are marketing this compound as an innovative skin care product. Although it is inexpensive to produce this compound, it sells for a much higher price than coenzyme Q10 products.
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