Nearly everyone is familiar with the dreaded feelings of fatigue, weariness, exhaustion, “burn-out,” or just plain feeling tired – too tired. When your body doesn’t have enough power to work right, your personal energy problem may be due to a lack of ATP – Adenosine Triphosphate. All life depends on ATP. This miraculous molecule transfers energy to where it is needed inside every cell in the body. A deficiency of ATP has been linked to diseases that afflict 50 million Americans. Those afflictions include Type II Diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, clogged arteries, stroke, and heart failure.
However, a number of cardiologists are especially keen on a quartet of nutrients consisting of magnesium, co-enzyme Q10, L-Carnitine, and ribose that can actually boost ATP.
Cardiologist Stephen Sinatra routinely recommends these four key nutrients – magnesium, co-enzyme Q10, L-Carnitine, and ribose – which he calls the “awesome foursome.” Dr. Sinatra finds particular applications for the heart, “When you fortify the heart with energy in terms of ATP, then the heart muscle thrives. And look, look at our country, the number one cause of death is cardiovascular disease and there’s like 5 to 6 million people with heart failure.” Fellow cardiologist Seth Baum says the “awesome foursome” do have great benefits, but he would start with fish oil – omega-3 fats – to provide the foundation for energy production.
Key #1: MAGNESIUM
Dr. Baum describes magnesium: “It’s not a one-trick pony kind of thing. It is really, really important. And then the other problem is that most Americans actually take in, on a daily basis, less than the recommended daily value, which is 400 milligrams.” That means about 75% of the populace consume under 400 milligrams a day. This lack of daily magnesium intake means that most people aren’t adequately energizing their hearts – or getting magnesium’s benefits for protecting the brain from toxins.
At one time, magnesium as an IV drip was a standard and effective treatment following a heart attack, but it is now seldom used. Magnesium, as an IV drip, has also been shown to be effective in mitigating concussions. Even though it is inexpensive, magnesium gets little to no attention because it’s not a drug. Supplements are the most reliable way to get magnesium, but a diet rich in broccoli, peanuts, halibut, plantains, and leafy greens can also provide the body with magnesium – and many other nutrients as well.
Dr. Baum adds that another building block for more energy is exercise. And it’s magnesium that helps exercise by promoting better blood flow, stronger bones, and overall health.
Key #2: COENZYME Q10
Another of the fantastic four is coenzyme Q10 – widely known and available in supplement form. Baum says, “It not only helps the body make ATP, it is an antioxidant as well. And I’ve used it in patients with heart failure effectively. I’m convinced it works and usually use very high doses in those also be needed for fighting diseases – because only a portion of the substance is absorbed. CoQ10 becomes especially important for those taking certain drugs which interfere with its production: statins, beta blockers, some blood pressure medications, and all hypoglycemic agents used for Type II Diabetes. Dosing amounts should be closely monitored by a physician familiar with CoQ10.
Dr. Baum’s heart patients may need high doses of CoQ10, but generally, our bodies only use a few milligrams a day, which we get from two sources. Half the CoQ10 we use in our body we actually make in our body and the other half comes from foods or supplements we consume. We get small amounts of CoQ10 from foods such as beef, chicken, herring, and canola oil.
Key #3: L-CARNITINE
The third energy booster is L-carnitine. It is found in the highest concentration in tissues that use fats as a primary fuel – that is the heart and skeletal muscles. Dr. Sinatra describes L-carnitine as being like a ferry boat or a freight train that shuttles in the fatty acids, “We call it the beta-oxidation of fat – the fat is burned – and remember 60 percent of all the energy of the heart is from the burning of fat.” And that burning produces lots of ATP molecules.
Some carnitine is found in beef, pork, and cow’s milk. But for battling diseases, several hundred milligrams are often recommended. Sinatra says it helped his hospitalized son suffering from severe chronic fatigue. Because his son’s muscles were in a constant state of contraction, he asked his son’s doctor, “Can we give him IV carnitine?” Sinatra explains, “To relax a muscle it takes more ATP than to stimulate a muscle.” Overall, L-carnitine is especially helpful in cardiology and exercise applications.
Key #4: RIBOSE
Finally, there’s ribose, a relatively “new kid on the block.” Made by the body or found in supplements, ribose is interesting because unlike other sugars, which themselves are burned, ribose actually provides the raw material for making the central portion of the body’s primary energy molecule – the ATP molecule. Sinatra explains the effects of giving ribose, “You’re giving rocket fuel to those muscles – and they relax and contract and they do it the right way.”
Within minutes of taking ribose, the muscles are energized. This unusual sugar enables longer workouts which could be especially useful in treating the frail elderly who may need a boost to exercise at all. Ribose can provide the energy needed to help young moms whose heart valves don’t have the energy to close properly or men in their sixties trying to exercise thirty minutes more. THE “AWESOME FOURSOME”
Magnesium, coenzyme Q10, L-carnitine, and ribose – each one works in different ways to improve health and increase energy. The combination of all four is probably best used for the most seriously affected patients, which could include fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue patients.
In closing, CBN News reporter Gailon Totheroh reflects on the amazing benefits these nutritional supplements can have on a person’s health, “On a foundation of omega-3 fats, magnesium, coenzyme Q10, L-carnitine, and ribose can combine to fight disease and help people feel energized. And that could be a true ‘awesome foursome’ for better health.
Fact Resources
Information in this edition of A Closer Look is taken from the CBN News report Awesome Foursome by Gailon Totheroh, CBN News reporter.
First air date: June 10, 2009 on The 700 Club.
Note: Before beginning any new health regimen, it is important to consult your family physician or health care professional first. The information given in this issue of A Closer Look is for your consideration. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Before starting or stopping any exercise routine or nutritional supplementation, please consult your family physician or health care professional about any contraindications that would make doing so inadvisable.