^AIMCellSparc 360™

Benefits and Features

• Supports cardiovascular health
• Helps maintain healthy triglyceride and cholesterol levels
• Helps maintain gum health
• Provides a potent antioxidant
• Quick absorption into the bloodstream

Features

• Contains 60 mg of plant-derived coenzyme Q10, 100 mg of Palm oil providing 30 mg of tocotrienol/ tocopherol complex, and 238.8 mg of fish oil per capsule
• No harsh solvents used in extraction process
• Softgel delivery system
• 30-softgel capsules

^AIMCellSparc 360™

^AIMCellSparc 360™ is a superior coenzyme Q10 formula, combining coenzyme Q10, tocotrienols, and fish oil in a convenient softgel capsule.

Every day the some 100 trillion cells in the body work hard. They ingest and digest nutrients, remove waste, and reproduce. Healthy cells provide the energy that ensures that we wake up in the morning, get to work, enjoy different types of recreation, and make it to bed at night. To perform all the tasks that they must, cells create their own energy. The production of energy at the cellular level is commonly known as bioenergetics. Considering how active the human body is—remember that an average person uses 60 percent of his or her daily energy on base metabolism—we can see how important bioenergetics is.

Bioenergetics is dependent on food because cells manufacture their own energy by burning the substances found in foods. To do this, the foods we eat are broken down into smaller and smaller components, which include a number of carbon atoms. Eventually, the bonds between the carbon atoms are broken down into the electrons that make them up. These electrons contain energy which is converted into a substance called adenosine triphosphate (ATP). One of the bonds holding ATP together has great energy potential. When it is broken, it releases the equivalent of 7,000 calories. This is the energy our cells use to keep us alive.

A steady production of ATP is necessary because only about three ounces of ATP are stored in the body at one time; the amount that will sustain a strenuous activity, such as running as hard as you can, for about five to eight seconds. You can see then, that it is important that our bodies have the most efficient means possible to produce this valuable substance. Coenzyme Q10 is a key in the formation of ATP; if we are lacking in coenzyme Q10, we cannot produce ATP efficiently.

Coenzyme Q10 acts as a shuttle, carrying important, energy-laden electrons and protons around the mitochondrion, to eventually be turned into ATP. Without this shuttle, ATP would not be created, and cells would not be able to create the energy needed for both everyday and special energy needs. According to a 1990 article in the American Journal of Cardiology, “Coenzyme Q10 is necessary for the mitochondria [components of cells] to perform their functions and is essential for human life.”

What are the implications of bioenergetics and coenzyme Q10 for health? As stated, all of our cells must produce energy for us to stay alive, and coenzyme Q10 is an essential part of this energy production. It is thus logical that a deficiency in coenzyme Q10 in any of the body’s cells would affect body functions.

Many studies have shown that people suffering from different forms of heart disease are deficient in coenzyme Q10. This makes sense, as congestive heart failure results from the inability of the heart to generate the energy and strength necessary to maintain circulation. There are also studies on the positive effect of coenzyme Q10 on the gums, on the immune system, and as an antioxidant.

Features

^AIMCellSparc 360™ is truly something unique. You will not find another product that combines coenzyme Q10, tocotrienols, and fish oil. There are no fillers, such as yeast, egg, or milk derivatives, or artificial flavors.

Coenzyme Q10

Heat is one way to determine the purity of coenzyme Q10: the lower the melting point, the purer the product. The coenzyme Q10 in ^AIMCellSparc 360™ has a melting point of 117 °F, one of the lowest in the industry. It is derived from a plant source and not buffered with unwanted fillers.

Tocotrienols

Tocotrienols are a type of vitamin E. They are found in cereal seeds and in palm, rice bran, and barley oils. One of the contradictions that led to tocotrienol research is that palm oil, although it has a 50 percent saturated and 50 percent unsaturated fatty acid content, does not raise serum cholesterol, and even lowers it. Research shows that tocotrienols are responsible for this contradiction. There are 100 mg of tocotrienols in ^AIMCellSparc 360™.

Like vitamin E, tocotrienols are proving to have health benefits. There have been many different studies indicating that tocotrienols reduce serum cholesterol, and recent research by Packer and Associates (Lester Packer is a well-known nutritional biochemist) indicates that tocotrienols have 40 to 60 times more antioxidant ability than alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E).

Fish oil

The diluent—the substance that carries the coenzyme Q10 and tocotrienols—in ^AIMCellSparc 360™ is fish oil. This is an important point, as coenzyme Q10 is fat-soluble, which means that it requires fat to be absorbed by the digestive tract. Dr. Karl Folkers, the doctor responsible for much of the research on coenzyme Q10, has recommended that coenzyme Q10 be dissolved in oil. The fish oil used in ^AIMCellSparc 360™ is derived from cold-water fish.

Fish oil has health benefits. Epidemiological studies have shown that in populations where large amounts of fish are consumed, there is little evidence of heart disease. A report in the June 1992 issue of Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism, noted that “Many studies have shown beneficial, albeit modest, effects in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis … Further study on the efficacy of dietary fish oil supplementation in the treatment of specific rheumatic diseases is warranted.”

How to use ^AIMCellSparc 360™

• Take 1-2 softgel capsules every day. Although the inclusion of the fish oil diluent helps improve absorption of the coenzyme Q10, it is still recommended that you take the capsules with meals. Some people feel immediate benefits; others notice results after 6 to 8 weeks.

• Shelf life is 3 years, unopened. Store in a cool, dry place (70-75 °F; 20.1-23.8 °C). Do not refrigerate.

• Store away from heat sources and out of direct sunlight. Avoid high humidity.

• If pregnant or lactating, consult a health practitioner.

• Diabetics should consult a health practitioner.

Q & A

Why should I take ^AIMCellSparc 360™? Studies have found that as we age our bodies cannot produce coenzyme Q10 as efficiently and its supply diminishes. It is important to keep adequate levels of coenzyme Q10 in our bodies. However, finding healthy food sources of coenzyme Q10 can be difficult. The best sources of coenzyme Q10 are animal muscle tissues, but many people prefer not to eat this type of food. ^AIMCellSparc 360™ is produced from plant sources. Using it provides a way of maintaining the body’s level of coenzyme Q10 without compromising other dietary considerations.

Can I take more than the suggested amount? ^AIMCellSparc 360™ is non-toxic, so larger amounts are acceptable, depending on your assessment of your nutritional needs.

Why must I store ^AIMCellSparc 360™ away from heat, sunlight, and humidity? Because the coenzyme Q10 used in ^AIMCellSparc 360™ is so pure, it has a relatively low melting temperature. This will not hurt the efficacy of the product. However, heat, sunlight, and humidity could cause the softgels to stick together.

History of coenzyme Q10

Coenzyme Q10 is a relatively new substance in the eyes of the American research community. It was first discovered in the United States in 1957 by professor F. L. Crane and his colleagues at the University of Wisconsin Enzyme Institute. In 1958, the chemical structure of coenzyme Q10 was reported by Dr. D.E. Wolf and a research group at Merck Laboratories led by medical researcher Dr. Karl Folkers. Folkers would become a leading research scientist and authority on coenzyme Q10 in the United States.

In 1963, the Japanese began testing the compound. Overwhelmed by the positive results of these tests, Japanese scientists aggressively pursued further studies of coenzyme Q10. The Japanese took the lead in research and use of coenzyme Q10. Taking coenzyme Q10 daily soon gained wide acceptance in Japan.

Although many research scientists throughout the world were interested in studying coenzyme Q10, research was hampered due to the cost of producing it. Extracting it from beef heart, the source that Dr. Crane first used, made coenzyme Q10’s cost prohibitive. In the 1970s, the Japanese began to find alternative ways to produce coenzyme Q10. They were successful in finding a more cost-effective process, and the price began to come down from the exorbitant US $1,000.00 a gram. As it became more available, research picked up. In 1978, British scientist Peter Mitchell received a Nobel Prize for his hypothesis of the role of coenzyme Q10 and the transfer of energy in the mitochondria, which are the fuel sub-cells found within each cell. In 1986, Dr. Folkers was awarded the prestigious Priestly Medal of the American Chemical Society for his research into coenzyme Q10.

From 1957 through 1988, there were some 2,300 medical studies on coenzyme Q10. Since then, there have been countless others.

Coenzyme Q10 and human nutrition

Coenzyme Q10 is found in the foods we eat, but not often in large amounts. The best sources of coenzyme Q10 are animal organs, some types of fish, and vegetable oils such as soybean, rapeseed, and sesame. It is found in lesser quantities in rice bran and wheat germ and in soy and other beans. It is also found in vegetables, in particular spinach and broccoli. Coenzyme Q10 is easily destroyed in the cooking process, and in refined grains much of the coenzyme Q10 is removed.

However, the body does not necessarily need a direct source of coenzyme Q10 to maintain adequate levels. The body can also manufacture coenzyme Q10 from other members of the coenzyme Q family. Coenzyme Q10 is but one of ten, and possibly more, members of the coenzyme Q family.

Coenzyme Q is a circle of chemical elements that form a single coenzyme Q molecule. This is the most basic form. This coenzyme Q molecule can have side chains that contain five carbon atoms. It is the number of side chains that is the basis for the number assigned to each member of the coenzyme Q family. For example, coenzyme Q1 has one side chain of five carbon atoms. Coenzyme Q2 has two side chains of five carbon atoms each, for a total of 10 carbon atoms. In coenzyme Q10, there are 10 side chains and a total of fifty carbon atoms. Human tissue contains only coenzyme Q10.

To change other coenzyme Qs into coenzyme Q10, the liver breaks down the side chains from the basic coenzyme Q molecule. It then reassembles them to form coenzyme Q10. For example, a meal consisting of shellfish, vegetables, and mushrooms provides coenzyme Q9 and coenzyme Q7. The liver tears these coenzymes down and manufactures coenzyme Q10 out of their components.

The creation of coenzyme Q10 by the body is a complex process. To make this change, at least three different classes of starting molecules are required, at least 15 different reactions are necessary (each begun by an enzyme), and there are many cofactor substances. This means that coenzyme Q10 is difficult for the body to produce because all the component parts must be available in sufficient quantities at the same time. Some of the essential cofactors are not created by the body. A deficiency in any of these—vitamins B3, B5, B6, B12, C, and folate—would make it difficult for the liver to produce enough coenzyme Q10. Unfortunately, the older you get, the less ability you have to produce coenzyme Q10 from other members of the coenzyme Q family.

Our lives and environment also affect coenzyme Q10 levels, in that stressful lives and polluted environments can deplete coenzyme Q10 from body tissue.

According to Dr. Folkers, these factors—nutrient deficiencies, age, stress, and pollution—could lead to a deficiency of coenzyme Q10. By some estimates, as many as 75 percent of people over age 50 in the United States could be deficient in coenzyme Q10.

Suggested Reading

Coenzyme Q10

There have been thousands of medical studies and at least eight international medical symposia on coenzyme Q10. The studies have been published in such mainstream journals as the American Journal of Cardiology, Clinical Investigator, Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, and the Japanese Heart Journal. Here are a few places to get started:

Beyer, R.E. “An analysis of the role of coenzyme Q in free radical generation and as an antioxidant.” Biochemistry and Cell Biology. June 1992. 70(6).

Bliznakov, Emile G., M.D., and Gerald L. Hunt. The Miracle Nutrient Coenzyme Q10. New York: Bantam Books. 1987.

Greenberg, S. and W.H. Frishman. “Co-enzyme Q10: a new drug for cardiovascular disease.” Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 30(7). July 1990.

Langsjoen, Peter, Per Langsjoen, and Karl Folkers. “Long-term efficacy and safety of coenzyme Q10 therapy for idopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.” American Journal of Cardiology. February 15, 1990. Vol. 65, No. 7.

Lee, William H. Coenzyme Q10. Is It Our Fountain of Youth? New Canaan, CT: Keats Publishing, Inc. 1987.

Mortensen, S.A. “Perspectives on therapy of cardiovascular diseases with coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinone).” Clinical Investigator. 1993; 71(8 Suppl):S116-23.

Wagner, Eugene S. Coenzyme Q10, The Vital Spark of Life. American Institute of Health and Nutrition. 1992.

Fish oil

McCarthy, G.M., and D. Kenny. “Dietary fish oil and rheumatic diseases.” Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism. 21:6. June 1992.

Passwater, Richard, Ph.D. Fish Oil Updates. New Canaan, CT: Keats Publishing, Inc. 1987.

Tocotrienols Germano, Carl, M.A., R.D., CNS. “A novel antioxidant in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia & cancer.” Solgar Nutrition Center. http://www.solgar.com/nutrition_library/articles/tocotrienols.html

Serbinova, E.A., and L. Packer. “Antioxidant properties of alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocotrienol.” Methods Enzymol. 1994; 234:354-66.

Suzuki Y. J., et al. “Structural and dynamic membrane properties of alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocotrienol: implication to the molecular mechanism of their antioxidant potency.” Biochemistry. October 12, 1993. 32(40):10692-9.

Watkins, et al. “g-tocotrienols as a hypocholesterolemic and antioxidant agent in rats fed atherogenic diets.” Lipids. Vol. 28, No. 12. 1993.