News from NOW 's Quality Assurance Department

CoEnzyme Q-10 (CoQ-10) is a natural compound that is being used clinically to medically treat heart disease in Japan, Italy and China. CoQ-10 is also used as a natural health product in the USA, Canada and some other countries.

In the human body, CoQ-10 is found concentrated in the heart and liver tissue, where it functions in the respiratory electron transport system in mitochondria. Consequently, its toxicity to the human body is extremely low. It has ten isoprene units forming a side chain attached to benzoquinone ring and all the ten double bonds in the side chain should be ''trans'' form to be physiologically effective in medicinal applications.

Two manufacturing processes are currently being used in Japan to commercially produce CoQ-10:

1. Chemical synthesis process

2. Microbial fermentation process

In the case of chemical synthesis, relatively higher rates of ''cis''-isomers in the side chain (pharmacologically less active form) and Coenzyme Q-9 which has only 9 isoprene units in the side chain are formed as byproducts which must be eliminated from the final product through a purification process. On the other hand, the natural fermentation process yields the ''all-trans'' form Q-10 (pharmacologically active form), resulting in scarcely a trace of Coenzyme Q-9.

From 1969 to 1978, our Japanese vendor had expanded its efforts in the research and development of Single Cell Proteins (microbial protein). They have established a unique continuous fermentation process utilizing these single microbial cells, which does not allow contamination by undesirable organisms.

Based on this technology, they have developed their own proprietary process for the production of CoQ-10. The process uses a selected kind of Non-Genetically Modified Microorganism that is cultivated in a continuous fermentor. The fermentation broth is extracted, then further purified by a column chromatographic process to yield pure CoQ-10.The whole process is controlled under GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) and the product is closely monitored according to the ''Standards for Ingredients of Drugs in the Japanese Pharmacopoeia.''

In addition to purchasing what we believe is the purest CoEnzymeQ-10 powder manufactured in Japan we analyze the incoming bulk material and each of our finished products. Our laboratory staff utilizes a sophisticated HPLC method to assure proper potency of CoQ-10 in the 10, 30, 50, 60, 100, 150, 200 and 400-milligram dose products NOW Foods sells. We work hard at making Quality affordable for you!