CoQ10 and vitamin D may already be staples in your supplement cabinet, but these two studies give you even more reasons to consider this antioxidant and vitamin the next time you stock up on supplement supplies.

Staying Healthy

CoQ10 boosts pneumonia recovery

Older adults are more likely than younger adults to contract fatal pneumonia. In this study, 141 independent living men and women, average age 68 and hospitalized with pneumonia took a standard antibiotic with or without 220 mg of CoQ10 per day.

After three and seven days, more men and women were clinically cured in the CoQ10 group than those who had taken antibiotics alone. Doctors observed those on CoQ10 recovered faster from fever and were released from the hospital sooner compared to those on antibiotics alone.

Overall, 77.5 percent of those on antibiotics alone were cured compared to 90 percent of those taking CoQ10. Based on these findings, doctors recommend CoQ10 as an adjunct treatment of pneumonia in older adults.

Vitamin D for healthier hospital stays

Healthy people with no history of mental disorders, but who have low levels of vitamin D, are more likely to become disoriented and confused once admitted to the hospital for other reasons. The condition is called hospital-acquired new-onset delirium, or HANOD, which can increase hospital stays and chances of dying within one year of discharge.

In this study, doctors compared vitamin D levels among 4,508 adults admitted to hospitals between 1993 and 2006. The average vitamin D level on admission was 22 nanograms per milliliter of blood (ng/mL).

Those with the highest circulating levels of vitamin D—above 30 ng/mL—were least likely to develop delirium, with chances increasing as vitamin D levels declined. Doctors are calling for new studies to determine if vitamin D can prevent this condition.

Reference: IRCMJ; December, 2014, Vol. 16, No. 12, e18852

Betsy’s Note: The nutrients in this article may also thin blood. This article is for educational purposes only.  It is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease. It is always a wise idea to consult your healthcare provider before beginning any supplement.

Article copyright 2015 by Natural Insights for Well Being. All rights reserved. Used with permission.