Frequently Asked Questions

I take two 600 mg capsules of CoQ10 a day. When is the best time to take them?

Taking one capsule in the morning with breakfast and one with lunch or supper is best. CoQ10 should be taken with food to increase the rate of absorption and to prevent hypoglycemia (lowered blood sugar).

Who manufacturer's your CoQ10?

Enhanced Life Sciences CoQ10 is manufactured by Optipure (www.optipure.com) and encapsulated/tested by Gemini Pharmaceuticals (www.geminipharm.com). It is manufactured to meet the highest quality standards and consistently tested to make sure those standards are met.

Is your CoQ10 all natural or synthetic? Is it the cis or trans form?

Enhanced Life Sciences CoQ10 is naturally prepared from bacterial fermentation, not a synthetic process. Our CoQ10 is made up of 100% trans isomers. It does contain less than 1% homologues, but those too are trans in orientation.

What daily dosage of CoQ10 do neurologists recommend for patients with Parkinson's disease or ALS?

Most neurologists are recommending that Parkinson's disease patients take 1200 mg/day of CoQ10. In terms of ALS, recommendations range from 300 mg up to 2000 mg/day. Please consult with your neurologist for specific recommendations.

Is it safe to take 1200 mg of CoQ10 a day?

Research thus far has not uncovered any major side effects associated with a daily intake of 1200 mg of CoQ10. Some minor side effects, such as minor abdominal cramping and drowsiness, have been seen in a small percentage of patients. CoQ10 does decrease blood sugar levels; therefore, I recommend taking the supplement with a meal or snack to avoid hypoglycemia. Remarkably, this glucose lowering effect is helpful for individuals with diabetes.

Can I add your CoQ10 to a milkshake or tube feeding?

Yes, our capsules can be opened and emptied into a meal replacement drink, such as our Neuraegis, or added to a tube feeding formula.

How much creatine monohydrate should I take?

A high-dose loading phase of 20 g of creatine monohydrate per day for 5 days followed by a maintenance phase of 5 to 10 g per day is common for patients. Supplementing with larger dosages does not result in significantly higher creatine levels and is therefore unnecessary as well as unsafe. It's extremely important to drink plenty of fluids when supplementing with creatine. This allows the body to easily absorb, filter and excrete any excess creatine.

What is creatine monohydrate?

Creatine monohydrate is a powerful amino acid that may help slow the progression of various disorders. It's main function is to maintain ATP levels within the muscle. This is the energy that muscles use during anaerobic activity, such as lifting objects or weights. Creatine also promotes an anabolic environment in the muscle, which promotes protein synthesis that is important for muscle growth and repair. A number of years ago, patients tried using creatine to maintain their strength and muscle energy levels. Many had good results. Some basic studies claimed a 10% increase in strength and possibly a slight slowing of weakness progression. Recently there has been speculation to possible neuro-protective properties of creatine as well. There are a number of clinical trials underway throughout the United States.

Does Enhanced Life Sciences creatine monohydrate come in capsule or powdered form?

Enhanced Life Sciences brand Creatine Monohydrate comes in powdered form and is the highest quality found anywhere. It is a CREAPURE brand product manufactured by Degussa and it is considered the finest, purest form of creatine monohydrate in the world. Degussa 's Creapure has the strictest specification on potential impurities in Creatine Monohydrate. Dihydrotriazine, potentially the most harmful impurity, is not found in Creapure.

Does your Creatine Monohydrate come from natural sources, or is it a fully synthetic product? (Is it suitable for vegetarians?)

Initially, a meat extract was the only source of Creatine. However, in the 1990's chemical synthesis became a more efficient and precise way to produce Creatine. Degussa developed a synthetic route (cf. US patent 5,719,319) guaranteeing highest quality, purity and safety. Due to the fact that Creapure is synthesized by chemical reaction using non-animal based starting materials, it is suitable for vegetarians.

Aren't all creatine monohydrate brands the same?

No! Creatine products with more than 5% impurities have been found on the market. The reaction conditions as well as the treatment of the crude Creatine Monohydrate are crucial for the quality of the product. Inferior starting materials or reducing the amount of water during "recrystallization" results in increased amounts of impurities (such as Dicyandiamide (dimerization product of Cyanamide), Creatinine (Cyclization product of Creatine) and Dihydrotriazines). Degussa's Creapure has a very strict specification on potential impurities in Creatine Monohydrate.

Are there ways of increasing the retention of Creatine in my body?

Yes, retention may increase when consuming simple carbohydrates, such as Glucose in fruit juices, when compared to Creatine alone. Supplementing with alpha-Lipoic Acid (a nutrient found in out Neuraegis product) may also result in greater muscle Creatine accumulation than Creatine intake alone.

How do you make sure that your products are pure and safe?

Gemini Pharmaceuticals constantly tests our products and provides us with assays (analysis sheets). On the assay we can see detailed information about our products including specific lot numbers, product descriptions (w/ description of any additional products), ingredient verifications (purity) and microbiological tests.

How has Enhanced Life Sciences contributed to research and not-for-profit organizations?

Enhanced Life Sciences has made a wide variety of contributions throughout the years. Donations have ranged from products donated to research studies to lead sponsorship of charity golf tournaments. Our goal is to make contributions to organizations that make a difference in people's lives.

I've seen a lot of information about neurological disorders relating to your products. Can your products be used by people with CHF and other disorders as well?

Absolutely, our products can be used by individuals with CHF, Cardiovascular Disease, HIV/AIDS and other disorders.

Can people without a disorder use Enhanced Life Sciences products?

Yes, healthy individuals who wish to benefit from adding powerful nutrients to their normal diet can definitely use our products.

Should I use Neuraegis in place of meals or as a snack?

Both. Neuraegis can be used as a meal replacement if you don't have time to prepare a meal, if food is not appealing, or if you are unable to consume enough food due to chewing/swallowing issues. It can also be used as a snack to add valuable calories, protein and vital nutrients to your diet.

Can Neuraegis be used for tube feeding?

Yes, Neuraegis can be used for tube feeding. It must be thoroughly blended and used immediately to avoid settling of nutrients.

My doctor recommended I take a multivitamin without Iron in it. Why is this?

Iron is a pro-oxidant and has been linked to heart disease, liver disease and cancer. Abnormally high levels have been found in the brain tissue of deceased Parkinson's patients. Unless you are anemic-low blood plasma levels-it is a good idea to avoid any iron supplementation.

Does your Essentials multivitamin product contain iron?

No. Our Essentials Multivite is iron-free.

I take a vitamin E and C supplement. How much is too much?

The highest tolerable dosage for vitamin E is 1000 mg/day. Supplementing at a level higher than this is not beneficial because the body will excrete the excess. The highest tolerable dosage for vitamin C is also 1000 mg/day. Dangerous side effects such as kidney stones and over-absorption of iron have been associated with an intake of more than 1000 mg/day.

What is an essential nutrient?

An essential nutrient is naturally present in the body and is vital to life. It works both independently and with other nutrients/systems to help sustain life.

How can I manage the problem of too much saliva?

This may sound odd, but meat tenderizer may help because it tends to dry the mouth. Other individuals use suction machines and large, plastic suction tubes to keep their mouths clear. Portable suction machines are available for rental or purchase. For certain situations, using absorbent cloths or paper towels to clear the mouth can provide temporary control of excess saliva.

If your saliva is bothersome, there are several medications that can help dry your mouth. Ask your doctor or nurse about using one or more of the following: Robinul©, Elavil©, Benadryl©, Ditropan©, Atropine, Cogentin©, Artane© and Levsin©.

What can I do to combat constipation?

The first step is to make sure to eat plenty of high-fiber foods -high-fiber cereal cereals, brown rice rather than white rice, whole wheat flour rather than white flour, and legumes such as lentils and beans. Nuts and seeds, such as almonds, sesame seeds, and walnuts can add valuable fiber. These types of foods will help keep the stool soft/bulky and help prevent constipation. Stewed prunes a few times per week can "kick-start" the gut and alleviate constipation. I recommend 20-25 grams of fiber daily to maintain normal bowel function. Also, most importantly, be sure to drink plenty of fluids daily - at least 6 - 8, eight-ounce glasses each day-most of which should be plain water. Please consult your physician if the constipation continues.

I've heard that protein blocks Sinemet from working. Is this true?

Sinemet, or levodopa, competes for absorption with protein. The Sinemet will not be well absorbed by the gut if taken too close to a meal which will cause it to be ineffective in managing the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. It should be taken at least 30 minutes prior to a meal or snack containing protein, or at least two hours after a meal.

Should you take a multivitamin supplement?

Parkinson's disease may give way to a number of potential nutritional risk factors. These include slowness of eating, decreased appetite, swallowing problems, constipation, changes in smell, and nausea associated with anti-parkinson medication. A multivitamin may help in preventing malnutrition by providing essentials vitamins and minerals.

Are there ways of increasing the retention of creatine monohydrate in my body?

Yes, retention may increase when consuming simple carbohydrates, such as Glucose in fruit juices, when compared to creatine monohydrate alone. Mixing a creatine monohydrate with apple, cranberry or orange juice will allow you to benefit from this. However, do not let the juice/creatine monohydrate mixture stand for more than a few minutes because the acid in the juice with breakdown and render the creatine monohydrate useless.

Also, supplementing with alpha-Lipoic Acid (a nutrient found in out Neuraegis product) may also result in greater muscle creatine monohydrate accumulation than intake alone.

I recently purchased your Neuraegis product. Should I use it in place of meals or as a snack?

Both, Neuraegis can be used as a meal replacement if you don't have time to prepare a meal, if food is not appealing, or if you are unable to consume enough food due to chewing/swallowing issues. It can also be used as a snack to add valuable calories, protein and vital nutrients to your diet.

Does your creatine monohydrate come from natural sources, or is it a fully synthetic product? (Is it suitable for vegetarians?)

Initially, a meat extract was the only source of creatine monohydrate. However, in the 1990's chemical synthesis became a more efficient and precise way to produce a high-quality form of it. Degussa-the company that produces Creapure® brand creatine monohydrate used in ELS brand products-developed a synthetic route (cf. US patent 5,719,319) guaranteeing the highest quality, purity and safety. Due to the fact that Creapure® is synthesized by chemical reaction using non-animal based starting materials, it is suitable for vegetarians.

Where do you get your Coenzyme Q10? Is it natural or synthetic?

ELS CoQ10 is naturally prepared from bacterial fermentation, not a synthetic process. Our CoQ10 is made up of 100% trans isomers. It does contain less than 1% homologues, but those too are trans in orientation.

Why is there such a large price range for vitamin E? Is there a difference in the type of vitamin E used by various companies?

This is a common question that, thankfully, does have a clear explanation. The vitamin E found in dietary supplements may be natural or synthetic. The natural form is listed as d-alpha-tocopherol, and the synthetic form is listed as dl-alpha-tocopherol. The natural form is better absorbed by the digestive tract and, thus, is the more desirable form. Unfortunately, it costs much more than the less desirable synthetic form which explains the drastic price differences seen with vitamin E products.

You reported in your last Horizon that a study showed creatine was not helpful with ALS. Should I continue to take it?

The study you mention was presented at 14th International Symposium on ALS/MND last November and it involved 104 ALS patients. While the findings regarding creatine monohydrate were disappointing, Jeremy Shefner, neurologist and principal investigator for the study, stated that there remains a strong possibility that creatine at higher doses or for a longer period or in combination with other agents might yet have a role in ALS treatment. It is also important to remember that there are numerous other studies that have pointed to a possible link between creatine monohydrate and the delaying of symptoms related to ALS. We will keep you updated on the development of other creatine monohydrate studies that are currently underway.

What is the advantage of taking creatine monohydrate in a powder versus a pill or capsule form?

Powder is more efficiently absorbed by the bloodstream when compared to pills or capsules which have a coating that must be digested first. Also, creatine monohydrate is most often taken in large amounts which would make consuming the same amount in pill/capsule form prohibitive.

I've noticed that some supplement labels list vitamin E in IUs and others list it in mg. My doctor told me to take 2000 IU of vitamin E. How many mg is that?

Certain recommended nutrients (vitamin A, D and E) are measured in international units (IUs) whereas most others are measured in milligrams (mg) or micrograms (mcg). Since vitamin E is available in both natural and synthetic form, two different conversion rates exist. One IU of natural vitamin E (d-alpha-tocopherol) equals 0.67 mg of vitamin E. However, one IU synthetic vitamin E equals 0.45 mg alpha-tocopherol. Therefore, to convert 2000 IU to mg, simply multiply 2000 x .67 which equals 1340 mg. The difference in conversion rates for natural versus synthetic points to the higher absorption rate of the more desirable natural form.