Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)

Background

Coenzyme Q10 or CoQ10 has exploded onto the healthcare industry. It has been touted by both alternative and traditional medicine as a dietary supplement that may reduce the risks of cardiovascular disease and reduce the signs of photoaging of the skin, among its many actions.

It functions as a vitamin and is present in the inner membrane of the mitochondria. Its primary function is an antioxidant which stablizes the membrane activity and prevents depletion of metabolites necessary for the resynthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The reduced form of the CoQ10 inhibits lipid peroxidation and protects against oxidative stress.

Several studies have documented both in vitro and in vivo effectiveness in the treatment of several diseases.

Disease Effect Reference

Cancer Reduce tumor size in mice exposed to chemical carcinogens Proc Natl Acad Sci 1973;70:390-394.

Deficiency of CoQ10 in some patients with cancer Biochem Biphys Res Commun 1997;234:296-299.

Remission in metastatic breast cancer Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1995;212

Periodontal disease Lower levels in patients with disease Proc Natl Acad Sci 1971;68:2332-2335

Suppression of gingival inflammation with patients taking CoQ10 J of Dental Health 1993;43:667-672

Neurodegenerative Diseases Huntington's disease trials in progress

Familial Alzheimer's disease progression prevented with combination of CoQ10 and vitamin B6 and iron The Lancet 1992;340:671

Parkinson's disease have lower levels of CoQ10 Annals of Neurology 1997;42:261-264

Diabetes mellitus Diabetics have lower levels of CoQ10 J Medicine 1976;7:307

Male infertility CoQ10 improves sperm motility and protects seminal fluid from free radical injury Clin Chem 1995;41:217-219

Cardiovascular disease
Strong correlation between tissue levels of CoQ10 and severity of heart failure. May be beneficial by:

Directly supporting ATP in the mitochondria
Antioxidant action
Stabilize cell membranes
Reduce platelet size and limitation of platelet activity
The Clinical Investigator 1993;71:SI34-SI36

Improvement of symptoms in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients Molecular Aspcets of Med. 1997;18:S145-S151

Hypertensive patients have reduced levels. Supplementation found significant decreases in systolic and diastolic pressures after 12 weeks Biomedical and Clinical Aspects of CoenzymeQ10 1986;5:337-343.

Significant reduction in exercise-induced EKG abnormalities in patients with chronic stable angina Am J Cardiol 1985;56:247-251

Significant reduction of plasma levels of lipid peroxidation products after CoQ10 supplementation J Biol Chem 1995;270:5756-5763.

Skin photoaging Topical formulations (0.3%) may protect and reduce the effects of skin photoaging

The dosage is controversial and has varied depending upon the disease being treated. In addition, the form of the supplement is may have variable absorption. Commercially available supplements are present in oil-baed suspensions as soft-gel capsules, cap-tabs, powder-filled hard tabs. Side effects have included a jittery caffeine-like effect, loss of appetite, palpitations, diarrhea, and mild nausea. It is not recommended for healthy pregnant women, nursing mothers, neonates, and young children due to insufficient data on these populations. CoQ10 may deplete the effects of some cholesterol lowering agents.

Henry JB. Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. Twentieth Edition. WB Saunders. 2001.

Commonly Used Terms

ATP-Adenosine triphosphate is a key currency of cellular energy.

Internet Links

International Coenzyme Q10 Association

Last Updated 4/5/2001

Disease	Effect	Reference
Cancer	Reduce tumor size in mice exposed to chemical carcinogens	Proc Natl Acad Sci 1973;70:390-394.
	Deficiency of CoQ10 in some patients with cancer	Biochem Biphys Res Commun 1997;234:296-299.
	Remission in metastatic breast cancer	Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1995;212
Periodontal disease	Lower levels in patients with disease	Proc Natl Acad Sci 1971;68:2332-2335
	Suppression of gingival inflammation with patients taking CoQ10	J of Dental Health 1993;43:667-672
Neurodegenerative Diseases	Huntington's disease trials in progress
	Familial Alzheimer's disease progression prevented with combination of CoQ10 and vitamin B6 and iron	The Lancet 1992;340:671
	Parkinson's disease have lower levels of CoQ10	Annals of Neurology 1997;42:261-264
Diabetes mellitus	Diabetics have lower levels of CoQ10	J Medicine 1976;7:307
Male infertility	CoQ10 improves sperm motility and protects seminal fluid from free radical injury	Clin Chem 1995;41:217-219
Cardiovascular disease	Strong correlation between tissue levels of CoQ10 and severity of heart failure. May be beneficial by: Directly supporting ATP in the mitochondria Antioxidant action Stabilize cell membranes Reduce platelet size and limitation of platelet activity	The Clinical Investigator 1993;71:SI34-SI36
	Improvement of symptoms in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients	Molecular Aspcets of Med. 1997;18:S145-S151
	Hypertensive patients have reduced levels. Supplementation found significant decreases in systolic and diastolic pressures after 12 weeks	Biomedical and Clinical Aspects of CoenzymeQ10 1986;5:337-343.
	Significant reduction in exercise-induced EKG abnormalities in patients with chronic stable angina	Am J Cardiol 1985;56:247-251
	Significant reduction of plasma levels of lipid peroxidation products after CoQ10 supplementation	J Biol Chem 1995;270:5756-5763.
Skin photoaging	Topical formulations (0.3%) may protect and reduce the effects of skin photoaging