CoEnzyme Q10

[KimC]

Hi, everyone.

For the past three weeks, I've been taking CoQ10 supplements daily, per my doctor's recommendation to treat angina ...

Guess what? Call it placebo effect or perhaps due to lighter exertion but I feel better.

Has anyone tried CoQ10?

"Ken" posted info the info below on the supplement a few years back. (Thanks, Ken ... where are you?)


CoQ10 - Controlled Trials in Cardiovascular Surgery

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http://wwwcsi.unian.it/coenzymeQ/overview.html

Controlled Trials in Cardiovascular Surgery

The first controlled study evaluating the effectiveness of CoQ10, administered preoperatively, was published by Tanaka et al. in 1982 [77]. Fifty patients undergoing heart valve replacement were randomized to receive either placebo or CoQ10 at a dose of 30-60 mg per day for six days before surgery. The treatment group showed a significantly lower incidence of low cardiac output state during the postoperative recovery period. In 1991, Sunamori et al. studied 78 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery [74]. Sixty of these patients were given 5 mg per/kg of CoQ10 intravenously two hours prior to cardiopulmonary bypass. Postoperatively, there was a significant benefit to left ventricular stroke work index in the CoQ10 treated group as compared to controls and a significant decrease in postoperative CPK MB measurements in the treated group. In 1993, Judy et al. studied 20 patients undergoing either coronary artery bypass surgery (16 patients) or combined bypass surgery with valve replacement (4 patients) [27]. Patients were randomized to receive either placebo or administration of oral 100 mg per day of CoQ10 for 14 days prior to surgery and continued for 30 days postoperatively. The treatment group showed significant elevations not only in blood CoQ10 level but also in myocardial tissue CoQ10 content as measured in atrial appendage. Significant improvement in postoperative cardiac index and left ventricular ejection fraction were noted in the treatment group, and a significant shortening of the postoperative recovery time was observed. In 1994, Chello et al. randomized 40 patients to receive either placebo or 150 mg per day of oral CoQ10 one week prior to coronary artery bypass graft surgery [6]. A significant decrease in postoperative markers of oxidative damage was observed in the treatment group with lower concentrations of coronary sinus thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, conjugated dienes and cardiac isoenzymes of creatine kinase. The treatment group also showed a significantly lower incidence of ventricular arrhythmias in the recovery period and the mean dose of dopamine required to maintain stable hemodynamics was significantly lower in the CoQ10 treated group. In 1994, Chen et al. randomized 22 patients to receive either CoQ10 or placebo prior to coronary artery bypass surgery and observed improvement in left atrial pressure and an improvement in the incidence of low cardiac output state in the postoperative period [8]. Right and left ventricular myocardial ultrastructure was better preserved in the CoQ10 treated group as compared to placebo. In 1996, Chello randomized 30 patients to receive either placebo or 150 mg oral CoQ10 for 7 days before abdominal aortic surgery and documented a significant decrease in markers of peroxidative damage in the CoQ10 treated patients [7]. In 1996 Taggart et al. randomized 20 patients undergoing coronary revascularization surgery to receive either placebo or 600 mg of oral CoQ10 12 hours prior to operation with no significant effects observed, confirming the lack of acute pharmacologic or clinical changes with CoQ10 [76]. Typically, oral CoQ10 supplementation rarely causes measurable effect before one week and is not maximal for several months.

Conclusions

In summary, coenzyme Q10 is a deceptively simple molecule which lies at the center of mitochondrial ATP production and appears to have clinically relevant antioxidant properties manifested by tissue protection in settings of ischemia and reperfusion. Congestive heart failure has served as a model for measurable deficiency of CoQ10 in blood and tissue, which when corrected, results in improved myocardial function. Ischemic heart disease, anginal syndromes, and most recently the ischemia reperfusion injury of coronary revascularization has provided clear evidence of clinically relevant antioxidant cell protective effects of CoQ10. Newer P31 NMR spectroscopy studies such as those conducted by Whitman's group in Philadelphia have documented enhanced cellular high energy phosphate concentrations with CoQ10 supplementation in models of ischemia and reperfusion [13]. Sophisticated biochemical markers of oxidative injury are now demonstrating in-vivo the antioxidant cell protective effects of CoQ10. Upon review of the 30 years of clinical publications on CoQ10 and the author's own clinical experience, it is clear that there are several consistent and unique characteristics of the clinical effects of CoQ10 supplementation which are worthy of discussion and may for simplicity be termed the "Q effect". The benefits of CoQ10 supplementation are likely not due solely to a correction of deficiency in so far as clinical improvements are frequently seen in patients with "normal" pre-treatment CoQ10 blood levels and optimum clinical benefit requires above normal CoQ10 blood levels (2 to 4 times higher). High blood levels may be required to attain an elevation of tissue CoQ10 levels or to rescue defective mitochondrial function perhaps by driving cytosolic glycolysis or the plasma membrane oxidoreductase or by directly enhancing the function of defective mitochondria. There is almost always a delay in the onset of clinical change of one to four weeks and a further delay in maximal clinical benefit of several months. Possible reasons for this delay include time to attain adequate tissue levels of CoQ10 or time to synthesize CoQ10-dependent apoenzymes. Supplemental CoQ10 appears to affect much more than just cardiac myocytes and many aspects of patients' health tend to improve which cannot be explained by the observed improvement in heart function. CoQ10 does not lend itself to traditional organ-specific or disease-specific strategy and requires a reassessment and a rethinking of medical theory and practice. The combination of the ready availability of pure crystalline CoQ10 in quantity from the Japanese pharmaceutical industry and increasingly sophisticated and standardized methodology to directly measure CoQ10 in both blood and tissue, brings us to a point where we can more readily and accurately expand upon the preceding 30 years of pioneering clinical work on this extraordinary molecule.

 

[hensylee]

Kim, my cardio's nurse practitioner suggested taking COq10 along with statin.

 

[tobagotwo]

One thing to bear in mind: as i I understand it, if you suddenly stop taking Coenzyme Q10, there will be a sudden drop in how much is in your body. I don't know how long it takes to build back up.

Apparently, this is because what you are taking reduces the body's need to create CoQ10, so when you stop, the body is caught short in its own production.

As such, if you're going to take it, I would consider putting it in with your necessary meds, so you don't forget it.

 

[JimChicago]

How much Coq10 are you taking each day KimC? I've been taking about 30 mg a day of a powdered form. I understand the "Q-Gel" form is the most absorped.

Some say there may be an effect with one's coumadin level (possibly lower the INR) which is why I'm just gradually increasing my daily amount of it while monitoring for any INR fluctuations. I've heard many Doctors recommend it.

 

[ken]

Overview of the Use of CoQ10

Overview of the Use of CoQ10

http://wwwcsi.unian.it/coenzymeQ/article.html

Overview of the Use of CoQ10
in Cardiovascular Disease

Background

Since the discovery of the vitamin-like nutrient coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinone, CoQ10) by Frederick Crane et al. in 1957 [10] and by other investigators [57], and since the first patients with heart failure were treated with coenzyme Q by Yuichi Yamamura [87-89], there has been a slow but steady accumulation of worldwide clinical experience with CoQ10 in heart disease over the ensuing 30 years. CoQ10 is a coenzyme for the inner mitochondrial enzyme complexes involved in oxidative phosphorylation. [44,45,49]. This bioenergetic effect of CoQ10 is believed to be of fundamental importance in its clinical application, particularly as relates to cells with exceedingly high metabolic demands such as cardiac myocytes. The second fundamental property of CoQ10 involves its antioxidant (free radical scavenging) functions [5,15,62,82]. CoQ10 is the only known naturally occurring lipid soluble antioxidant for which the body has enzyme systems capable of regenerating the active reduced ubiquinol form [15]. CoQ10 is known to be closely linked to Vitamin E and serves to regenerate the reduced (active) a-tocopherol form of Vitamin E [9]. Other aspects of CoQ10 function include its involvement in extramitochondrial electron transfer, e.g. plasma membrane oxidoreductase activity [41,82], involvement in cytosolic glycolysis [41,46,48], and potential activity in both Golgi apparatus and lysosomes [11,12]. CoQ10 also plays a role in improvement in membrane fluidity [42,43,62] as evidenced by a decrease in blood viscosity with CoQ10 supplementation [29]. The rationale behind the use of CoQ10 in heart failure has focused primarily on the correction of a measurable deficiency of CoQ10 in both blood and myocardial tissue with the degree of CoQ10 deficiency correlating directly with the degree of impairment in left ventricular function [55]. CoQ10 supplementation corrects measurable deficiencies of CoQ10 in blood and tissue [16,17,30,31,34,47,55]. Exogenous CoQ10 is taken up by CoQ10-deficient cells and can be demonstrated to be incorporated into the mitochondria [59]. The role of free radicals in cell injury and in cell death in settings of ischemia and reperfusion is becoming increasingly well established. CoQ10's antioxidant properties and its location within the mitochondria (the center of free radical production) make it an obvious candidate for a potential therapeutic agent in these situations [92].

Congestive Heart Failure Controlled Trials

Since the Japanese pioneering studies in the late 1960's, there have been at least 15 randomized controlled trials involving a total of 1,366 patients with both primary and secondary forms of myocardial failure. The first randomized controlled trial by Hashiba et al in 1972 involving 197 patients [21] documented significant improvement using 30 mg CoQ10/day. Similar observations were made in another controlled trial by Iwabuchi et al., again using 30 mg of oral CoQ10 in 38 patients with heart failure [24]. The first controlled trial in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy in the United States was published by Per Langsjoen in 1985 using 100 mg of CoQ10 per day in 19 patients with double-blind crossover design and three month treatment periods [34]. Significant improvements were noted in ejection fraction as well as functional status. Three controlled trials in 1986 by VanFraechem et al., Judy et al. and Schneeberger et al. confirmed these findings, again using 100 mg of CoQ10 per day [25,71,81]. In 1990 Oda documented normalization of load-induced cardiac dysfunction in 40 patients with mitral valve prolapse using a double blind placebo controlled design [60]. In 1991, Rossi et al. showed significant improvement in ischemic cardiomyopathy in 20 patients using 200 mg per day [68]. Poggesi et al. documented significant improvement in myocardial function in 20 patients with either ischemic or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathies using 100 mg of CoQ10 per day [65]. Judy et al. randomized 180 patients to receive either 100 mg per day of CoQ10 versus placebo and noted significant improvement in long-term survival with patients followed up to eight years [26]. The only controlled study to show no benefit in heart failure was published by Permanetter et al. in 1992 [64]. This was a well designed study looking specifically at idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy in 25 patients with documented normal coronary anatomy by cardiac catheterization. After a two month stabilization period, patients were treated with either placebo or CoQ10 for a duration of four months in a double-blind crossover design. No significant improvement in exercise tolerance or measurements of myocardial function could be demonstrated. Possible reasons for the lack of therapeutic efficacy of CoQ10 in this trial merit discussion. Although the 100 mg per day dose of CoQ10 used in this trial was shown to give a threefold increase plasma CoQ10 levels in healthy volunteers, the plasma levels in the patients during the trial were not measured and it is conceivable that many of the cardiomyopathy patients may have had poor absorption of the CoQ10 and, therefore, may have had only marginal increases in their plasma Q levels. Another point is that all prior trials in heart failure involved patients with a mixture of etiologies, which frequently included patients with ischemic heart disease. It has become clear in recent years that the ischemic cardiomyopathy patients with viable but weak myocytes, often show the most dramatic improvements with supplemental CoQ10 (author's observations) perhaps related to the large free radical burden in ischemic tissue. Furthermore, the duration of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy prior to the institution of CoQ10 supplementation was not specified in this study and is of considerable importance in so much as those patients treated shortly after the diagnosis of dilated cardiomyopathy show the greatest degree of improvement as opposed to patients with long-standing dilated cardiomyopathy who frequently show minimal changes, presumably related to the gradual loss of myocytes in this disease with an increasingly thin and fibrotic myocardium. In 1993, Rengo et al. documented clinical and echocardiographic improvement in 60 patients treated with 100 mg of CoQ10 for seven months [66]. The largest controlled trial to date was published in 1993 by Morisco et al, in which 641 patients were randomly assigned to receive either placebo or CoQ10 at 2 mg/kg per day in a one year double-blind trial [51]. 118 patients in the controlled group required hospitalization for heart failure in the one year follow-up compared to 73 in the CoQ10 treated group (P < 0.001). In addition to the obvious improvement in quality of life for these patients, the reduction in hospitalization rate has strong implications in the growing problem of health care cost containment. A year later in 1994, Morisco et al. documented significant improvements in ejection fraction, stroke volume and cardiac output as measured by radio nuclide scanning in six patients treated with 150 mg of CoQ10 per day in a double-blind crossover design [52]. Lastly, in 1995, Swedberg et al. published a study on 79 patients with severe chronic congestive heart failure whose mean ejection fraction at rest was 22% +/-10% [75]. There was a slight but significant improvement in volume load ejection fraction measurement and a significant improvement in quality of life assessment. A meta analysis of controlled studies in heart failure by Soja et al. demonstrated significant improvement in measurements of cardiac function [73].

Open Label and Long Term Congestive Heart Failure Trials

Dr. Yuichi Yamamura published an excellent review of all early Japanese trials prior to 1984 [91]. By mid 1980's it became apparent that CoQ10 was safe and effective in the short-term treatment of patients with heart failure. Several long-term trials were undertaken to determine if this effect would be sustained and to determine long-term safety. In 1985, Mortensen et al. observed sustained benefit and safety in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy on 100 mg per day of CoQ10 [53]. In 1990, we published our observations on 126 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy followed for six years, again noting sustained benefit with remarkable long-term safety and lack of side effects [35]. In 1994, Baggio et al. published the largest open trial in heart failure involving 2,664 patients treated with up to 150 mg of CoQ10 per day, again noting significant benefit and lack of toxicity [3]. Also, in 1994, we published observations on 424 patients with a broader spectrum of myocardial disease including ischemic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy, primary diastolic dysfunction, hypertensive heart disease, and valvular heart disease [37]. Patients were treated with an average of 240 mg of CoQ10 per day and followed for up to eight years with mean follow-up of 18 months. We observed significant improvement in NYHA functional classification, improvement in measurements of myocardial function, an average of 50% reduction in the requirement for concomitant cardiovascular drug therapy, and a complete lack of toxicity. Myocardial function became measurably improved within one month with maximal improvement usually obtained by six months and this improvement appears to be sustained in the majority of patients. The withdrawal of CoQ10 therapy resulted in a measurable decline in myocardial function within one month and a return to pretreatment measurements within three to six months. This return to baseline myocardial function after withdrawal of CoQ10 therapy was also observed by Mortensen et al. [54].

Diastolic Dysfunction

After initial favorable observations in advanced congestive heart failure with predominant systolic dysfunction, our group and others began to look at earlier stages of myocardial dysfunction, specifically, diastolic dysfunction. This filling phase of the cardiac cycle involves the ATP-dependent clearance of calcium which in turn is required for the breaking of the actin-myosin binding. Diastolic dysfunction often precedes more advanced stages of congestive heart failure and is commonly seen in a wide variety of clinical syndromes, including symptomatic hypertensive heart disease with left ventricular hypertrophy, symptomatic mitral valve prolapse, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the aging heart, and is often seen in fatigue states such as chronic fatigue syndrome. In 1993, we published observations on 115 patients with isolated diastolic dysfunction - 60 with hypertensive heart disease, 27 with mitral valve prolapse syndrome, and 28 with chronic fatigue syndrome [36]. The administration of CoQ10 resulted in improvement in diastolic function, a decrease in myocardial thickness, and an improvement in functional classification. In 1994, Oda published results on 30 patients with load-induced diastolic dysfunction and documented normalization of diastolic function in all patients after CoQ10 supplementation [63]. In 1994, we published data on 109 patients with hypertensive heart disease and again noted not only improvement in NYHA functional classification and left ventricular hypertrophy, but we also observed significant improvement in diastolic function as measured by doppler echocardiography [38]. We noted improvement in blood pressure and a lessening in the requirement for antihypertensive drug therapy which occurred in tempo with the improvement in diastolic function. In 1997, we published data on seven patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and again noted significant improvement in diastolic function as well as a lessening in hypertrophy and an improvement in functional status [39]. Also in 1997, we published data on 16 otherwise healthy elderly patients over the age of 80, all of whom had significant diastolic dysfunction prior to treatment and all of whom had normalization of diastolic function within three months of CoQ10 supplementation [40]. In summary, there appears to be an improvement in diastolic function in all categories of cardiac disease and this improvement occurs earlier and is more consistent than improvements in systolic function. This is understandable given the frequent occurrence of permanent myocardial fibrosis in advanced idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and the permanent myocardial scarring seen in advanced ischemic heart disease. Diastolic dysfunction is easily identified by non-invasive techniques and appears to be readily reversible with supplemental CoQ10 with gratifying clinical improvement.

Ischemic Heart Disease Controlled Trials

Controlled trials in angina did not begin until the mid 1980's with the first publication by Hiasa in 1984 in which 18 patients were randomized to receive either intravenous CoQ10 or placebo [22]. The treated patients showed an increase in exercise tolerance of one stage or greater in a modified Bruce protocol as compared to no increase in exercise tolerance in the placebo group, showed less ST-segment depression with exercise and experienced less angina with no alteration in heart rate or blood pressure. A year later in 1985, Kamikawa et al. studied 12 patients with chronic stable angina in a double-blind placebo controlled randomized crossover protocol using 150 mg a day of oral CoQ10 [28]. Exercise time increased significantly from 345 seconds to 406 seconds with CoQ10 treatment and time until 1 mm of ST depression increased significantly from 196 seconds to 284 seconds (P < 0.01). Again, no significant alteration in heart rate or blood pressure was observed. In 1986, Schardt et al. studied 15 patients with exercise-induced angina treated with 600 mg per day of CoQ10 with a placebo controlled double-blind crossover design [70]. Again, a significant decrease in ischemic ST-segment depression was noted with CoQ10 treatment. Since the CoQ10 treatment caused no significant alteration in heart rate or blood pressure, it was concluded that the mechanism of action was related to a direct effect on myocardial metabolism. In 1991, Wilson et al. studied 58 patients with up to 300 mg per day of CoQ10 compared to placebo and again noted significant improvement in exercise duration to the onset of angina without a change in peak rate pressure product, suggesting an improvement in myocardial efficiency [84]. Also, in 1991, Serra et al. showed significant improvement in 20 patients with chronic ischemic heart disease using 60mg of CoQ10 per day for 4 weeks, documenting improvements in myocardial function measurements, improved exercise capacity, and a significant reduction in the number of anginal episodes and nitrate consumption [72]. In 1994, Kuklinski et al. studied 61 patients with acute myocardial infarction, randomized to obtain either placebo or 100 mg of CoQ10 with 100 mg of selenium for a period of one year [32]. The treatment group showed no prolongation of the QT-interval whereas, in the placebo group, 40% showed prolongation of the corrected QT-interval of greater than 440 milliseconds (P < 0.001). Although there were no significant differences in the acute hospitalization, the one year follow-up revealed six patients (20%) in the control group died from re-infarction, whereas one patient in the treatment group suffered a noncardiac death. The prevention of QT-interval prolongation can be explained by an enhancement in myocardial bioenergetics with an improvement in sodium potassium ATPase function, thereby optimizing membrane repolarization.

LDL Cholesterol Oxidation

The antioxidant properties of CoQ10 and the fact that 60 % of CoQ10 is carried in the plasma with LDL cholesterol [2], has led to investigations as to whether or not CoQ10 has any clinically relevant antioxidant function in terms of decreasing the oxidation of cholesterol [23,79]. It is generally believed that the oxidation of LDL cholesterol is of primary importance in the development of atherosclerosis. In 1996 in Australia, Stocker's group showed in vitro that supplemental CoQ10 prevented the pro-oxidant effect of alpha-tocopherol [78]. Supplementation with vitamin E alone resulted in an LDL which was more prone to oxidation as compared to the combination of CoQ10 and vitamin E which increased the resistance to oxidation. Alleva et al. showed that supplemental CoQ10 increased the amount of CoQ10 in LDL (especially LDL3) and lowered the peroxidizability of the LDL. Aejmelaeus et al. documented a doubling of CoQ10 content in LDL particles after CoQ10 supplementation at 100 mg/day [1].

Statins and CoQ10

Harry Rudney was among the first to recognize the importance of HMG-CoA reductase in the biosynthesis of CoQ10. In January 1981 at the 3rd International Symposium on the Biomedical and Clinical Aspects of Coenzyme Q held in Austin, Texas, USA, he stated "... a major regulatory step in CoQ10 synthesis is at the level of HMG-CoA reductase" [69]. In 1990 Willis et al. [83] studied 40 rats and demonstrated significant tissue CoQ10 deficiency in heart and liver in the lovastatin treated rats which could easily be prevented by co-administration of CoQ10. Later in the same year, Langsjoen et al. noted not only a decline of CoQ10 blood levels, but also a significant clinical decompensation with a reduction in ejection fraction in 5 heart failure patients after the addition of lovastatin to their standard medical therapy plus 100 mg CoQ10 per day [18]. This decompensation was reversed by a doubling of their CoQ10 dose from 100 mg to 200 mg/day. In 1992 Ghirlanda et al. showed in a double blind controller trial in 40 hypercholesterolemic patients a 40% drop in blood CoQ10 level after treatment with either pravastatin or simvastatin [19]. In 1994 Bargossi et al. randomized 30 patients to receive either 20 mg simvastatin or 20 mg simvastatin plus 100mg CoQ10 and followed them for 90 days [4]. The lowering of cholesterol was significant and similar in both groups and the simultaneous CoQ10 therapy prevented both the plasma and platelet CoQ10 depletion induced by simvastatin administration. In 1997 Mortensen et al. observed similar reductions in serum CoQ10 levels in a placebo controlled double blind trial [56]. The authors concluded that "although HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors are safe and effective within a limited time horizon, continued vigilance of possible adverse consequences from CoQ10 lowering seems important during long term therapy". Also in 1997, Palomaki et al. documented a decrease in the resistance of LDL cholesterol to oxidative stress after 6 weeks of lovastatin therapy in a double blind, placebo controlled, cross over trial on 27 hypercholesterolemic men [63]. This enhanced oxidizability of LDL cholesterol is believed to be related to a decrease in the number of molecules of CoQ10 per each LDL cholesterol particle and may lessen the benefit of LDL cholesterol reduction. The CoQ10 lowering effect of statins is now well established with a significant depletion in plasma and platelets in humans and with a significant depletion in blood, liver and heart in rats. Human skeletal muscle CoQ10 may actually increase with statin therapy as documented by a Finnish study [33] but human heart muscle tissue CoQ10 data are presently lacking and, when available, should help clarify the mechanism of clinical deterioration noted in some cardiomyopathy patients treated with statins. The concern over the long term consequences of statin-induced CoQ10 deficiency is heightened by the rapidly increasing number of patients treated and the increasing dosages and potencies of the statin drugs. As the "target" or "ideal" cholesterol level is steadily lowered, the CoQ10-lowering effect will be more pronounced and the potential for long term adverse health effects enhanced. Before the results of this vast human experiment become obvious over the next decade, it is incumbent upon the medical profession to more closely evaluate the clinical significance of this drug-induced CoQ10 depletion. The combined use of CoQ10 and statins not only prevents the depletion of CoQ10, but may also enhance the benefits of the cholesterol lowering by lessening the oxidation of LDL cholesterol.

Hypertension

A tendency to decrease blood pressure in patients with established hypertension has been noted as far back as 1976 by Nagano, who studied 45 patients on 30-60 mg of CoQ10 per day [58]. A year later, Yamagami published data on 29 patients using 1-2 mg of CoQ10 per kg body weight per day [86]. From 1980 through 1984, three smaller studies again showed favorable improvement in hypertension with CoQ10 supplementation [20,67,80] and in 1986, Yamagami evaluated 20 patients in randomized controlled fashion using 100 mg of CoQ10 per day and again observed a favorable effect [86]. Further uncontrolled open studies [14,38,50] all uniformly found a favorable influence on hypertension when CoQ10 supplementation was added to standard antihypertensive drug therapy. We postulate that the blood pressure lowering effect of CoQ10 may in part be an indirect effect, whereby improved diastolic function leads to a lessening in the adaptive high catecholamine state of hypertensive disease. In addition, effects on vascular endothelium may be involved. It is also possible that the blood viscosity lowering effect of CoQ10 may favorably influence hypertension [29].

Controlled Trials in Cardiovascular Surgery

The first controlled study evaluating the effectiveness of CoQ10, administered preoperatively, was published by Tanaka et al. in 1982 [77]. Fifty patients undergoing heart valve replacement were randomized to receive either placebo or CoQ10 at a dose of 30-60 mg per day for six days before surgery. The treatment group showed a significantly lower incidence of low cardiac output state during the postoperative recovery period. In 1991, Sunamori et al. studied 78 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery [74]. Sixty of these patients were given 5 mg per/kg of CoQ10 intravenously two hours prior to cardiopulmonary bypass. Postoperatively, there was a significant benefit to left ventricular stroke work index in the CoQ10 treated group as compared to controls and a significant decrease in postoperative CPK MB measurements in the treated group. In 1993, Judy et al. studied 20 patients undergoing either coronary artery bypass surgery (16 patients) or combined bypass surgery with valve replacement (4 patients) [27]. Patients were randomized to receive either placebo or administration of oral 100 mg per day of CoQ10 for 14 days prior to surgery and continued for 30 days postoperatively. The treatment group showed significant elevations not only in blood CoQ10 level but also in myocardial tissue CoQ10 content as measured in atrial appendage. Significant improvement in postoperative cardiac index and left ventricular ejection fraction were noted in the treatment group, and a significant shortening of the postoperative recovery time was observed. In 1994, Chello et al. randomized 40 patients to receive either placebo or 150 mg per day of oral CoQ10 one week prior to coronary artery bypass graft surgery [6]. A significant decrease in postoperative markers of oxidative damage was observed in the treatment group with lower concentrations of coronary sinus thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, conjugated dienes and cardiac isoenzymes of creatine kinase. The treatment group also showed a significantly lower incidence of ventricular arrhythmias in the recovery period and the mean dose of dopamine required to maintain stable hemodynamics was significantly lower in the CoQ10 treated group. In 1994, Chen et al. randomized 22 patients to receive either CoQ10 or placebo prior to coronary artery bypass surgery and observed improvement in left atrial pressure and an improvement in the incidence of low cardiac output state in the postoperative period [8]. Right and left ventricular myocardial ultrastructure was better preserved in the CoQ10 treated group as compared to placebo. In 1996, Chello randomized 30 patients to receive either placebo or 150 mg oral CoQ10 for 7 days before abdominal aortic surgery and documented a significant decrease in markers of peroxidative damage in the CoQ10 treated patients [7]. In 1996 Taggart et al. randomized 20 patients undergoing coronary revascularization surgery to receive either placebo or 600 mg of oral CoQ10 12 hours prior to operation with no significant effects observed, confirming the lack of acute pharmacologic or clinical changes with CoQ10 [76]. Typically, oral CoQ10 supplementation rarely causes measurable effect before one week and is not maximal for several months.

Conclusions

In summary, coenzyme Q10 is a deceptively simple molecule which lies at the center of mitochondrial ATP production and appears to have clinically relevant antioxidant properties manifested by tissue protection in settings of ischemia and reperfusion. Congestive heart failure has served as a model for measurable deficiency of CoQ10 in blood and tissue, which when corrected, results in improved myocardial function. Ischemic heart disease, anginal syndromes, and most recently the ischemia reperfusion injury of coronary revascularization has provided clear evidence of clinically relevant antioxidant cell protective effects of CoQ10. Newer P31 NMR spectroscopy studies such as those conducted by Whitman's group in Philadelphia have documented enhanced cellular high energy phosphate concentrations with CoQ10 supplementation in models of ischemia and reperfusion [13]. Sophisticated biochemical markers of oxidative injury are now demonstrating in-vivo the antioxidant cell protective effects of CoQ10. Upon review of the 30 years of clinical publications on CoQ10 and the author's own clinical experience, it is clear that there are several consistent and unique characteristics of the clinical effects of CoQ10 supplementation which are worthy of discussion and may for simplicity be termed the "Q effect". The benefits of CoQ10 supplementation are likely not due solely to a correction of deficiency in so far as clinical improvements are frequently seen in patients with "normal" pre-treatment CoQ10 blood levels and optimum clinical benefit requires above normal CoQ10 blood levels (2 to 4 times higher). High blood levels may be required to attain an elevation of tissue CoQ10 levels or to rescue defective mitochondrial function perhaps by driving cytosolic glycolysis or the plasma membrane oxidoreductase or by directly enhancing the function of defective mitochondria. There is almost always a delay in the onset of clinical change of one to four weeks and a further delay in maximal clinical benefit of several months. Possible reasons for this delay include time to attain adequate tissue levels of CoQ10 or time to synthesize CoQ10-dependent apoenzymes. Supplemental CoQ10 appears to affect much more than just cardiac myocytes and many aspects of patients' health tend to improve which cannot be explained by the observed improvement in heart function. CoQ10 does not lend itself to traditional organ-specific or disease-specific strategy and requires a reassessment and a rethinking of medical theory and practice. The combination of the ready availability of pure crystalline CoQ10 in quantity from the Japanese pharmaceutical industry and increasingly sophisticated and standardized methodology to directly measure CoQ10 in both blood and tissue, brings us to a point where we can more readily and accurately expand upon the preceding 30 years of pioneering clinical work on this extraordinary molecule.

 

[ken]

CoQ10 - Published Clinical Studies

CoQ10 - Published Clinical Studies

http://www.integrativeinc.com/vitalineformulary/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabindex=4&tabid=103

Published Clinical Studies

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1. Effects of Coenzyme Q10 in Early Parkinson's Disease.
2. A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Coenzyme Q10 and Remacemide in Huntington?s Disease.
3. Coenzyme Q10 and remacemide hydrochloride ameliorate motor deficits in a Huntington's disease transgenic mouse model.
4. The Aging Heart: Reversal of Diastolic Dysfunction Through the Use of Oral CoQ10 in the Elderly
5. MPP+ produces progressive neuronal degeneration which is mediated by oxidative stress.
6. Assessment of coenzyme Q10 tolerability in Huntington's disease
7. Coenzyme Q10 attenuates the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) induced loss of striatal dopamine and dopaminergic axons in aged mice.
8. Coenzyme Q10 in the central nervous system and its potential usefulness in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
9. Coenzyme Q10 and nicotinamide block striatal lesions produced by the mitochondrial toxin malonate.
10. Non-invasive neurochemical analysis of focal excitotoxic lesions in models of neurodegenerative illness using spectroscopic imaging.
11. Energy metabolism defects in Huntington's disease and effects of coenzyme Q10.
12. Treatment of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with coenzyme Q10.
13. Coenzyme Q10 administration increases brain mitochondrial concentrations and exerts neuroprotective effects.
14. Neuroprotective strategies for treatment of lesions produced by mitochondrial toxins: implications for neurodegenerative diseases.
15. Absorption, tolerability, and effects on mitochondrial activity of oral coenzyme Q10 in parkinsonian patients.
16. Coenzyme Q10 levels correlate with the activities of complexes I and II/III in mitochondria from parkinsonian and nonparkinsonian subjects.
17. Coenzyme Q10 and nicotinamide and a free radical spin trap protect against MPTP neurotoxicity

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Effects of Coenzyme Q10 in Early Parkinson's Disease.
A multicenter, randomized, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, double-blind study was conducted to determine whether a range of dosages of CoQ10 could slow the functional decline of Parkinson?s disease. Eighty subjects with early PD were randomized to one of four groups: placebo, or Coenzyme Q10 at 300, 600, or 1200 mg daily. Participants were evaluated with the Unified Parkinson?s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) at screening, baseline, and months 1, 4, 8, 12, and 16. The duration of the study was 16 months, or until the subject developed disability requiring levodopa treatment. The primary response variable was the change in the total score on the UPDRS from baseline to the last visit.

Results: All groups receiving CoQ10 experienced reduced decline in function compared to the placebo group. The group taking 1200 mg/day, who had 40% less decline compared to the people receiving a placebo, experienced the most significant results. The mean changes in total UPDRS from baseline to final visit were +11.99 for the placebo group, +8.81 for the 300 mg/day groups, +10.82 for the 600 mg/d group, and +6.69 for the 1200-mg/day group. The P value for the primary analysis, a test for a linear trend between the dosage and the mean change in the total UPDRS score, was .09, which met the prespecified criteria for a positive trend for the trial. A prespecified, secondary analysis was the comparison of each treatment group with the placebo group, and the difference between the 1200 mg/d and placebo groups was significant (P=.04). The reduction in the worsening of the total UPDRS score was the result of slowed decline in all 3 components of the UPDRS (mental, activities of daily living, and motor skills), with the greatest effect in the activities of daily living. The greatest reduction in decline was seen at the highest dosage (1200 mg/d).

Tolerability and Safety: Coenzyme Q10 was well tolerated; most adverse events were mild. The percentages of subjects receiving CoQ10 who reported any adverse event were not significantly different from that in the placebo group. No significant trend by dosage was found in the number of subjects experiencing an adverse effect.

Conclusion: CoQ10 was well tolerated, and appears to be the first treatment to slow the progressive deterioration of function in early Parkinson?s disease.

Source: Shults CW, Oakes D, Kieburtz K, et al. Arch Neurol. 2002:59:1541-1550


A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Coenzyme Q10 and Remacemide in Huntington?s Disease.
Summary: Researchers conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to determine whether treatment with coenzyme Q10 or remacemide hydrochloride slows the functional decline of early Huntington?s disease. Four treatment groups received either remacemide hydrochloride (AstraZeneca, Wayne, PA), coenzyme Q10 (Vitaline, Ashland, OR), a combination of both, or placebo. Each patient underwent a series of evaluations to establish baseline functional capacity values. The patients were reevaluated after 1,4,8,12,16,20,25, and 30 months of treatment. Coenzyme Q10 was well tolerated by the participants, and was not associated with the worsening of any symptoms. Results: While neither intervention showed significant changes in the functional capacity scores, the patients who received coenzyme Q10 experienced a 13% slowing in functional decline compared to the patients who received remacemide (2.40 versus a 2.74 point decline). The coenzyme Q10 group also showed a slowed decline (22% slowing) in functional assessment and as measured on an independence scale (18% slowing). The participants receiving remacemide experienced a higher rate of adverse effects, and demonstrated no slowing of functional decline. The slowing in functional decline experienced by the coenzyme Q10 group was the first beneficial trend in functional decline to be found in a controlled trial in Huntington?s disease.
Source: The Huntington Study Group. Neurology. 2001:57:397-404.


Coenzyme Q10 and remacemide hydrochloride ameliorate motor deficits in a Huntington's disease transgenic mouse model.
Huntington's disease (HD) is a progressive inherited neurodegenerative disorder, for which there is no effective therapy. The CARE-HD study, recently published, evaluated the ability of a combination of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and remacemide hydrochloride (R) to ameliorate symptoms, which might arise from glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity and abnormalities in mitochondrial energy production. In this study, we examined the efficacy of CoQ10/R therapy on ameliorating the motor dysfunction and premature death of HD-N171-82Q transgenic mice. Motor performance, measured on the Rotarod, was specifically but transiently improved beginning 3 weeks after initiating the CoQ10/R therapy. Survival, however was not prolonged. Our findings suggest that further study of CoQ10/R in mouse models is warranted to investigate whether this therapeutic approach can ameliorate the symptoms of HD in early stages of the disease
Source: Schilling G, Coonfield ML, Ross CA, Borchelt DR. Neurosci Lett. 2001 Nov 27;315(3):149-53.


The Aging Heart: Reversal of Diastolic Dysfunction Through the Use of Oral CoQ10 in the Elderly
The observations on the clinical utility of CoQ10 in cardiology have gradually shifted from an emphasis on systolic left ventricular function towards the broader and more fundamental observations on diastolic function and dysfunction. Our experience with CoQ10 began in 1981 with the initiation of a double blind placebo controlled trial in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, followed by a six year open label study involving 126 patients. By 1993, it became apparent that diastolic dysfunction was an easily measured abnormality in early myocardial disease that showed clear improvement with the use of CoQ10. In 1994, 424 patients with six different diagnostic categories of cardiovascular disease were shown to have a significant improvement in diastolic function as well as a significant reduction in the associated finding of left ventricular hypertrophy. Overall medication requirement in this group dropped considerable and the quality of life was enhanced both directly by the effects of CoQ10 on myocardial function and indirectly by easing the burden of multi drug therapy. Our current data demonstrate a significant improvement of diastolic function in patients with advanced age (average age 84 years) when treated with oral CoQ10 (average dose 220 mg/day). Along with the reversal of diastolic dysfunction, we observed marked improvement in patients' exercise tolerance and quality of life. This refutes the common assertion that a stiff and non-compliant myocardium is a normal and irreversible aspect of the aged heart.
Source: Langsjoen P, Langsjoen A, Willis R, and Folkers K. The Aging Heart: Reversal of Diastolic Dysfunction Through the Use of Oral CoQ10 in the Elderly. In: Anti-Aging Medical Therapeutics. Klatz RM and Goldman R (eds.). Health Quest Publications. 1997;113-120.


MPP+ produces progressive neuronal degeneration which is mediated by oxidative stress.
The neurotoxicity of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine, which produces Parkinsonism, is mediated by its metabolite 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+). When injected into the striatum MPP+ is accumulated by dopaminergic nerve terminals and is then retrogradely transported to the substantia nigra compacta. The mechanism by which it mediates cell death involves both inhibition of complex I of the electron transport chain and free radical generation. In the present experiments we found that administration of the free radical spin trap N-tert-butyl-alpha-(2-sulfophenyl) nitrone (S-PBN) significantly attenuated substantia nigra cell loss produced by MPP+ administration into rat striatum. We also found that coadministration of coenzyme Q10 with nicotinamide, which attenuates energy depletion, significantly blocked MPP(+)-induced substantia nigra damage. Last, we found that a single administration of MPP+ into rat striatum can produce progressive cell loss in the substantia nigra and that administration of S-PBN starting 7 days after administration of MPP+ can block the ensuing neuronal damage. These observations suggest that a one-time exposure to a neurotoxic agent may result in progressive neuronal degeneration mediated by oxidative stress.
Source: Fallon J, Matthews RT, Hyman BT, Beal MF.
Exp Neurol. 1997 Mar;144(1):193-8.


Assessment of coenzyme Q10 tolerability in Huntington's disease
We performed a 6-month open-label trial to evaluate the tolerability and efficacy of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ) in 10 patients with Huntington's disease (HD). Subjects were evaluated at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months using the HD Rating Scale (HDRS), the HD Functional Capacity Scale (HDFCS), and standardized neuropsychological measures. Adverse events (AEs) were assessed by telephone interview every month. CoQ doses ranged from 600 to 1,200 mg per day. All subjects completed the study, although four subjects reported mild AEs, including headache, heartburn, fatigue, and increased involuntary movements. There was no significant effect of the treatment on the clinical ratings. The good tolerability of CoQ suggests that it is a good candidate for evaluation in long-term clinical trials designed to slow the progression of HD.
Source: Feigin A, Kieburtz K, Como P, Hickey C, Claude K, Abwender D, Zimmerman C, Steinberg K, Shoulson I.
Mov Disord. 1996;11(3):321-323.


Coenzyme Q10 attenuates the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) induced loss of striatal dopamine and dopaminergic axons in aged mice.
We investigated whether oral administration of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) could attenuate 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) neurotoxicity in one-year-old mice. Four groups of one-year-old, male C57BL/6 mice received a either standard diet or a diet supplemented with CoQ10 (200 mg/kg/day) for five weeks. After four weeks, one group that had received the standard diet and one group that had received the CoQ10 supplemented diet were treated with MPTP. The four groups continued on their assigned diets for an additional week prior to sacrifice. Striatal dopamine concentrations were reduced in both groups treated with MPTP, but they were significantly higher (37%) in the group treated with CoQ10 and MPTP than in the group treated with MPTP alone. The density of tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive (TH-IR) fibers in the caudal striatum was reduced in both MPTP-treated groups, but the density of TH-IR fibers was significantly (62%) greater in the group treated with CoQ10 and MPTP than in the group treated with MPTP alone. Our results indicate that CoQ10 can attenuate the MPTP-induced loss of striatal dopamine and dopaminergic axons in aged mice and suggest that CoQ10 may be useful in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
Source: Flint Beal M, Matthews RT, Tieleman A, Shults CW.
Brain Res. 1998;783:109-114


Coenzyme Q10 in the central nervous system and its potential usefulness in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
Coenzyme Q10 is an essential cofactor of the electron transport chain and is an antioxidant. We examined the effects of oral feeding with coenzyme Q10 in young animals on brain concentrations. Feeding with coenzyme Q10 at a dose of 200 mg/kg for 1-2 months in young rats resulted in significant increases in liver concentrations, however, there was no significant increase in brain concentrations of either reduced- or total coenzyme Q10 levels. Nevertheless there was a reduction in malonate-induced increases in 2,5 dihydroxybenzoic acid to salicylate, consistent with an antioxidant effect. In other studies we found that oral administration of coenzvme Q10 significantly reduced increased concentrations of lactate in the occipital cortex of Huntington's disease patients. These findings suggest that coenzyme Q10 might be useful in treating neurodegenerative diseases.
Source: Flint Beal M, Matthews RT.
Mol Aspects Med. 1997;18(S);s169-s179.


Coenzyme Q10 and nicotinamide block striatal lesions produced by the mitochondrial toxin malonate.
A potential mechanism of neuronal injury in neurodegenerative diseases is a defect in energy metabolism that may lead to slow excitotoxic neuronal death. Consistent with this possibility, we showed that specific inhibitors of the electron transport chain produce excitotoxic lesions in vivo. In the present study we examined whether agents that improve energy metabolism, can block lesions produced by the mitochondrial toxin malonate. Striatal lesions produced by the complex II inhibitor malonate were blocked in a dose-dependent manner by oral pretreatment with coenzyme Q10. Administration of nicotinamide by Alzet pump for 1 week attenuated malonate-induced lesions, but riboflavin had no effect. Administration of nicotinamide intraperitoneally just prior to and following induction of the lesions produced dose-dependent neuroprotection. A combination of coenzyme Q10 with nicotinamide was more effective than either compound alone, as shown by both lesion size and magnetic resonance imaging in vivo. Both coenzyme Q10 and nicotinamide blocked adenosine triphosphate depletions and lactate increases. These results confirm that mitochondrial toxins produce striatal excitocoxic lesions by a mechanism involving energy depletion in vivo. Further more, they suggest novel neuroprotective strategies that may be useful in the treatment of both mitochondrial encephalopathies and neurodegenerative diseases.
Source: Flint Beal M, Henshaw DR, Jenkins BG, Rosen BR, Schulz JB.Ann Neurol. 1994;36:882-888.


Non-invasive neurochemical analysis of focal excitotoxic lesions in models of neurodegenerative illness using spectroscopic imaging.
Water-suppressed chemical shift magnetic resonance imaging was used to detect neurochemical alterations in vivo in neurotoxin-induced rat models of Huntington's and Parkinson's disease. The toxins were: N-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+), aminooxyacetic acid (AOAA), 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP), malonate, and azide. Local or systemic injection of these compounds caused secondary excitotoxic lesions by selective inhibition of mitochondrial respiration that gave rise to elevated lactate concentrations in the striatum. In addition, decreased N-acetylaspartate (NAA) concentrations were noted at the lesion site over time. Measurements of lactate washout kinetics demonstrated that t1/2 followed the order: 3-NP approximately MPP+ >> AOAA approximately malonate, which parallels the expected lifetimes of the neurotoxins based on their mechanisms of action. Further increases in lactate were also caused by intravenous infusion of glucose. At least part of the excitotoxicity is mediated through indirect glutamate pathways because lactate production and lesion size were diminished using unilateral decortectomies (blockade of glutamatergic input) or glutamate antagonists (MK-801). Lesion size and lactate were also diminished by energy repletion with ubiquinone and nicotinamide. Lactate measurements determined by magnetic resonance agreed with biochemical measurements made using freeze clamp techniques. Lesion size as measured with MR, although larger by 30%, agreed well with lesion size determined histologically. These experiments provide evidence for impairment of intracellular energy metabolism leading to indirect excitotoxicity for all the compounds mentioned before and demonstrate the feasibility of small-volume metabolite imaging for in vivo neurochemical analysis.
Source: Jenkins BG, Brouillet E, Chen YC, Storey E, Schulz JB, Kirschner P, Beal MF, Rosen BR.
J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 1996 May;16(3):450-61.


Energy metabolism defects in Huntington's disease and effects of coenzyme Q10.
We investigated whether the Huntington's disease (HD) gene mutation may produce either primary or secondary effects on energy metabolism. 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy demonstrated a significant decrease in the phosphocreatine to inorganic phosphate ratio in resting muscle of 8 patients as compared with 8 control subjects. The cerebrospinal fluid lactate-pyruvate ratio was significantly increased in 15 patients as compared with 13 control subjects. Lactate concentrations assessed using 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy are increased in Huntington's disease cerebral cortex. Treatment with coenzyme Q10, an essential cofactor of the electron transport chain, resulted in significant decreases in cortical lactate concentrations in 18 patients, which reversed following withdrawal of therapy. These findings provide evidence for a generalized energy defect in Huntington's disease, and suggest a possible therapy.
Source: Koroshetz WJ, Jenkins BG, Rosen BR, Flint Beal M.
Ann Neurol. 1997;41:160-165


Treatment of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with coenzyme Q10.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is manifested by severe thickening of the left ventricle with significant diastolic dysfunction. Previous observations on the improvement in diastolic function and left ventricular wall thickness through the therapeutic administration of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in patients with hypertensive heart disease prompted the investigation of its utility in HCM. Seven patients with HCM, six non-obstructive and one obstructive, were treated with an average of 200 mg/day of CoQ10 with mean treatment whole blood CoQ10 level of 2.9 mg/ml. Echocardiograms were obtained in all seven patients at baseline and again 3 or more months post-treatment. All patients noted improvement in symptoms of fatigue and dyspnea with no side effects noted. The mean interventricular septal thickness improved significantly from 1.51±0.17 cm. to 1.14±0.13 cm, a 24% reduction (P<0.002). The mean posterior wall thickness improved significantly from 1.37±0.13 cm to 1.01 ±0.15 cm, a 26% reduction (P<0.005). Mitral valve inflow slope by pulsed wave Doppler (EF slope) showed a non-significant trend towards improvement, 1.55±0.49 m/sec2 to 2.58+1.18 m/sec2 (P<0.08). The one patient with subaortic obstruction showed an improvement in resting pressure gradient after CoQ10 treatment (70 mmHg to 30 mmHg).
Source: Langsjoen PH, Langsjoen A, Willis R, Folkers K.
Mol Aspects Med. 1997;18(S):s145-s151


Coenzyme Q10 administration increases brain mitochondrial concentrations and exerts neuroprotective effects.
Coenzyme Q10 is an essential cofactor of the electron transport chain as well as a potent free radical scavenger in lipid and mitochondrial membranes. Feeding with coenzyme Q10 increased cerebral cortex concentrations in 12- and 24-month-old rats. In 12-month-old rats administration of coenzyme Q10 resulted in significant increases in cerebral cortex mitochondrial concentrations of coenzyme Q10. Oral administration of coenzyme Q10 markedly attenuated striatal lesions produced by systemic administration of 3-nitropropioaic acid and significantly increased life span in a transgenic mouse model of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. These results show that oral administration of coenzyme Q10 increases both brain and brain mitochondrial concentrations. They provide further evidence that coenzyme Q10 can exert neuroprotective effects that might be useful in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
Source: Matthews Rt, Yang L, Browne S, Baik M, Flint Beal M.
Proc Natl Acad Sci. 1998;95:8892-8897.

Neuroprotective strategies for treatment of lesions produced by mitochondrial toxins: implications for neurodegenerative diseases.
Neuronal death in neuradegenerative diseases may involve energy impairment leading to secondary excitotoxicity. and free radical generation. Potential therapies for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases therefore include glutamate release blockers, excitatory amino acid receptor antagonists, agents that improve mitochondrial function, and free radical scavengers. In the present study we examined whether these strategies either alone or in combination had neuroprotective effects against striatal lesions produced by mitochondrial toxins. The glutamate release blockers lamotrigine and BW1003C87 significantIv attenuated lesions produced by intrustriatal administration of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium. Lamotrigine significantly attenuated lesions produced by systemic administration 3-nitropropionic acid. Memantine an N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist protected against malonate induced striatal lesions. We previously found that coenzyme Q10 and nicotinamide and the free radical spin trap n-tert-butyl-c-(2-sulfophenyl)-nitrone (S-PBN) dose-dependently protect against lesions produced by intrastriatal injection of malonate. In the present study we found that the combination of MK-801 (dizocipiline) with coenzyme Q10 exerted additive neuroprotective effects against malonate. Lamotrigine with coenzyme Q10 was more effective than coenzyme Q10 alone. The combination of nictotinamide with S-PBN was more effective than nicotinamide alone.
These results provide further evidence that glutamate release inhibitors and N-acetyl-D-aspartate antagonists can protect against secondary excitotoxic lesions in vivo. Furthermore, they show that combinations of agents which act at sequential steps in the neurodegenerative process can produce additive neuroprotective effects. These findings suggest that combinations of therapies to improve mitochondrial function to block excitotoxicity and to scavenge free radicals may be useful in treating neurodegenerative diseases.

Source: Schulz B, Matthews RT, Henshaw DR, Beal MF.
Neuroscience. 1996;71(4):1043-1048.


Absorption, tolerability, and effects on mitochondrial activity of oral coenzyme Q10 in parkinsonian patients.
We report a pilot study of three oral doses of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) (200 mg administered two, three, or four times per day for 1 month) in 15 subjects with Parkinson's disease. Oral CoQ10 caused a substantial increase in the plasma CoQ10 level. It was well tolerated, but at the highest dose (200 mg four times per day) mild, transient changes in the urine were noted. CoQ10 did not change the mean score on the motor portion of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale. There was a trend toward an increase in complex I activity in the subjects.
Source: Shults CW, Flint Beal M, Fontaine D, Nakano K, Haas RH.
Neurology. 1998;50:793-795.


Coenzyme Q10 levels correlate with the activities of complexes I and II/III in mitochondria from parkinsonian and nonparkinsonian subjects.
The activities of complex I and complex II/III in platelet mitochondria are reduced in patients with early, untreated Parkinson's disease. Coenzyme Q10 is the electron acceptor for complex I and complex II. We found that the level of coenzyme Q10 was significantly lower in mitochondria from parkinsonian patients than in mitochondria from age- and sex-matched control subjects and that the levels of coenzyme Q10 and the activities of complex I and complex II/III were significantly correlated.
Source: Shults CW, Haas RH, Passov D, Beal MF.
Ann Neurol. 1997 Aug;42(2):261-4.


Coenzyme Q10 and nicotinamide and a free radical spin trap protect against MPTP neurotoxicity
1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) produces Parkinsonism in both experimental animals and in man. MPTP is metabolized to 1-methyl-4-phenylpridinium, an inhibitor of mitochondrial complex I. MPTP administration produces ATP depletions in vivo, which may lead to secondary excitotoxicity and free radical generation. If this is the case then agents which improve mitochondrial function or free radical scavengers should attenuate MPTP neurotoxicity. In the present experiments three regimens of MPTP administration produced varying degrees of striatal dopamine depletion. A combination of coenzyme Q10 and nicotinamide protected against both mild and moderate depletion of dopamine. In the MIPTP regimen which produced mild dopamine depletion nicotinamide or the free radical spin trap N-tert-butyl-a-(2-sulfophenyl)-nitrone were also effective. There was no protection with a MPTP regimen which produced severe dopamine depletion. These results show that agents which improve mitochondrial energy production (coenzyme Q10 and nicotinamide and free radical scavengers can attenuate mile to moderate MPTP neurotoxicity.
Source: Schulz JB, Henshaw R, Matthews RT, Flint Beal M.
Exp Neurol. 1995;132:279-283.

 

[KimC]

Ken,

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Best,