Coenzyme Q 10 reduces the risk of dying after suffering from a heart attack

Six-hours after suffering with a heart attack forty-nine patients were randomly assigned to either hypothermia-therapy along with a Coenzyme Q10 supplement or hypothermia-therapy plus a placebo after all forty-nine patients received CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation). The initial dosage of Coenzyme Q10 was 250mg which was followed by 150mg 3 times a day for 5 days. Coenzyme Q10 was safe and had no side effects but it did absolutely save lives. Three-months after their heart attack 68% of the patients supplemented with Coenzyme Q10 were still alive, but only 29% of placebo patients were still alive. More of the Coenzyme Q10 group had good neurological function than those given a placebo; meaning that the Coenzyme Q10 supplement was also protective for future functioning. The study was published in the November 9th, 2004 issue of Circulation, a Journal of the American Heart Association.

Coenzyme Q10 remarkably improves function in the arteries of the heart in coronary heart disease patients

In patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) the arteries inside the heart become clogged and narrowed. This causes heart attacks, sudden cardiac death (or a heart seizure), heart failure, and unstable angina. CHD is the leading cause of death in America for both men and women. One of the hallmarks of CHD is a decrease in antioxidant activity in the lining of the damaged blood vessels with a decrease in protective SOD activity. SOD is a major antioxidant for protecting the function of blood vessel walls.
In this randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial, patients with CHD were split into two groups. One group received 100mg of Coenzyme Q 10 three times a day for one month and the other received inactive placebo. The Coenzyme Q10 boosted the amount of SOD in the lining of the hearts arteries. The supplement also improved the function of the endothelial lining of these blood vessels; a very important finding allowing the blood vessels to relax and open (vasodilation). This greatly decreased the dysfunction of these crucial arteries and increased the flow of blood and the supply of oxygen to the heart muscle. The study is published on-line ahead of print in the July 2007 edition of the European Heart Journal.

Coenzyme Q10 treats statin related muscle pain

Statin therapy to lower cholesterol and help prevent cardiovascular disease often causes muscle related symptoms or myopathies; symptoms of which are muscle weakness, muscle pain, and muscle inflammation. Scientists at the Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiology, Stony Brook University, in New York, write that the muscle symptoms may be due to the blockage of the manufacture of Coenzyme Q10 in our bodies by these drugs. Coenzyme Q10 is necessary for energy production in our muscles (this includes our heart muscle). In this study the researchers gave 18 patients with statin related myopathy Coenzyme Q10 100mg a day for 30 days or Vitamin E 400 IU (Vitamin E is not related to myopathy so it can be viewed in this instance as inactive placebo) in a double blind and randomized study. Muscle pain and interference with daily activities due to the pain were assessed before and after treatment. In the group treated with Coenzyme Q10, the severity of the pain decreased by 40% and pain interference with daily activities decreased by 38%, and there was no change in the other group. Treating patients on statin drugs with Coenzyme Q10 may offer an alternative to stopping these drugs when they cause muscle pain. The study is published in the May 15th, 2007 issue of the American Journal of Cardiology.

Using Coenzyme Q10 along with Interferon promising for melanoma survivors

Early surgical removal is the most successful therapy for melanoma. Drug therapies for this cancer are still disappointing. Currently there is no standard adjuvant drug therapy for melanoma according to these researchers. Scientists have found that the level of Coenzyme Q10 is low in both melanoma tissue and in the blood of patients with melanoma. This data and the results of clinical trials of patients with other types of advanced cancers prompted further research on Coenzyme Q10 for treating melanoma; the most vicious type of skin cancer and one of the most dangerous cancers overall.
In this study, researchers from the Department of Dermatology and Biochemistry, University of Rome, gave patients with stage I and II melanoma that was surgically removed, 400mg of Coenzyme Q10 daily along with interferon alpha-2b twice daily, or interferon alone without Coenzyme Q10 for 3 years. The efficacy of treatment was evaluated based on the number of recurrences at the five year mark. There was a lower rate of recurrence in patients receiving Coenzyme Q10 and Interferon together however the length of the study was not long enough to determine differences in survival rate. The study was published in the June 2007 issue of the British journal Melanoma Research.

Study on safety and bioavailability of Ubiquinol (Kaneka QH) after a single and after 4-week multiple oral administration to healthy volunteers

Japanese researchers tested the safety and bioavailability of Ubiquinol (the reduced form of coenzyme Q10) in a placebo-controlled study with healthy subjects after administration of a single oral dose of 150 or 300 mg and also after oral administration of 90, 150, or 300 mg daily for 4 weeks. No clinically relevant changes in results of standard laboratory tests, physical examination, vital signs, or ECG (heart monitor) induced by Ubiquinol were observed at any dosage. There was a significant absorption of Ubiquinol from the gastrointestinal tract observed following either the single or multiple-doses of Ubiquinol in healthy volunteers. No safety concerns were noted on standard laboratory tests for safety or on assessment of adverse events for doses of up to 300 mg for up to 2 weeks after treatment completion. The study is published in the February 2007 issue of the journal Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology.

Coenzyme Q10 reduces the frequency of migraine headaches and their length, as well as the number of days with nausea

Scientists at the Department of neurology, University Hospital, Zurich gave Coenzyme Q10 100mg 3 times a day or inactive placebo to migraine patients in a double-blind, randomized, trial. By the third month Coenzyme Q10 truly kicked in significantly reducing the frequency of migraine attacks, days with headache, and days with nausea compared to placebo. Almost 50% of the patients had a significant drop in the frequency of headaches with Coenzyme Q10 supplementation. The study is published in the February 2005 issue of the journal Neurology.

Coenzyme Q10 may help protect the liver from acetaminophen toxicity

The pain relieving, fever reducing drug acetaminophen (APAP) is responsible for up to 51% of all cases of acute (sudden) liver failure in the US. In this study giving mice larger doses of APAP caused an increase in the liver enzyme ALT; an indication of liver injury. Giving APAP increased the level of circulating inflammatory-free radicals in the animals. This was accompanied by a loss of the antioxidant form of Coenzyme Q10. The level of reduced glutathione was also decreased in the animals’ liver. Giving the animals Coenzyme Q10 before the APAP reduced the level of inflammatory-free radicals in their liver and significantly reduced any increase in ALT (liver enzyme) showing a decreased level of liver injury. Pre-treating with Vitamin E also helped protect the liver. The research was performed at Hiroshima University School of Medicine and is published in the journal Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 1995;19(2). Commentary by Jerry Hickey, R.Ph. – even though this is an older study I thought it was interesting because recent research indicates that acetaminophen depletes Coenzyme Q10.

Coenzyme Q10 supplements should be added to conventional treatment for cardiovascular diseases

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a requirement in the energy producing substructure within of each cell. CoQ10 is needed for the creation of energy and also to protect the cell from damage. Deficiencies of CoQ10 have been found in patients with congestive heart failure, angina pectoris, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, high blood pressure, and mitral valve prolapse. The clinical benefits of giving CoQ10 supplements in prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases have been observed in many trials. CoQ10 may be recommended to patients with cardiovascular pathologies as an adjunct to conventional treatment. The study is published in the journal Human Physiology, 2006;52(5).

Bringing Coenzyme Q10 levels back up to normal helps patients with tinnitus

Tinnitus is described as a ringing or hissing in the ear (not caused by noise). If you have it in both ears it is called tinnitus aurium. The University of California at San Francisco Audiology Clinic states that 50 million Americans have tinnitus with about 10 million (12 million according to the American Tinnitus Association) suffering badly enough to seek medical care.
In this study 20 patients with tinnitus in both ears (tinnitus aurium) had their Coenzyme Q10 levels checked and the level of tinnitus evaluated. They were supplemented with Coenzyme Q10 for 16-weeks. Coenzyme Q10 supplementation raised their blood coenzyme Q10 levels and improved tinnitus in those initially low in CoQ10. The study was performed at Charite-University Medicine in Berlin and is published in the January 2007 issue of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery.

Duke University researchers feel CoQ10 holds great promise for protecting the brain

Scientists at Duke University Medical Center feel strongly about the promise of Coenzyme Q10 as a neuroprotectant for the brain.
Animal studies show that CoQ10 may protect against brain cell damage caused by a stroke, vascular disease, or toxicity. There are published clinical trials showing that CoQ10 may offer promise in many brain disorders. For example, a 16-month placebo controlled, pilot trial in 80 patients with Parkinson’s disease shows that CoQ10 supplementation at 1,600mg a day slows deterioration of function. Published data shows that dosages ranging from 300mg to 2,400mg of supplemental CoQ10 a day is both safe and well tolerated. The review is published in the January 2007 issue of CNS Spectrums.

Low levels of Coenzyme Q10 may increase the odds of developing cancer metastasis significantly

Abnormally low plasma levels of Coenzyme Q 10 have been found in patients with cancers of the breast, lungs, and pancreas. In this study Coenzyme Q10 levels were measured in 117 consecutively diagnosed patients with melanoma that had not metastasized. Their level was checked against the level in 125 healthy volunteers. Patients taking Coenzyme Q10 or statin drugs and those with diabetes were not allowed in the study. 32.5% of the patients had a metastasis during the observation period.
The level of Coenzyme Q10 was significantly lower in the 117 cancer patients than in the 125 healthy volunteers. Of the patients who developed metastasis, their Coenzyme Q 10 levels were substantially lower than in the other cancer patients. If the cancer patients had higher levels of Coenzyme Q10 it was about double the time before they suffered with a metastasis, and those in the lowest level group had a 7.9 times increased odds ratio of developing metastasis. The research was performed at the Department of Dermatology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, and is published in the December 27th, 2005 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.