Overview of the use of CoQ₁₀ in cardiovascular disease

Abstract

The clinical experience in cardiology with CoQ10 includes studies on congestive heart failure, ischemic heart disease, hypertensive heart disease, diastolic dysfunction of the left ventricle, and reperfusion injury as it relates to coronary artery bypass graft surgery. The CoQ10-lowering effect of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors and the potential adverse consequences are of growing concern. Supplemental CoQ10 alters the natural history of cardiovascular illnesses and has the potential for prevention of cardiovascular disease through the inhibition of LDL cholesterol oxidation and by the maintenance of optimal cellular and mitochondrial function throughout the ravages of time and internal and external stresses. The attainment of higher blood levels of CoQ10 (> 3.5 micrograms/ml) with the use of higher doses of CoQ10 appears to enhance both the magnitude and rate of clinical improvement. In this communication, 34 controlled trials and several open-label and long-term studies on the clinical effects of CoQ10 in cardiovascular diseases are reviewed.

Supplementation with an antioxidant cocktail containing coenzyme Q prevents plasma oxidative damage induced by soccer

“…Potential beneWts of coenzyme Q 10 supplementation have been recognised with particular reference to cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases (Langsjoen and Langsjoen 1999;Overvad et al 1999).…”

Coenzyme Q10 in the treatment of hypertension: a meta-analysis of the clinical trials

“…Blood and tissue levels of CoQ 10 are reduced by aging and cardiovascular disease. 3 There is evidence of CoQ 10 deficiency in hypertension, 4 heart failure 5 and in statin-treated hypercholesterolemic individuals. 6 Since 1975, many studies have described the potential of CoQ 10 to lower blood pressure in hypertensive patients.…”

Uptake of Exogenous Coenzyme Q and Transport to Mitochondria Is Required for bc1 Complex Stability in Yeast coq Mutants

“…HL-60 cells treated with ethidium bromide (resulting in a loss of mitochondrial DNA) and respiratory deficient yeast mutants contain increased amounts of CoQ at the plasma membrane (29,30). Q 10 is used as a therapeutic agent in the treatment of atherosclerosis (31), other cardiovascular diseases (32,33), and neurodegenerative diseases (34,35) including Parkinson's disease (36). The use of Q 10 in these clinical settings would benefit from a better understanding of its mode of transport to organs and tissues and of the mechanisms responsible for Q uptake by cells and intracellular transport among cell membranes.…”