Co-enzyme Q10 (Ubiquinone): CoQ10 Clinical Applications

CoQ10, also known as Coenzyme Q10, has been used clinically to treat a variety of conditions, including those listed below.

Congestive Heart Failure and Coenzyme Q10

  • Jpn Heart J 1976; 17:32-42.
    • 17 patients with CHF received CoQ10 at 30 mg QD for 7 – 182 days.
    • Evaluation after 4 months: 9 patients became symptom-free and the rest significantly improved.
  • Biomedical and Clinical Aspects of Coenzyme Q10, Vol. 4, Elsevier Science Publishers, Amsterdam, 1984, pp. 353-67.
    • 34 patients with CHF (NYHA class IV) with Co Q10 at 100 mg QD while continuing previously prescribed digitalis and diuretics.
    • 82% of patients showed improved stroke volume, cardiac index, and ejection fraction.
    • Improvement continued for at least one year.
    • Mean ejection fraction increased from 25% to 40% during treatment with CoQ10.
    • Survival rates (71% after 1 year and 62% after 2 years) were considered very high for class IV patients previously hospitalized 2+ times for CHF.
  • Proc Nat Acad Sci 1985; 82:4240-44.
    • Double-blind crossover study: 19 patients with NYHA class III or IV heart disease given 100 mg QD CoQ10 or placebo for 12 weeks.
    • Significant increases in blood CoQ10 levels and cardiac function during the CoQ10 treatment period, but not during placebo period.
    • 18 of 19 patients reported increased tolerance to physical activity during CoQ10 treatment period compared to placebo period.
  • Clin Investig 1993; 71:s129-s133.
    • 1,715 outpatients with NYHA class II and III heart failure treated with 50 mg QD CoQ10 for 4 weeks while standard treatment was continued.
    • CoQ10 improved dyspnea at rest and with exertion, lower extremity edema, palpitations, pulmonary rales, cyanosis, and hepatomegaly.
    • Rate of improvement was same in 192 patients receiving CoQ10 alone as it was in patients receiving other treatments.
  • Clin Investig 1993; 71:s134-136.
    • Double-blind study: 641 patients with NYHA class III and IV CHF randomly selected to be given placebo or CoQ10 at dose of 2 mg/kg QD for one year with continuation of previously-prescribed therapies
    • Number of patients requiring inpatient care for CHF was 38% less in CoQ10 group (p<0.001)
    • Reduction in cardiac asthma and pulmonary edema was 60% in Treated group vs. 50% in the control group (p<0.001)
  • Clin Invest 1993; 71:s145-149.
    • 1,113 patients with CHF diagnosed for at least 6 months and conventional treatment unchanged for at least 3 months.
    • CoQ10 given for 3 months in dosage 50-150 mg QD with 78% receiving 100 mg QD.
    • Percentage of patients experiencing improvement were as follows:
      • Cyanosis: 81%
      • Edema: 76%
      • Pulmonary rales: 78%
      • Hepatomegaly: 49%
      • Jugular reflux: 81%
      • Dyspnea: 54%
      • Palpitations: 75%
      • Arrhythmias: 62%
      • Insomnia: 60%
      • Vertigo: 73%
      • Nocturia: 50%
    • Side effects: nausea or skin rash in 0.4% of patients.
  • Molec Aspects Med 1994; 15(Suppl):s287-94.
    • 2,664 patients with NYHA class II and III CHF received 50-150 mg QD with conventional therapy for 90 days.
    • Percentage of patients with clinical improvements:
      • Cyanosis: 78%
      • Edema: 78%
      • Pulmonary rales: 77%
      • Hepatomegaly: 49%
      • Jugular reflux: 71%
      • Dyspnes:52%
      • Palpitations: 75%
      • Perspiration: 79%
      • Insomnia: 62%
      • Vertigo: 73%
      • Nocturia: 53%
    • At least 3 symptoms improved in 54% of patients.

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Angina Pectoris and CoQ10

Amer J Cardiol 1985; 56:247-51.

  • Double-blind crossover study: 12 patients with stable angina randomly selected to receive placebo or 150 mg CoQ10 QD each for 4 weeks.
  • CoQ10 significantly enhanced treadmill exercise tolerance from 345 to 406 seconds.
  • CoQ10 increased time before occurrence of 1 mm DT-segment depression from 196 to 284 seconds.

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Hypertension and Coenzyme Q10

Mol Aspects Med 1994; 15 Suppl: s257-63.

  • 26 patients with essential hypertension treated with 50 mg CoQ10 BID for 10 weeks.
  • Systolic BP decreased on average from 164 to 146 and diastolic from 98 to 86 mm Hg.

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Immune Function and Coenzyme Q10

Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1993 May 28; 193(1):88-92.

  • CoQ10 increases blood levels of T-lymphocytes
  • Increases ratio of T4/T8 lymphocytes
  • Increases blood levels of IgG.

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Breast Cancer and CoQ10

  • Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1993 Apr 15:192(1):241-5.
    • Anecdotal evidence suggests that CoQ10 may improve cancer survival rates.
  • Molec Aspects Med 1994; 15(Suppl):s231-240.
    • 32 women with breast cancer spread to axillary lymph nodes.
    • Daily supplement regimen for 18 months:
      • CoQ10: 90 mg
      • Vitamin C: 2,850 mg
      • Vitamin E: 2,500 IU
      • Beta-carotene: 32,500 IU
      • Selenium: 387 mcg
      • Broad-range vitamin-mineral Essential fatty acids: 1.2 gm GLA and 3.5 gm n-3 fatty acids
    • Conventional treatments applied as indicated.
    • Expected number of deaths (four) did not occur, and no additional distant metastases manifested.
    • Six patients had a partial remission.
    • Quality of life improved—no weight loss and reduction in need for analgesics.
  • Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1995;212:172-77
    • Two patients with breast cancer metastasized to distant locations given 390 mg QD CoQ10
      • 44-year-old woman with many liver metastases experienced complete disappearance of liver tumors and subjective feeling of excellent health after 11 months on CoQ10.
      • 49-year-old woman with metastases to pleural cavity experienced complete disappearance of all pleural fluid and restoration of subjective sense of excellent health after 6 months on CoQ10.

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Muscular Dystrophy Conenzyme Q10

Biochem Biophys Acta 1995 May 24;1271(1):281-86.

  • Double-blind trial: 12 patients (ages 7-69) with Duchenne, Becker, limb-girdle dystrophies, myotonic dystrophy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, and Welander disease.
    • Treated for 3 months with 100 mg CoQ10 QD and placebo.
  • Double blind trial: 15 patients with same types of disease.
  • Definite marked improvements in physical performance noted with CoQ10 treatment.
  • Researchers retrospectively feel that dosage was too low and CoQ10 should be given to such patients indefinitely.

To order Coenzyme Q10 by phone, please call toll-free 877-347-8600.

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