Hostname: page-component-6bf8c574d5-w79xw Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-02-17T13:36:03.229Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Coenzyme Q10: A Review of Its Promise as a Neuroprotectant

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 November 2014

A. Joyce Young ,
Stephanie Johnson ,
David C. Steffens  and
P. Murali Doraiswamy
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a powerful antioxidant that buffers the potential adverse consequences of free radicals produced during oxidative phosphorylation in the inner mitochondrial membrane. Oxidative stress, resulting in glutathione loss and oxidative DNA and protein damage, has been implicated in many neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's disease. Experimental studies in animal models suggest that CoQ10 may protect against neuronal damage that is produced by ischemia, atherosclerosis and toxic injury. Though most have tended to be pilot studies, there are published preliminary clinical trials showing that CoQ10 may offer promise in many brain disorders. For example, a 16-month randomized, placebo-controlled pilot trial in 80 subjects with mild Parkinson's disease found significant benefits for oral CoQ10 1,200 mg/day to slow functional deterioration. However, to date, there are no published clinical trials of CoQ10 in Alzheimer's disease. Available data suggests that oral CoQ10 seems to be relatively safe and tolerated across the range of 300–2,400 mg/day. Randomized controlled trials are warranted to confirm CoQ10's safety and promise as a clinically effective neuroprotectant.

Type
Review Articles
Information
CNS Spectrums , Volume 12 , Issue 1 , January 2007 , pp. 62 - 68
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2007

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1.Doraiswamy, PM. Non-cholinergic strategies for treating and preventing Alzheimer's disease. CNS Drugs. 2002;16:811–824.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2.Beal, MF. Mitochondria, oxidative damage, and inflammation in Parkinson's disease. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2003;991:120–131.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3.Shults, CW, Oakes, D, Kieburtz, K, et al. Effects of coenzyme Q10 in early Parkinson disease: evidence of slowing of the functional decline. Arch Neurol. 2002;59:1541–1550.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4.Sano, M, Ernesto, C, Thomas, RG, et al. A controlled trial of selegiline, alphatocopherol, or both as treatment for Alzheimer's disease. The Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study. N Engl J Med. 1997;336:1216–1222.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5.Ruehl, WW, Bruyette, DS, DePaoli, A, et al. Canine cognitive dysfunction as a model for human age-related cognitive decline, dementia and Alzheimer's disease: clinical presentation, cognitive testing, pathology and response to 1-deprenyl therapy. Prog Brain Res. 1995;106:217–225.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6.Lehninger, AL. The molecular organization of mitochondrial membranes. Adv Cytopharmacol. 1971;1:199–208.Google ScholarPubMed
7.Beal, MF. Bioenergetic approaches for neuroprotection in Parkinson's disease. Annals of Neurology. 2003;53(suppl 3):S39-S47; discussion S47–S48.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8.Ebadi, M, Govitrapong, P, Sharma, S, et al. Ubiquinone (coenzyme q10) and mitochondria in oxidative stress of parkinson's disease. Biol Signals Recept. 2001;10:224–253.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9.Lehninger, AL, Reynafarje, B. Cycles in the function of mitochondrial membrane transport systems. Curr Top Cell Regul. 1981;18:329–341.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10.Egensperger, R, Kosel, S, Schnopp, NM, Mehraein, P, Graeber, MB. Association of the mitochondrial tRNA(A4336G) mutation with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol. 1997;23:315–321.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
11.Lalonde, R, Lewis, T, Strazielle, C, Kim, H, Fukuchi, K. Transgenic mice expressing the betaAPP695SWE mutation: effects on exploratory activity, anxiety, and motor coordination. Brain Res. 2003;977:38–45.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12.Piotrowski, P, Wierzbicka, K, Smialek, M. Neuronal death in the rat hippocampus in experimental diabetes and cerebral ischaemia treated with antioxidants. Folia Neuropathol. 2001;39:147–154.Google ScholarPubMed
13.Ostrowski, R, Piotrowski, P, Pankowska, T, Smialek, M. Evaluation of morphological changes after treatment with coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in endothelin-1 induced experimental ischemia in the rat. Folia Neuropathol. 1998;36:185–188.Google ScholarPubMed
14.Ren, Z, Ding, W, Su, Z, et al. Mechanisms of brain injury with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest and protective effects of coenzyme Q10. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1994;108:126–133.Google ScholarPubMed
15.Delanty, N, Dichter, MA. Oxidative injury in the nervous system. Acta Neurol Scand. 1998;98:145–153.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
16.Feigin, A, Kieburtz, K, Como, P, et al. Assessment of coenzyme Q10 tolerability in Huntington's disease. Mov Disord. 1996;11:321–323.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
17.Shults, CW. Coenzyme Q10 in neurodegenerative diseases. Curr Med Chem. 2003;10:1971–1921.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
18.Shults, CW, Haas, RH, Passov, D, Beal, MF. Coenzyme Q10 levels correlate with the activities of complexes I and II/III in mitochondria from parkinsonian and nonparkinsonian subjects. Ann Neurol. 1997;42:261–264.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
19.Shults, CW, Flint Beal, M, Song, D, Fontaine, D. Pilot trial of high dosages of coenzyme Q10 in patients with Parkinson's disease. Exp Neurol. 2004;188:491–494.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
20.Muller, T, Buttner, T, Gholipour, AF, Kuhn, W. Coenzyme Q10 supplementation provides mild symptomatic benefit in patients with Parkinson's disease. Neurosci Lett. 2003;8:201–204.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
21.Strijks, E, Kremer, HP, Horstink, MW. Q10 therapy in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease. Mol Aspects Med. 1997;18(suppl):S237–S240.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
22.Walker, FO, Raymond, LA. Targeting energy metabolism in Huntington's disease. Lancet. 2004;364:312–313.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
23.Cooper, JM, Schapira, AH. Friedreich's Ataxia: disease mechanisms, antioxidant and Coenzyme Q10 therapy. Biofactors. 2003;18:163–171.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
24.Lodi, R, Rajagopalan, B, Bradley, JL, et al. Mitochondrial dysfunction in Friedreich's ataxia: from pathogenesis to treatment perspectives. Free Radic Res. 2002;36:461–466.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
25.Palau, F. Friedreich's ataxia and frataxin: molecular genetics, evolution and pathogenesis (Review). Int J Mol Med. 2001;7:581–589.Google Scholar
26.Rustin, P, Rotig, A, Munnich, A, Sidi, D. Heart hypertrophy and function are improved by idebenone in Friedreich's ataxia. Free Radic Res. 2002;36:467–469.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
27.Filla, A, Moss, AJ. Idebenone for treatment of Friedreich's ataxia? Neurology. 2003;60:1569–1570.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
28.Piotrowski, PR. Comparative studies on the adhesion of a silicone elastomer to a chromium-cobalt dental alloy. Eur J Prosthodont Restor Dent. 2001;9:141–146.Google ScholarPubMed
29.Rustin, P. The use of antioxidants in Friedreich's ataxia treatment. Expert Opin Investig Drugs. 2003;12:569–575.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
30.Buyse, G, Mertens, L, Di Salvo, G, et al. Idebenone treatment in Friedreich's ataxia: neurological, cardiac, and biochemical monitoring. Neurology. 2003;60:1679–1681.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
31.Di Giovanni, S, Mirabella, M, Spinazzola, A, et al. Coenzyme Q10 reverses pathological phenotype and reduces apoptosis in familial CoQ10 deficiency. Neurology. 2001;57:515–518.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
32.Chung, MK. Vitamins, supplements, herbal medicines, and arrhythmias. Cardiol Rev. 2004;12:73–84.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
33.Wilburn, AJ, King, DS, Glisson, J, Rockhold, RW, Wofford, MR. The natural treatment of hypertension. J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2004;6:242–248.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
34.Hodgson, JM, Watts, GF. Can coenzyme Q10 improve vascular function and blood pressure? Potential for effective therapeutic reduction in vascular oxidative stress. Biofactors. 2003;18:129–136.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
35.Lankin, VZ, Tikhaze, AK, Kukharchuk, VV, et al. Antioxidants decreases the intensification of low density lipoprotein in vivo peroxidation during therapy with statins. Mol Cell Biochem. 2003;249:129–140.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
36.Chew, GT, Watts, GF. Coenzyme Q10 and diabetic endotheliopathy: oxidative stress and the “recoupling hypothesis”. QJM. 2004;97:537–548.CrossRefGoogle Scholar