Coenzyme Q10 in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases: Current State of the Problem

August 2018
Vladlena I. Zozina, Serghei Covantev, Olga A. Goroshko,3 Liudmila M. Krasnykh, and Vladimir G. Kukes

Abstract 

The burden of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases is increasing with every year. Although the management of these conditions has improved greatly over the years, it is still far from perfect. With all of this in mind, there is a need for new methods of prophylaxis and treatment.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is an essential compound of the human body. There is growing evidence that COQ10 is tightly linked to cardiometabolic disorders. Its supplementation can be useful in a variety of chronic and acute disorders.

This review analyses the role of COQ10 in hypertension, ischemic heart disease, myocardial infarction, heart failure, viral myocarditis, cardiomyopathies, cardiac toxicity, dyslipidemia, obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, cardiac procedures and resuscitation.

Conclusion

There are many controversial data on the supplementation of COQ10 in different conditions. The reported dosage of COQ10 differs in a wide range 100-300 mg for CV diseases. Limited data on the amount of COQ10 absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract and its amount in the circulating blood were observed.

Rat model demonstrates significant impact at a higher dose when the plasma concentration is increased by more than 80%. Future studies should be aimed at assessment of higher dosage of COQ10 administration as well as evaluation of its pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.

Overall, there seems to be a beneficial role of COQ10 co-administration as a supplemental therapy in different cardiac and metabolic conditions. The changes in the antioxidant systems in these conditions support the idea that COQ10 may improve outcome, quality of life and decrease morbidity and mortality.

Nevertheless, the findings of some studies are based on preclinical or clinical studies with surrogate endpoints. This subject should be addressed in the future. Finally, more randomized trials should be performed to assess the impact of COQ10 supplementation on survival.