Co-enzyme Q10 in Colitis Ulcerosa

Introduction

Co-enzyme Q10 (CoQ10) appears to be effective in the treatment of Colitis Ulcerosa (CU). C0Q10 is a powerful antioxidant and an important component of the citric acid cycle in the mitochondria. That CoQ10 also has anti-inflammatory pharmacological properties has been demonstrated in several scientific studies. It has been seen as a safe and promising agent for maintaining remission of CU. This study was designed to determine the efficacy of CoQ10 on inflammatory and antioxidant status, antimicrobial peptides and microRNA-146a expression in UC patients. The microRNA-146a is a marker that shows the extent of the immune response, see https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33620550/.

According to this Iranian study, published in the European Journal of Nutrition, supplementation with CoQ10 along with normal drug treatment may be beneficial. This is because CoQ10 helps reduce inflammation and control symptoms in CU patients who are in remission.

Methods

The study was conducted by scientists from Iran University of Medical Sciences and involved a randomized double-blind controlled trial of 88 mild to moderate CU patients. They were randomly administered 200 mg of CoQ10 or a rice flour-based placebo for two months.

At baseline and at 8-week follow-up, serum levels of IL-10, IL-17,Nrf2, Nf-kB p65, cathelicidin LL-37, β-defensin 2 and activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were measured. In addition, as mentioned earlier, an expression level of MicroRNA-14-a was measured. Patients also had to complete questionnaires such as the Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index Questionnaire (SCCAIQ) and Quality of Life (IBDQ-32 score).

Results

The results were a significant reduction in the serum IL-17 level and the activity of NF-κB p65 in PBMCs. The same was observed in the SCCAIQ score in the CoQ10 group compared to the placebo group. While the IL-10 serum concentrations and the IBDQ-32 score of the CoQ10 group increased significantly compared to the control group. The changes of these variables were also significantly different at the end of the study within and between the groups.

Moreover, CoQ10 remarkably increased the serum levels of cathelicidin LL-37. A significant change in serum cathelicidin LL-37 levels was also observed between the two control groups. This is a remarkable result because cathelicidin is a natural antibiotic that is directly influenced by vitamin D. When there is an infection, vitamin D increases the production of cathelicidin. The so-called SIgA proteins are immunoglobulins that protect humans from infection and a deficiency of these substances leads to an increased risk of infection. However, no statistical difference was seen between the two groups with regard to serum levels of Nrf2 and β-defensin 2 and the relative expression of microRNA-146a.

In our opinion, a good advice would be to increase the levels of Vitamin D3 together with CoQ10 in patients with CU.

Conclusions

The results indicate that CoQ10 supplementation, together with drug therapy, can efficiently reduce inflammatory activity during remission in patients with mild to moderate CU.

Using CoQ10 in congestive heart failure (CHF) has also been shown to be effective

Introduction

There have now been over 100 scientific studies conducted on two CoQ10 preparations Myoqinon and Bio-Quinone CoQ10. Myoqinon contains 100 mg of coenzyme Q10 dissolved in vegetable oil and is registered as a medicine in certain EU countries. The product has been used in numerous studies, including the groundbreaking Q-Symbio study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, see https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25282031/ and https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30835327/.

Bio-Quinone CoQ10 is a dietary supplement

Bio-Quinone CoQ10 is a dietary supplement version. It, too, contains 100 mg of coenzyme Q10 dissolved in vegetable oil. Although it is a dietary supplement, it is manufactured in exactly the same way as the medicinal version in terms of raw materials, quality and safety inspection rules. Bio-Quinone CoQ10 contains the same Q10/oil formula as Myoqinon and was also used in the KiSel-10 study published in the International Journal of Cardiology.

The studies conducted by Danish scientists are a major breakthrough. The results made several headlines. Never before had such a clear effect been seen in the supplementation of a food supplement in a scientific study.

The effectiveness of CoQ10 on the function of the heart (congestive heart failure CHF) was clearly demonstrated in this study. When a patient is diagnosed with CHF, mortality within five years of diagnosis is very high. In the Q-symbio study, published in 2014 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, the results were stunning.

The aim of this study was to assess the consistency of the treatment effect of CoQ10 in the European subpopulation of Q-SYMBIO, a randomized double-blind multinational study of treatment with CoQ10, as an adjunct to standard therapy in CHF.

Methods

Patients with moderate to severe CHF were randomized to 300 mg CoQ10 daily or placebo. This was in addition to standard therapy prescribed by doctors after diagnosis.

The primary short-term goal after 3 months of supplementation was a demonstrable change in the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification, the six-minute walk test. A change in the levels of N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide was also set as a target. Primary objective after 2 years was a reduction in Major Adverse Cardiac Events (MACE). These cardiac events usually led to the death of the patient with CHF.

Results

There were no significant changes in the short-term objectives. However, the primary long-term goal of reducing MACE was achieved by significantly more patients in the CoQ10 group (n = 10, 9%) compared to the placebo group (n = 33, 27%, p = 0.001).

The long-term secondary objectives all-cause, cardiovascular mortality, NYHA classification and left ventricular ejection fraction LVEF, were significantly improved in the CoQ10 group compared to the placebo group. In the European subpopulation, compared to the whole group, there was greater adherence to guideline-directed therapy and similar outcomes in the short- and long-term goals. A novel finding was a significant improvement in LVEF.

Conclusions

The therapeutic efficacy of CoQ10 was also demonstrated in the Q-SYMBIO study and confirmed in the European subpopulation. A large reduction in MACE, all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, hospitalization and improvement in symptoms was observed. In other words, the weakened pumping power of the muscles in the heart (CHF) was found to have been greatly increased by supplementation with CoQ10 alone. This result was astonishing, and cardiologists all over the world were ecstatic about it.

Ageing reduces the production of CoQ10

CoQ10 is produced in certain quantities by our own bodies. It is also found in small quantities, especially in animal foods. Unfortunately, its production is no longer sufficient in the case of illness, obesity, stress, medicine and an inadequate diet. Who nowadays does not suffer from stress, has no physical problems, does not use medication or is not overweight? There can also be congenital or acquired disorders in the production of coenzyme Q10.

It is also a fact that the production of coenzyme Q10 decreases considerably with age. If you compare the production of coenzyme Q10 by an older person aged between 77 and 81 with that of a 19-21 year-old, 43% less is produced. In short, it would not be a superfluous luxury if everyone over the age of 45, and certainly in the above-mentioned categories and all the diseases listed below, were to consider supplementation with coenzyme Q10.

Heart cells also lose CoQ10 through ageing

The cells of the heart also lose CoQ10 through ageing. Heart disease is the most important of the many diseases associated with reduced levels of CoQ10 at the cellular level. In short, everyone will experience a decrease in heart power as they age. With this supplement, used in many scientific studies and proven effective, you have a perfect supplement to prescribe to your client/patient. Not only in ageing, but as the studies prove, you can use the same strategy for people with heart disease and in remission from UC.

More power for heart muscles

However, healthy people can also benefit from CoQ10. This has been demonstrated in the KiSel-10 study, see https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01443780.

This study was conducted by Swedish researchers among 443 healthy men and women aged 70-88. The participants received a daily supplement of 200 mcg of selenium combined with 200 mg of CoQ10. The results of this study were also spectacular. The cardiovascular mortality was significantly reduced by 53%! In addition, it has been proven that the participants had significantly stronger heart muscles during this study. In a follow-up analysis of all the data concerning this study, significant results were seen. The researchers concluded that people taking coenzyme Q10 and selenium had a significantly better quality of life and were much more vital, compared to those who received placebo preparations.

The CoQ10 supplement used in the Q-Symbio and KiSel-10 studies is manufactured using a unique technique that ensures complete absorption of the active substance into the body. This is essential, as otherwise the CoQ10 crystallizes in the gastrointestinal tract, preventing it from passing through the intestinal wall.

Science and heart research

The manufacturer of this supplement actively supports science in its search for new treatments. In particular to improve the quality of life of people who, due to old age or illness, may benefit from the medicinal product Bio-Quinone, for prevention and treatment of CoQ10 deficiency. As mentioned, these preparations have been used in the Swedish KiSel-10 study with CoQ10 and selenium supplements for healthy elderly people. Additionally, Q-Symbio, a large, multinational study, has also used CoQ10 from this manufacturer. Both trials were completed with exceptional results.

With over 100 published studies documenting bioavailability, quality and safety, CoQ10 supplements are the best documented brand on the market. This has made this supplement the preferred choice among researchers conducting studies with CoQ10.

Bio Quinone has been selected as the official scientific reference (gold standard) of the International Coenzyme Q10 Association (ICQA). This is the organization that coordinates all scientific studies on CoQ10 supplements internationally.

Sources

• A randomised controlled trial of the coloprotective effect of coenzyme Q10 on immune-inflammatory cytokines, oxidative status, antimicrobial peptides and microRNA-146a expression in patients with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis.
• Eur J Nutr (2021), https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-021-02514-2.
• The effect of coenzyme Q10 on morbidity and mortality in chronic heart failure: results from Q-SYMBIO: a randomised double-blind trial.
• JACC Heart Fail, 2014 Dec;2(6):641-9. doi:10.1016/j.jchf.2014.06.008.

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