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Coenzyme Q10 improves contractility of dysfunctional myocardium in chronic heart failure

Romualdo Belardinelli1, Andi Muçaj, Francesca Lacalaprice

  • 1Lancisi Heart Institute, Department of Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, Ancona, Italy. r.belardinelli@fastnet.it

Biofactors (Oxford, England)
|July 29, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplementation significantly improved heart function and exercise capacity in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). This oral treatment enhanced left ventricular contractility and functional capacity without reported side effects.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Nutritional Science
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Plasma Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) levels are often reduced in patients suffering from advanced chronic heart failure (CHF).
  • Understanding the impact of CoQ10 supplementation on cardiac function in CHF patients is crucial for therapeutic development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of oral CoQ10 supplementation in enhancing cardiocirculatory efficiency in patients diagnosed with CHF.
  • To assess the safety and impact of CoQ10 on cardiac contractility and functional capacity.

Main Methods:

  • A double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study involving 21 patients (NYHA class II-III) with stable CHF.
  • Patients received oral CoQ10 (100 mg three times daily) or placebo for 4 weeks, with a washout period in between.

Main Results:

  • CoQ10 supplementation led to a threefold increase in plasma CoQ10 levels compared to placebo.
  • Significant improvements were observed in systolic wall thickening score index (SWTI) and left ventricular ejection fraction, particularly during dobutamine stress.
  • Peak VO2, a measure of functional capacity, also improved significantly with CoQ10 treatment.

Conclusions:

  • Oral CoQ10 supplementation effectively improves left ventricular contractility in patients with CHF.
  • CoQ10 treatment enhances functional capacity in CHF patients and is well-tolerated, with no reported side effects.
Abstract

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