Coenzyme Q10 and exercise training in chronic heart failure
Romualdo Belardinelli1, Andi Muçaj, Francesca Lacalaprice
1Lancisi Heart Institute, Via Conca, 71 Torrette di Ancona, Italy. r.belardinelli@fastnet.it
European Heart Journal
|August 3, 2006
Summary
Oral coenzyme Q(10) (CoQ(10)) supplementation improves heart failure patients' functional capacity and endothelial function. Combining CoQ(10) with exercise training further enhances these benefits and myocardial contractility.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Biochemistry
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Plasma coenzyme Q(10) (CoQ(10)) levels are reduced in advanced chronic heart failure (CHF).
- The impact of oral CoQ(10) supplementation on cardiocirculatory efficiency and endothelial function in CHF patients remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of oral CoQ(10) supplementation, alone and combined with exercise training (ET), on functional capacity and endothelial function in CHF patients.
- To assess changes in plasma CoQ(10) levels and left ventricular (LV) contractility.
Main Methods:
- A double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study involving 23 stable CHF patients (NYHA class II-III).
- Interventions included oral CoQ(10) (100 mg tid), CoQ(10) + ET, placebo, and placebo + ET, each for 4 weeks.
- Evaluated parameters: peak VO(2), endothelium-dependent brachial artery dilation (EDDBA), and systolic wall thickening score index (SWTI).
Main Results:
- Both CoQ(10) and ET significantly improved peak VO(2) and EDDBA compared to placebo.
- CoQ(10) supplementation increased plasma CoQ(10) levels four-fold, with further increases when combined with ET.
- CoQ(10) improved SWTI by -12%, with ET producing comparable effects; combination therapy showed synergistic effects on SWTI.
Conclusions:
- Oral CoQ(10) enhances functional capacity, endothelial function, and LV contractility in CHF patients without side effects.
- Combined CoQ(10) and ET therapy leads to higher plasma CoQ(10) levels and more pronounced improvements.
- Exercise training appears to amplify the positive effects of CoQ(10) on myocardial contractility in CHF.
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