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Plasma Coenzyme Q10 Levels in Patients With Multiple System Atrophy
Jun Mitsui1, Takashi Matsukawa1, Tsutomu Yasuda1
1Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
JAMA Neurology
|July 1, 2016
Summary
Patients with Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) have lower plasma coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) levels. This finding suggests that CoQ10 supplementation may benefit individuals with this neurodegenerative disease.
Area of Science:
- Neurodegenerative diseases
- Biochemistry
- Genetics
Background:
- Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a severe neurodegenerative disorder.
- COQ2 gene variants are linked to MSA, impacting coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) production.
- The role of CoQ10 in MSA pathogenesis requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare plasma CoQ10 levels in MSA patients versus controls.
- To investigate the association between plasma CoQ10 and MSA, considering age, sex, and COQ2 genotype.
Main Methods:
- Enrolled 44 Japanese MSA patients and 39 Japanese controls.
- Measured plasma CoQ10 using high-performance liquid chromatography.
- Determined COQ2 genotypes via Sanger sequencing.
- Utilized multiple logistic regression for association analysis.
Main Results:
- MSA patients exhibited significantly lower plasma CoQ10 levels compared to controls (0.51 vs 0.72 µg/mL, P=.01).
- Lower CoQ10 levels were observed in both cerebellar and parkinsonian variants of MSA.
- Adjusted analysis confirmed a significant association between reduced plasma CoQ10 and MSA (P=.02).
Conclusions:
- Patients with MSA demonstrate decreased plasma CoQ10 levels.
- These findings support the potential therapeutic benefit of CoQ10 supplementation for MSA.
- The study highlights CoQ10's role in MSA, irrespective of COQ2 genotype.
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