• CAM-summaries
  • Alternative medical systems
  • Biologically-based practices
  • Diet & nutrition
    • Breuss cancer cure
    • Carctol
    • Co-enzyme Q10
      • What is Co-enzyme Q10?
      • How well does Co-enzyme Q10 work?
      • Is Co-enzyme Q10 safe?
      • Co-enzyme Q10 conclusions
    • Gerson diet
    • Green tea for prevention
    • Lacto-ovo vegetarian diet
    • Megamin
  • Energy medicine
  • Manipulative & body-based practices
  • Mind-body medicine
• CAM systematic reviews
• CAM and the law
• Prevalence of CAM use

How well does Co-enzyme Q10 work?

Does CoQ10 work as an anti-cancer agent?

There is some preliminary evidence from laboratory and animal studies (ref 9, 10) that chemicals very similar to CoQ10 (analogues of CoQ10) have anti-cancer effects. In humans, there is emerging evidence that lower than normal levels of CoQ10 are seen in people with cancer (ref 1, 9). This has lead to the assumption that raising levels by supplementation may possibly result in therapeutic benefits (ref 1). Anecdotal reports of CoQ10 suggesting a positive survival effect on people with different cancers have been documented (ref 11). One study in Denmark followed the progress of 32 people with breast cancer for 18 months who were given antioxidant supplements including CoQ10 after or concomitantly with conventional anticancer treatment (ref 12). At the end of this period, six people were in remission and all of the 32 were alive and reporting improved quality of life, less painkiller use and less weight loss. In a follow-up study, all of the 32 people were alive at 24 months (ref 13).

In a different study conducted by the same researchers, three people with breast cancer and taking high doses of CoQ10 were investigated for three to five years (ref 14). All three experienced remission. However, the above studies (ref 12, 13, 14) do not provide evidence for any conclusions supporting CoQ10’s claimed anti-cancer effect. This is because control groups were not used, patients were taking supplements other than CoQ10, and last but not least, effective anticancer treatments were also given.

Does CoQ10 work as a protector against chemotherapeutic toxins?

CoQ10 has been given to people with cancer as a nutritional supplement, as it is thought that it may improve the body’s tolerance of the toxic effects of chemotherapy, particularly for the heart. However, the nature of the interactions between CoQ10 and chemotherapy are unclear at present due to a lack of consistent and methodologically strong research findings.

Animal evidence supporting the cardioprotective effects of CoQ10 has been seen on the heart muscles of mice, rats and rabbits given chemotherapy (Adriamycin) (ref 15). However, the same positive benefit was not found in another study with Adriamycin (ref 16) and also radiotherapy (ref 17). In humans, a number of clinical trials have been conducted to investigate whether CoQ10 has a protective benefit for the heart during chemotherapy. A review of the current evidence by Roffe et al (ref 18) states that there is some evidence of a protective benefit from CoQ10, however, the authors conclude that the studies reviewed are all methodologically flawed and the results are not conclusive.

Details of previous trials looking at whether CoQ10 protects against chemotherapy induced cardiotoxicity are as follows: Takimoto et al (ref 19) conducted a small randomised controlled trial (n = 40) on lung, breast and thyroid patients treated with doxorubicin chemotherapy. The experimental group was given CoQ10 and the patients were found to have improved heart capacity compared to the control group. However, no significant difference in arrhythmia frequency or other indicators of heartbeat malfunction were seen.

Akihama et al (ref 20) also conducted a small (n = 19) placebo controlled, double blinded study with leukaemia and lymphoma patients taking anthracycline and also CoQ10 in the experimental group. No significant difference between control and experimental groups was found.

In another randomised controlled trial, Okuma et al (ref 21) studied quite a large group of participants (n = 80) with a range of different cancers. They found CoQ10 had a significant stabilising effect on the heart. In 1986, Lucarelli et al (ref 22) did not report their statistics for any significant effects of CoQ10 having a beneficial effect against anthracycline cardiotoxicity in a controlled clinical trial with 30 haematological cancer patients. This study can therefore be classed as small and poorly reported.

Iarussi et al. (ref 23) conducted a small randomised controlled trial (n = 20) to look at the protective effect of CoQ10 in leukaemia and lymphoma patients’ heart function. Iarussi et al found less heart damage for the CoQ10 group, but crucially did not report any statistics for this, thereby not demonstrating whether CoQ10 had a therapeutic effect.

Lastly, Thibault et al (ref 24) conducted a relatively large (n=88) controlled clinical trial with a wide ranging sample of cancer patients who were taking lovastin and CoQ10 (in the experimental group). Thibault et al found a reduction in the severity of musculoskeletal toxicity caused by the chemotherapy. However, this was not a randomised controlled trial.

Overall, in their review Roffe et al state that such evidence is limited due to the methodologically flawed or negative findings of the trials to date.

Does CoQ10 work as a protector against chronic fatigue?

CoQ10 supports the release of energy in cells; therefore, it is theorised that chronic fatigue may sometimes be caused by a deficiency in CoQ10. Supporters of this theory suggest that supplementing the diet with CoQ10 may counteract chronic fatigue (ref 25). However, to date, no clinical studies have been conducted to see if CoQ10 has this particular benefit.

References

1. Folkers, K, Osterborg, A, Nylander, M, Morita, M, & Mellstedt, H. Activities of vitamin Q10 in animal models and a serious deficiency in patients with cancer. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 1997; 234 (2): 296-9.
9. Folkers, K. The potential of coenzyme Q 10 (NSC-140865) in cancer treatment. Cancer Chemotherapy Reports. 1974; 24 (4): 19-22.
10. Folkers, K, Porter, TH, Bertino, JR, & Moroson, B. Inhibition of two human tumor cell lines by antimetabolites of coenzyme Q10. Research Communication in Chemical Patholology and Pharmacology. 1978; 19 (3): 485-90.
11. Folkers, K, Brown, R, Judy, WV, & Morita, M. Survival of cancer patients on therapy with coenzyme Q10. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 1993; 192 (1): 241-5.
12. Lockwood, K, Moesgaard, S, Hanioka, T, & Folkers, K. Apparent partial remission of breast cancer in 'high risk' patients supplemented with nutritional antioxidants, essential fatty acids and coenzyme Q10. Molecular Aspects of Medicine. 1994; 15 (Suppl): s231-40.
13. Lockwood, K, Moesgaard, S, & Folkers, K. Partial and complete regression of breast cancer in patients in relation to dosage of coenzyme Q10. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 1994; 199 (3): 1504-8.
14. Lockwood, K, Moesgaard, S, Yamamoto, T, & Folkers, K. Progress on therapy of breast cancer with vitamin Q10 and the regression of metastases. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 1995; 212 (1): 172-7.
15. Shinozawa, S, Gomita, Y, & Araki, Y. Protective effects of various drugs on adriamycin (doxorubicin)-induced toxicity and microsomal lipid peroxidation in mice and rats. Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin. 1993; 16 (11): 1114-7.
16. Shaeffer, J, El-Mahdi. AM, & Nichols, RK. Coenzyme Q10 and adriamycin toxicity in mice. Research Communication in Chemical Patholology and Pharmacology. 1980; 29 (2): 309-15.
17. Lund, EL, Quistorff, B, Spang-Thomsen, M, & Kristjansen, PE. Effect of radiation therapy on small-cell lung cancer is reduced by ubiquinone intake. Folia Microbiologica (Praha). 1998; 43 (5): 505-6.
18. Roffe, L, Schmidt, K, & Ernst, E. Efficacy of coenzyme Q10 for improved tolerability of cancer treatments: a systematic review. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2004; 1;22 (21): 4418-24.
19. Takimoto, M, Sakurai, T, Kodama, K, Yokoi, H, Suzuki, Y, Enomoto, K, & Okada, N. Protective effect of CoQ10 administration on cardiac toxicity in FAC therapy. Gan To Kagaku Ryoho. 1982; 9(1): 116-21.
20. Akihama, T, Nakamoto, Y, Shindo, T, Nakayama, Y, & Miura, A. Protective effects of coenzyme Q10 on the adverse reactions of anthracycline antibiotics: using double blind method--with special reference to hair loss] Gan To Kagaku Ryoho. 1983; 10(10): 2125-9.
21. Okuma, K, Furuta, I, & Ota, K. Protective effect of coenzyme Q10 in cardiotoxicity induced by adriamycin. Gan To Kagaku Ryoho. 1984; 11(3): 502-8.
22. Lucarelli, G, Angelucci, C, Giardini, G. et al. Ubidecareone and toxic cardiopathy from antiblastic therapy with daunoblastine. Boll Chim Farm. 1986; 125: S34-S39.
23. Iarussi, D, Auricchio, U, Agretto, A, Murano, A, Giuliano, M, Casale, F, Indolfi, P, & Iacono, A. Protective effect of coenzyme Q10 on anthracyclines cardiotoxicity: control study in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Molecular Aspects of Medicine. 1994; 15 (Suppl): s207-12.
24. Thibault, A, Samid, D, Tompkins, AC, Figg, WD, Cooper, MR, Hohl, RJ, Trepel, J, Liang, B, Patronas, N, Venzon, DJ, Reed, E, & Myers, CE. Phase 1 study of lovastatin, an inhibitor of the mevalonate pathway, in patients with cancer. Clinical Cancer Research. 1996; 2: 483-91.
25. Werbach MR.Nutritional strategies for treating chronic fatigue syndrome. Alternative Medicine Review. 2000; 5(2):93-108.