Neurodegeneration has been linked with low levels of CoQ10 according to research. Supplementing is highly recommended according to the study published in JAMA Neurology, indicating the link between low levels of blood Co-enzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and patients who have multiple system atrophy (MSA).
Multiple System Atrophy is a rare, degenerative neurologic condition affecting both men and women, usually in their 50s and 60s. The study’s recent hypotheses are that CoQ10 deficiency can be linked with the neurodegenerative disorder…the supplementing of which could be beneficial for MSA sufferers, according to the team.
The author of the study from Dr Tsuji of The University of Tokyo stressed that further clinical trials are needed to determine if supplementing with Co-enzyme Q10 is successful at treating MSA.
More clinical trials are planned for next year to determine how how successful CoQ10 can be with MSA. The progressive neuro-degenerative disease is characterised as “Autonomic failure in addition to various combinations of Parkinsonism, Cerebellar Ataxia and Pyramidal Dysfunction.”
The study comprised of 44 Japanese patients who had MSA (average age 64), along with 39 Japanese control patients (average age of 60). Blood samples were taken from the MSA patients and those control subjects free from neuro-degenerative disease. Their findings indicated a significantly lower level of plasma in the MSA patients, irrespective of their age, sex, Coenzyme Q2 or polyprenyltransferase (COQ2) genotype. The COQ2 is a protein coding gene that plays a part in CoQ10 biosynthesis.
Any mutations in the gene can lead to a decreased synthesis of CoQ10. The study’s authors cited a whole genome sequence analysis, revealing allele mutations in the COQ2 of two of the six families that had MSA cases.
Three of the MSA patients were also found to carry the heterozygous V393A variant in COQ2. This was found in lower plasma levels of CoQ10 in those patients not carrying the mutation.
Researchers suggest more independent trials are required to determine any differences between the two groups. It was also noted that high doses of CoQ10 were required to deliver sufficient amounts of this vitamin to the brain. The research team had only completed a Phase 1 clinical trial to assess the safety and the pharmokinetics involved with volunteers taking a high dose of CoQ10.
This research is ongoing and follows on from other studies suggesting that CoQ10 can increase the blood flow to the brain. While other studies are analysing its effects in terms of the healthy ageing process.
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