Coenzyme Q10 improves endothelial dysfunction in statin-treated type 2 diabetic patients

Diabetes Care. 2009 May;32(5):810-2. doi: 10.2337/dc08-1736. Epub 2009 Feb 19.

Abstract

Objective: The vascular benefits of statins might be attenuated by inhibition of coenzyme Q(10) (CoQ(10)) synthesis. We investigated whether oral CoQ(10) supplementation improves endothelial dysfunction in statin-treated type 2 diabetic patients.

Research design and methods: In a double-blind crossover study, 23 statin-treated type 2 diabetic patients with LDL cholesterol <2.5 mmol/l and endothelial dysfunction (brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation [FMD] <5.5%) were randomized to oral CoQ(10) (200 mg/day) or placebo for 12 weeks. We measured brachial artery FMD and nitrate-mediated dilatation (NMD) by ultrasonography. Plasma F(2)-isoprostane and 24-h urinary 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HETE) levels were measured as systemic oxidative stress markers.

Results: Compared with placebo, CoQ(10) supplementation increased brachial artery FMD by 1.0 +/- 0.5% (P = 0.04), but did not alter NMD (P = 0.66). CoQ(10) supplementation also did not alter plasma F(2)-isoprostane (P = 0.58) or urinary 20-HETE levels (P = 0.28).

Conclusions: CoQ(10) supplementation improved endothelial dysfunction in statin-treated type 2 diabetic patients, possibly by altering local vascular oxidative stress.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Blood Flow Velocity / drug effects
  • Blood Flow Velocity / physiology
  • Blood Pressure / drug effects
  • Brachial Artery / drug effects
  • Brachial Artery / physiopathology
  • Cholesterol, LDL / blood
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / complications
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / drug therapy
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / physiopathology*
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Endothelium, Vascular / drug effects
  • Endothelium, Vascular / physiopathology*
  • Humans
  • Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acids / urine
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Middle Aged
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • Placebos
  • Ubiquinone / analogs & derivatives*
  • Ubiquinone / therapeutic use
  • Vasodilation / drug effects

Substances

  • Cholesterol, LDL
  • Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acids
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
  • Placebos
  • Ubiquinone
  • 20-hydroxy-5,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid
  • coenzyme Q10