Effects of coenzyme Q10 on exercise tolerance in chronic stable angina pectoris

Am J Cardiol. 1985 Aug 1;56(4):247-51. doi: 10.1016/0002-9149(85)90843-4.

Abstract

The effects of coenzyme Q10(CoQ10) on exercise performance were studied in 12 patients, average age 56 years, with stable angina pectoris. The study involved a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, crossover protocol, using multistage treadmill exercise tests. CoQ10(150 mg/day in 3 daily doses) was administered orally for 4 weeks, tended to reduce anginal frequency from 5.3 +/- 4.9 to 2.5 +/- 3.3 attacks for 2 weeks and nitroglycerin consumption from 2.6 +/- 2.8 to 1.3 +/- 1.7 tablets for 2 weeks compared with patients receiving the placebo, but the reduction was not statistically significant. Exercise time increased from 345 +/- 102 seconds with placebo to 406 +/- 114 seconds during CoQ10 treatment (p less than 0.05). The time until 1 mm of ST-segment depression occurred increased from 196 +/- 76 seconds with placebo to 284 +/- 104 seconds during CoQ10 treatment (p less than 0.01). During the exercise test, ST-segment depression, heart rate and pressure-rate product at the same and at the maximal workload showed no significant difference between patients after placebo and CoQ10 administration. The average CoQ10 plasma concentration increased from 0.95 +/- 0.48 microgram/ml to 2.20 +/- 0.98 microgram/ml after CoQ10 treatment. This increase was significantly related to the increase in exercise duration (r = 0.68, p less than 0.001). Only 1 patient had a loss of appetite, but continued therapy. This study suggests that CoQ10 is a safe and promising treatment for angina pectoris.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Angina Pectoris / drug therapy
  • Angina Pectoris / physiopathology*
  • Chronic Disease
  • Coenzymes
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Electrocardiography
  • Exercise Test*
  • Female
  • Hemodynamics / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nitroglycerin / administration & dosage
  • Random Allocation
  • Rest
  • Ubiquinone / administration & dosage
  • Ubiquinone / adverse effects
  • Ubiquinone / analogs & derivatives*
  • Ubiquinone / blood

Substances

  • Coenzymes
  • Ubiquinone
  • coenzyme Q10
  • Nitroglycerin