Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot trial of reduced coenzyme Q10 for Parkinson's disease

• Published in: Parkinsonism & related disorders Vol. 21; no. 8; pp. 911 - 916
• Main Authors: Yoritaka, Asako, Kawajiri, Sumihiro, Yamamoto, Yorihiro, Nakahara, Toshiki, Ando, Maya, Hashimoto, Kazuhiko, Nagase, Midori, Saito, Yufuko, Hattori, Nobutaka
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2015
• Subjects: Aged; Antioxidants - administration & dosage; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Complex I; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neurology; Neuroprotective Agents - administration & dosage; Neuroprotective Agents - pharmacology; Oxidative stress; Parkinson Disease - drug therapy; Parkinson's disease; Pilot Projects; Randomized controlled trial; Reduced form of coenzyme Q10; Treatment Outcome; Ubiquinone - administration & dosage; Ubiquinone - analogs & derivatives; Ubiquinone - pharmacology; Oxidative stress; Reduced form of coenzyme Q10; Complex I; Parkinson's disease; Randomized controlled trial
• ISSN: 1353-8020; 1873-5126
• DOI: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2015.05.022

Abstract Introduction Mitochondrial complex I deficiencies have been found in post-mortem brains of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10 ) is the electron acceptor found in complexes I and II, and is a potent antioxidant. A recent trial of the oxidized form of CoQ10 for PD failed to show benefits; however, the reduced form of CoQ10 (ubiquinol-10) has shown better neuroprotective effects in animal models. Methods Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group pilot trials were conducted to assess the efficacy of ubiquinol-10 in Japanese patients with PD. Participants were divided into two groups: PD experiencing wearing off (Group A), and early PD, without levodopa (with or without a dopamine agonist) (Group B). Participants took 300 mg of ubiquinol-10 or placebo per day for 48 weeks (Group A) or 96 weeks (Group B). Results In Group A, total Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) scores decreased in the ubiquinol-10 group (n = 14; mean ± SD [−4.2 ± 8.2]), indicating improvement in symptoms. There was a statistically significant difference ( p  < 0.05) compared with the placebo group (n = 12; 2.9 ± 8.9). In Group B, UPDRS increased in the ubiquinol-10 group (n = 14; 3.9 ± 8.0), as well as in the placebo group (n = 8; 5.1 ± 10.3). Conclusions This is the first report showing that ubiquinol-10 may significantly improve PD with wearing off, as judged by total UPDRS scores, and that ubiquinol-10 is safe and well tolerated.