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Coenzyme Q 10 administration and its potential for treatment of neurodegenerative diseases
Author(s) -
Beal M. Flint
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
biofactors
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.204
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1872-8081
pISSN - 0951-6433
DOI - 10.1002/biof.5520090222
Subject(s) - coenzyme q10 , amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , mptp , neuroprotection , pharmacology , medicine , neurodegeneration , disease , toxicity , oral administration , parkinson's disease , genetically modified mouse , chemistry , transgene , biochemistry , gene
Abstract Coenzyme Q 10 (CoQ 10 ) is an essential cofactor of the electron transport chain as well as an important antioxidant. Previous studies have suggested that it may exert therapeutic effects in patients with known mitochondrial disorders. We investigated whether it can exert neuroprotective effects in a variety of animal models. We have demonstrated that CoQ 10 can protect against striatal lesions produced by both malonate and 3‐nitropropionic acid. It also protects against MPTP toxicity in mice. It extended survival in a transgenic mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We demonstrated that oral administration can increase plasma levels in patients with Parkinson's disease. Oral administration of CoQ 10 significantly decreased elevated lactate levels in patients with Huntington's disease. These studies therefore raise the prospect that administration of CoQ 10 may be useful for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.