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Coenzyme Q 10 improves contractility of dysfunctional myocardium in chronic heart failure
Author(s) -
Belardinelli Romualdo,
Muçaj Andi,
Lacalaprice Francesca,
Solenghi Maridia,
Principi Federica,
Tiano Luca,
Littarru Gian Paolo
Publication year - 2005
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.5520250115
Subject(s) - ejection fraction , medicine , placebo , cardiology , contractility , heart failure , dobutamine , stroke volume , cardiac index , hemodynamics , cardiac output , alternative medicine , pathology
Background : There is evidence that plasma CoQ 10 levels decrease in patients with advanced chronic heart failure (CHF). Objective : To investigate whether oral CoQ 10 supplementation could improve cardiocirculatory efficiency in patients with CHF. Methods : We studied 21 patients in NYHA class II and III (18M, 3W, mean age 59 ±9 years) with stable CHF secondary to ischemic heart disease (ejection fraction 37 ± 7%), using a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled cross‐over design. Patients were assigned to oral CoQ 10 (100 mg tid) and to placebo for 4 weeks, respectively. Results : CoQ 10 supplementation resulted in a threefold increase in plasma CoQ 10 level (P<0.0001 vs placebo). Systolic wall thickening score index (SWTI) was improved both at rest and peak dobutamine stress echo after CoQ 10 supplementation (+12.1 and 15.6%, respectively, P<0.05 vs placebo). Left ventricular ejection fraction improved significantly also at peak dobutamine (15% from study entry P<0.0001) in relation to a decrease in LV end‐systolic volume index (from 57 ± 7 mL/m2 to 45 mL/m2, P<0.001). Improvement in the contractile response was more evident among initially akinetic (+33%) and hypokinetic (+25%) segments than dyskinetic ones (+6%). Improvement in SWTI was correlated with changes in plasma CoQ 10 levels (r=−0.52, P<0.005). Peak VO2 was also improved after CoQ 10 as compared with placebo (+13%, <0.005). No side effects were reported with CoQ 10 . Conclusions : Oral CoQ 10 improves LV contractility in CHF without any side effects. This improvement is associated with an enhanced functional capacity.