Coenzyme Q10 improves blood pressure and glycaemic control: a controlled trial in subjects with type 2 diabetes

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Abstract
Objective: Our objective was to assess effects of dietary supplementation with coenzyme Q10 (CoQ) on blood pressure and glycaemic control in subjects with type 2 diabetes, and to consider oxidative stress as a potential mechanism for any effects. Subjects and design: Seventy-four subjects with uncomplicated type 2 diabetes and dyslipidaemia were involved in a randomised double blind placebo-controlled 2×2 factorial intervention. Setting: The study was performed at the University of Western Australia, Department of Medicine at Royal Perth Hospital, Australia. Interventions: Subjects were randomly assigned to receive an oral dose of 100 mg CoQ twice daily (200 mg/day), 200 mg fenofibrate each morning, both or neither for 12 weeks. Main outcome measures: We report an analysis and discussion of the effects of CoQ on blood pressure, on long-term glycaemic control measured by glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), and on oxidative stress assessed by measurement of plasma F2-isoprostanes. Results: Fenofibrate did not alter blood pressure, HbA1c, or plasma F2-isoprostanes. There was a 3-fold increase in plasma CoQ concentration (3.4±0.3 µmol/l, PP=0.021) and diastolic (−2.9±1.4 mmHg, P=0.048) blood pressure and HbA1c (−0.37±0.17%, P=0.032). Plasma F2-isoprostane concentrations were not altered by CoQ (0.14±0.15 nmol/l, P=0.345). Conclusions: These results show that CoQ supplementation may improve blood pressure and long-term glycaemic control in subjects with type 2 diabetes, but these improvements were not associated with reduced oxidative stress, as assessed by F2-isoprostanes. Sponsorship: This study was supported by a grant from the NH&MRC, Australia.