REDUCTION BY COENZYME Q10 OF ACUTE TOXICITY OF ADRIAMYCIN IN MICE

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • letter
    • Vol. 18  (3) , 565-568
Abstract
Pretreatment for 4 days with coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) reduced the acute toxicity in mice treated with adriamycin. In 2 sequential protocols, adriamycin allowed only 36 and 42% survival, respectively. Pretreatment with CoQ10 allowed 80 and 86% survival, respectively. The differences are significant, P < 0.05. The mechanism for this reduction in acute toxicity may be based on the prevention by supplementary CoQ10 of the inhibition caused by adriamycin to CoQ10-dependent enzymes in cardiac and other tissues. The prospect of diminishing the toxicity of adriamycin cancer patients remains promising and important.