Skip to main content
Log in

Bioenergetic and Antioxidant Properties of Coenzyme Q10: Recent Developments

Molecular Biotechnology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

For a number of years, coenzyme Q (CoQ10 in humans) was known for its key role in mitochondrial bioenergetics; later studies demonstrated its presence in other subcellular fractions and in plasma, and extensively investigated its antioxidant role. These two functions constitute the basis on which research supporting the clinical use of CoQ10 is founded. Also at the inner mitochondrial membrane level, coenzyme Q is recognized as an obligatory co-factor for the function of uncoupling proteins and a modulator of the transition pore. Furthermore, recent data reveal that CoQ10 affects expression of genes involved in human cell signalling, metabolism, and transport and some of the effects of exogenously administered CoQ10 may be due to this property. Coenzyme Q is the only lipid soluble antioxidant synthesized endogenously. In its reduced form, CoQH2, ubiquinol, inhibits protein and DNA oxidation but it is the effect on lipid peroxidation that has been most deeply studied. Ubiquinol inhibits the peroxidation of cell membrane lipids and also that of lipoprotein lipids present in the circulation. Dietary supplementation with CoQ10 results in increased levels of ubiquinol-10 within circulating lipoproteins and increased resistance of human low-density lipoproteins to the initiation of lipid peroxidation. Moreover, CoQ10 has a direct anti-atherogenic effect, which has been demonstrated in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice fed with a high-fat diet. In this model, supplementation with CoQ10 at pharmacological doses was capable of decreasing the absolute concentration of lipid hydroperoxides in atherosclerotic lesions and of minimizing the size of atherosclerotic lesions in the whole aorta. Whether these protective effects are only due to the antioxidant properties of coenzyme Q remains to be established; recent data point out that CoQ10 could have a direct effect on endothelial function. In patients with stable moderate CHF, oral CoQ10 supplementation was shown to ameliorate cardiac contractility and endothelial dysfunction. Recent data from our laboratory showed a strong correlation between endothelium bound extra cellular SOD (ecSOD) and flow-dependent endothelial-mediated dilation, a functional parameter commonly used as a biomarker of vascular function. The study also highlighted that supplementation with CoQ10 that significantly affects endothelium-bound ecSOD activity. Furthermore, we showed a significant correlation between increase in endothelial bound ecSOD activity and improvement in FMD after CoQ10 supplementation. The effect was more pronounced in patients with low basal values of ecSOD. Finally, we summarize the findings, also from our laboratory, on the implications of CoQ10 in seminal fluid integrity and sperm cell motility.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Dallner, G., & Stocker, R. (2005). Coenzyme Q. In Encyclopedia of dietary supplements (pp. 121–131). New York: Marcel Dekker.

  2. Groneberg, D. A., Kindermann, B., Althammer, M., Klapper M., Vormann J., Littarru G. P., & Doring F. (2005). Coenzyme Q10 affects expression of genes involved in cell signalling, metabolism and transport in human CaCo-2 cells. International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, 37, 1208–1218.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Green, D. E., & Tzagoloff, A. (1966). The mitochondrial electron transfer chain. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 116, 293–304.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Kröger, A., & Klingenberg, M. (1973). The kinetics of the redox reactions of ubiquinone related to the electron-transport activity in the respiratory chain. European Journal of Biochemistry, 34, 358–368.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Estornell, E., Fato, R., Castelluccio, C., Cavazzoni, M., Parenti Castelli, G., & Lenaz, G. (1992). Saturation kinetics of coenzyme Q in NADH and succinate oxidation in beef heart mitochondria. FEBS Letters, 311, 107–111.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Naini, A., Lewis, V.-J., Hirano, M., & DiMauro, S. (2003). Primary coenzyme Q10 deficiency. BioFactors, 18, 145–152.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Mortensen, S. A. (2003). Overview on coenzyme Q10 as adjunctive therapy in chronic heart failure. Rationale, design and end-points of “Q-Symbio” – a multinational trial. BioFactors, 18, 79–89.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Genova, M. L., Bianchi, C., & Lenaz, G. (2005). Supercomplex organization of the mitochondrial respiratory chain and the role of the coenzyme Q pool: pathophysiological implications. BioFactors, 25, 5–20.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Stocker, R., Bowry, V. W., & Frei, B. (1991). Ubiquinol-10 protects human low density lipoprotein more efficiently against lipid peroxidation than does α-tocopherol. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA, 88, 1646–1650.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Mohr, D., Bowry, V. W., & Stocker, R. (1992). Dietary supplementation with coenzyme Q10 results in increased levels of ubiquinol-10 within circulating lipoproteins and increased resistance of human low-density lipoprotein to the initiation of lipid peroxidation. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 1126, 247–254.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Alleva, R., Tomasetti, M., Battino, M., Curatola, G., Littarru, G. P., & Folkers, K. (1995). The roles of coenzyme Q10 and vitamin E on the peroxidation of human low density lipoprotein subfractions. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA, 92, 9388–9391.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Witting, K., Pettersson, K., Letters, J., & Stocker, R. (2000). Anti-atherogenic effect of coenzyme Q10 in apolipoprotein E gene knockout mice. Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 29, 295–300.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Digiesi, V., Cantini, F., Oradei, A., Bisi, G., Guarino, G. C., Brocchi, A., Bellandi, F., Mancini, M., & Littarru, G. P. (1994). Coenzyme Q10 in essential hypertension. Molecular Aspects of Medicine, 15, 257–263.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Watts, G. F., Playford, D. A., Croft, K. D., Ward, N. C., Mori, T. A., & Burke, V. (2002). Coenzyme Q(10) improves endothelial dysfunction of the brachial artery in Type II diabetes mellitus. Diabetologia, 45, 420–426.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Belardinelli, R., Mucaj, A., Lacalaprice, F., Solenghi, M., Seddaiu, G., Principi, F., Tiano, L., & Littarru, G. P. (2006). Coenzyme Q10 and exercise training in chronic heart failure. European Heart Journal, 27, 2675–2681.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Atar, D., Mortensen, S. A., Flachs, H., Herzog, W. R. (1993). Coenzyme Q10 protects ischemic myocardium in an open-chest swine model. Clinical Investigator, 71, 103–111.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Nayler, W. G. (1980). The use of coenzyme Q10 to protect ischaemic heart muscle. In Y. Yamamura, K. Folkers, & Y. Ito (eds.), Biomedical and clinical aspects of coenzyme Q (Vol. 2, pp. 409–424). Amsterdam: Elsevier.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Kwong, L. K., Kamzalov, S., Rebrin, I., Bayne, A. C., Jana, C. K., Morris, P., Forster, M. J., & Sohal, R. S. (2002). Effects of coenzyme Q10 administration on its tissue concentrations, mitochondrial oxidant generation, and oxidative stress in the rat. Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 33, 627–638.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Sohal, R. S., Kamzalov, S., Sumien, N., Ferguson, M., Rebrin, I., Heinrich, K. R., & Forster, M. J. (2006). Effect of coenzyme Q10 intake on endogenous coenzyme Q content, mitochondrial electron transport chain, antioxidative defenses, and life span of mice. Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 40, 480–487.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Rosenfeldt, F. L., Pepe, S., Ou, R., Mariani, J. A., Rowland, M. A., Nagley, P., & Ninnane, A. W. (1999). Coenzyme Q10 improves the tolerance of the senescent myocardium to aerobic and ischemic stress: studies in rats and in human atrial tissue. BioFactors, 9, 291–299.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Rosenfeldt, F. L., Marasco, S., Lyon, W., Wowk, M., Sheeran, F., Bailey, M., Esmore, D., Davis, B., Pick, A., Rabinov, M., Smith, J., Nagley, P., & Pepe, S. (2005). Coenzyme Q10 therapy before cardiac surgery improves mitochondrial function and in vivo contractility of myocardial tissue. Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 129, 25–32.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Marriage, B., Clandinin, M. T., Macdonald, I. M., & Glerum, M. (2004). Cofactor treatment improves ATP synthetic capacity in patients with oxidative phosphorylation disorders. Molecular Genetics and Metabolism, 81, 263–272.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Langsjoen, P. H., & Langsjoen, A. M. (2003). The clinical use of HMG CoA-reductase inhibitors and the associated depletion of coenzyme Q10. A review of animal and human publications. Biofactors, 18, 101–111.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Päivä, H., Thelen, K. M., Van Coster, R., Smet, J., De Paepe, B., Mattila, K. M., Laakso, J., Lehtimaki, T., von Bergmann, K., Lutjohann, D., & Laaksonen, R. (2005). High-dose statins and skeletal muscle metabolism in humans: a randomozed ontrolled trial. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 78, 60–68.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Tiano, T., Belardinelli, R., Carnevali, P., Principi, F., Seddau, G., & Littarru, G. P. (2007). Effect of Coenzyme Q10 administration on endothelial function and extracellular superoxide dismutase in patients with ischemic heart disease. A double blind randomized controlled study. In process of being published in European Heart Journal. Manuscript Draft Number: EURHEARTJ-D-06-01411R1.

  26. Fukai, T., Folz, R. J., Landmesser, U., & Harrison, G. D. (2002). Extracellular superoxide dismutase and cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular Research, 55, 239–249.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Mordente, A., Martorana, G. E., Santini, S. A., Miggiano, G. A., Petitti, T., Giardina, B., Battino, M., & Littarru, G. P. (1993). Antioxidant effect of Coenzyme Q on hydrogen peroxide activated myoglobin. Clinical Investigator, 71, 92-96.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Tomasetti, M., Littarru, G. P., Stocker, R., & Alleva, R. (1999). Coenzyme Q10 enrichment decreases oxidative DNA damage in human lymphocytes. Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 27, 1027–1032.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Tomasetti, M., Alleva, R., Borghi, B., & Collins, A. (2001). In vivo supplementation with coenzyme Q10 enhances the recovery of human lymphocytes from oxidative DNA damage. FASEB, 15, 1425–1427.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Tiano, L., Littarru, G. P., Principi, F., Orlandi, M., Santoro, L., Carnevali, P., & Gabrielli, O. (2005). Assessment of DNA damage in Down Syndrome patients by means of a new, optimised single cell gel electrophoresis technique. BioFactors, 25, 187–196.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Mancini, A., De Marinis, L., Oradei, A., Hallgass, M. E., Conte, G., Pozza, D., & Littarru, G. P. (1994). Coenzyme Q10 concentrations in normal and pathological human seminal fluid. Journal of Andrology, 15, 591–594.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Alleva, R., Scaramucci, A., Mantero, F., Bompadre, S., Leoni, L., & Littarru, G. P. (1997). The protective role of ubiquinol-10 against formation of lipid hydroperoxides in human seminal fluid. Molecular Aspects of Medicine, 18, 221–228.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Lewin, A., & Lavon, H. (1997). The effect of Coenzyme Q10 on sperm motility and function. Molecular Aspects of Medicine, 18, 213–219.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Balercia, G., Mosca, F., Mantero, F., Boscaro, M., Mancini, A., Lamonica, G. R., & Littarru, G. P. (2004). Coenzyme Q(10) supplementation in infertile men with idiopathic asthenozoospermia: an open, uncontrolled pilot study. Fertility and Sterility, 8, 193–198.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Balercia, G., Araldi, G., Fagioli, F., Serresi, M., Alleva, R., Mancini, A., Mosca, F., Lamonica, G. R., Mantero, F., & Littarru, G. P. (2002). Coenzyme Q10 levels in idiopathic and varicocele-associated asthenozoospermia. Andrologia, 34, 107–111.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gian Paolo Littarru.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Littarru, G.P., Tiano, L. Bioenergetic and Antioxidant Properties of Coenzyme Q10: Recent Developments. Mol Biotechnol 37, 31–37 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12033-007-0052-y

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12033-007-0052-y

Keywords

Navigation