A randomized trial of coenzyme Q10 in mitochondrial disorders.

Case reports and open-label studies suggest that coenzyme Q₁₀ (CoQ₁₀) treatment may have beneficial effects in mitochondrial disease patients; however, controlled trials are warranted to clinically prove its effectiveness. Thirty patients with mitochondrial cytopathy received 1200 mg/day CoQ₁₀ for 60 days in a randomized, double-blind, cross-over trial. Blood lactate, urinary markers of oxidative stress, body composition, activities of daily living, quality of life, forearm handgrip strength and oxygen desaturation, cycle exercise cardiorespiratory variables, and brain metabolites were measured. CoQ₁₀ treatment attenuated the rise in lactate after cycle ergometry, increased (∽1.93 ml) V O₂/kg lean mass after 5 minutes of cycling ( P < 0.005), and decreased gray matter choline-containing compounds ( P < 0.05). Sixty days of moderate- to high-dose CoQ₁₀ treatment had minor effects on cycle exercise aerobic capacity and post-exercise lactate but did not affect other clinically relevant variables such as strength or resting lactate. Muscle Nerve, 2010 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]