CoQ10 and Parkinson's disease.

[Guest guest]

Some clips from the " Ask the Dietician " and " Ask the Doctor " bulletin boards

at http://www.parkinson.org

Hugs,

Pam

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Subject: News Bite: Coenzyme Q-10 and Parkinson's disease (Repost)

Date: Thu, 1 Aug 2002 08:42:45 -0400

X-Message-Number: 4

(Re-post, for new listmembers)

I receive many questions about Coenzyme Q-10 (CoQ10); here is a brief

summary of information available at this time. Best, ne

===============================================

CoQ10 and Parkinson's disease.

by ne Holden, MS, RD

A number of Parkinson centers have been studying the effects of Coenzyme

Q-10 (CoQ10 for short) on people with PD; the results of the study should

be published later this year. Early reports say the study will show

evidence that CoQ10 may slow progression of PD in some people. The amounts

of CoQ10 used in the study were 300 mg, 600mg, and 1200 mg per day. Many

people, understandably, have questions about whether to take CoQ10, and if

so, the kind and amount to take, and whether any adverse side effects are

possible.

What is CoQ10?

CoQ10 is an antioxidant, manufactured in the human body, and also present

in small amounts in some foods ? unsaturated oils, fish, meats and nuts.

As we age, we produce less CoQ10; and it would be difficult to get a

significant amount from foods.

Some disease states tend to use up the body's store of CoQ10, and research

is ongoing as to whether supplements of CoQ10 could be beneficial. It has

been used successfully to treat certain heart conditions, such as

congestive heart disease; and also for patients with chronic renal

failure.

Medications and CoQ10 ? Interactions

Some medications may interfere with the action of CoQ10 or perhaps

decrease its production in the body. Such medications include " statins " ,

some diabetes drugs, and other medications. Many doctors now routinely

prescribe supplements of CoQ10 for their patients who are taking

cholesterol-lowering statins including lovastatin (Mevacor), simvastatin

(Zocor), and pravastatin (Pravachol), and the dietary supplement

Cholestin.

It's also possible that some oral diabetes drugs (glyburide, phenformin,

and tolazamide), beta-blockers (propranolol, metoprolol, and alprenolol),

phenothiazines, tricyclic antidepressants, methyldopa,

hydrochlorothiazide, clonidine, and hydralazine may interfere with CoQ10,

but this is not firmly established.

And it may be that CoQ10 could interfere with the medication warfarin

(Coumadin), an anticoagulant. People using warfarin should not take CoQ10

without consulting their physician.

How much CoQ10 is safe to take?

The typical recommended dosage of CoQ10 based on various past studies is

30 to 300 mg daily. It's best to take these in divided doses, two or three

times a day, rather than all at once. Until long-term studies show that

larger amounts are safe, it's not advisable to take more than 400 mg per

day.

What's the best form to use?

CoQ10 is fat soluble; the oil-based soft gel is better absorbed than dry

tablets or capsules.

Because it can " auto-oxidize " ? become a free radical itself ? it's also

best taken with 30 IU vitamin E. It appears that CoQ10 and vitamin E work

synergistically (better together than separately). Some products contain

both CoQ10 and vitamin E in the same pill. Some softgels that have passed

Consumer Lab testing include:

Nature Made 100 mg

Nature's Bounty Q-Sorb 50 mg

Vitamin World Naturally Inspired 75 mg

Q-Gel Plus Coenzyme Q-10 30 mg Plus Alpha Lipoic Acid and Vitamin E

Side effects.

There appear to be few adverse effects associated with the usual amounts

used in studies ? 30 to 300 mg per day. Some reported side effects include

stomach upset, loss of appetite, nausea, diarrhea. People taking CoQ10

late at night have reported insomnia. Amounts greater than 300 mg per day

have been accompanied by increased levels of serum lactic dehydrogenase,

and/or serum SGOT, a liver enzyme.

Studies on the safety of CoQ10 have not been conducted on women who are

pregnant or breastfeeding, or on children, and these individuals should

not use CoQ10.

Best regards,

ne Holden, MS, RD

--

For a Parkinson Tip of the Day visit:

http://www.nutritionucanlivewith.com/

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Subject: Cost of coenzyme Q 10

Date: Wed, 31 Jul 2002 21:13:41 -0700 (PDT)

X-Message-Number: 5

question

Dear Dr. Lieberman:

Reading between the lines of your own daily letter and that written by

ne Holden, MS, RD., I have the " sense " that coenzyme Q 10 may

well receive a favorable recommendation for placing the symptoms of P.D.

on hold while a cure based on sustained restoration of dopamine

concentration is determined.

Today I went to several drug and " nutrition " stores to get a feel for

the retail price of " Co Q 10 " . In the San Francisco Bay Area, it appears

to range from 50 cents to $1.00 per 100 mg.

At this price, 400 mg/day equates to $2.00 - $4.00/day while at the rate

of 1200 mg/day it corresponds to $6.00 - $12.00/day or $180 -

$360/month.

In contrast to turmeric, the coenzyme series of compounds are indeed

polymers - isoprenoidal side-chain based - with a simple structure (i.e.

one not complicated by stereochemical considerations). Furthermore these

compounds are amenable to synthesis [s. Terao et al., J. Org. Chem.,

Vol. 44, 868, (1979)].

I am sure you and your colleagues considered these aspects before

beginning your current studies but I'm sure that many of your readers

would like to obtain, as would I, a general idea of the projected annual

cost of Co Q 10 for P.D. if ultimately recommended.

Is it possible for you to provide such a cost?

Thank you as always.

Glenn

answer

the costs for co q 10 are of the amount you describe

i would contact vitaline below to get their costs as

this is the co q 10 used in the study

http://www.vitaline.com/

abe lieberman

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Subject: Coenzyme Q 10 for P.D.

Date: Thu, 1 Aug 2002 12:42:16 -0700 (PDT)

X-Message-Number: 21

More on Co enzyme q10

Dear Dr. Lieberman:

This is a follow up to my Email of yesterday on the cost of Coenzyme Q

10 for P.D.

QUOTE

Dear W. Glenn Howells:

The clinically tested, patent-pending product is delivered in a 300mg

chewable wafer.

I would not try to compare Vitaline's

safe, tolerable and effective product to any other CoQ10 on the market;

no other product has the factbase of absorbability, safety, efficacy, or

pharmaceutical quality.

To answer your specific question: we are offering 60 x 300mg tablets

of Vitaline CoQ10 at the below wholesale price of $100. The

equivalent 100mg dose from this product has a cost of 55 cents.

Let me know how we can help you further.

Regards,

Vitaline

----------------------

> Abe:

> Your web board has mentioned the UCSD-PD study a number of times. In your

> replies, you have been referring to our product as Vitelline. In order to

> ensure that there is no confusion: the product is named 'Vitaline CoQ10,'

> used in the soon to be published study (see Neurology, October 2002 issue,

> when it is published); doses of 300mg, 600mg, 900mg and 1200mg per day of

> Vitaline CoQ10 were administered to patients over the course of years; the

> results are confidential until publication, but are positive for Vitaline

> CoQ10 use; interested parties can visit our website at

> www.vitalinecoq10.com, and can order the product directly from us; the

> product formulation is patent-pending and proven safe and tolerable for PD

> patients at very high doses; the researchers are completing the medical

> protocol for the next phase of research using Vitaline CoQ10 at

> substantially higher doses, for longer periods of time, and with a greater

> number of test patients.

> Hope this helps.

> Regards,

>

>

> Vitaline

>

http://www.vitaline.com/

---------------------------------

question

I checked out the Vitaline website and the CO Q10 used is in tablet form.

My understanding is that oil based CO Q10 in a soft gel is more efficacious.

Phyllis

answer

they make an oil based capsule which is the capsule they used

in the studies

abe lieberman