RESEARCH: Effects of coenzyme q10 in early Parkinson disease

[Guest guest]

Arch Neurol 2002 Oct;59(10):1541-50

Effects of coenzyme q10 in early Parkinson disease: evidence of

slowing of the functional decline.

Shults CW, Oakes D, Kieburtz K, Beal MF, Haas R, Plumb S, Juncos JL,

Nutt J, Shoulson I, J, Kompoliti K, Perlmutter JS, Reich S,

Stern M, Watts RL, Kurlan R, Molho E, on M, Lew M.

Department of Neurosciences, Mail Code 0662, University of

California-San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA 92093-0662.

cshults@...

BACKGROUND: Parkinson disease (PD) is a degenerative neurological

disorder for which no treatment has been shown to slow the

progression. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a range of dosages of

coenzyme Q(10) is safe and well tolerated and could slow the

functional decline in PD. DESIGN: Multicenter, randomized,

parallel-group, placebo-controlled, double-blind, dosage-ranging

trial. SETTING: Academic movement disorders clinics. PATIENTS: Eighty

subjects with early PD who did not require treatment for their

disability. INTERVENTIONS: Random assignment to placebo or coenzyme

Q(10) at dosages of 300, 600, or 1200 mg/d. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The

subjects underwent evaluation with the Unified Parkinson Disease

Rating Scale (UPDRS) at the screening, baseline, and 1-, 4-,

8-, 12-, and 16-month visits. They were followed up for 16 months or

until disability requiring treatment with levodopa had developed. The

primary response variable was the change in the total score on the

UPDRS from baseline to the last visit. RESULTS: The adjusted mean

total UPDRS changes were .99 for the placebo group, .81 for the

300-mg/d group, .82 for the 600-mg/d group, and .69 for the 1200-mg/d

group. The P value for the primary analysis, a test for a linear trend

between the dosage and the mean change in the total UPDRS score,

was.09, which met our prespecified criteria for a positive trend for

the trial.A prespecified, secondary analysis was the comparison of

each treatment group with the placebo group, and the difference

between the 1200-mg/d and placebo groups was significant (P =.04).

CONCLUSIONS: Coenzyme Q(10) was safe and well tolerated at dosages of

up to 1200 mg/d. Less disability developed in subjects assigned to

coenzyme Q(10 ) than in those assigned to placebo, and the benefit

was greatest in subjects receiving the highest dosage. Coenzyme Q(10)

appears to slow the progressive deterioration of function in PD, but

these results need to be confirmed in a larger study.

PMID: 12374491 [PubMed - in process]

[Guest guest]

Arch Neurol 2002 Oct;59(10):1541-50

Effects of coenzyme q10 in early Parkinson disease: evidence of

slowing of the functional decline.

Shults CW, Oakes D, Kieburtz K, Beal MF, Haas R, Plumb S, Juncos JL,

Nutt J, Shoulson I, J, Kompoliti K, Perlmutter JS, Reich S,

Stern M, Watts RL, Kurlan R, Molho E, on M, Lew M.

Department of Neurosciences, Mail Code 0662, University of

California-San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA 92093-0662.

cshults@...

BACKGROUND: Parkinson disease (PD) is a degenerative neurological

disorder for which no treatment has been shown to slow the

progression. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a range of dosages of

coenzyme Q(10) is safe and well tolerated and could slow the

functional decline in PD. DESIGN: Multicenter, randomized,

parallel-group, placebo-controlled, double-blind, dosage-ranging

trial. SETTING: Academic movement disorders clinics. PATIENTS: Eighty

subjects with early PD who did not require treatment for their

disability. INTERVENTIONS: Random assignment to placebo or coenzyme

Q(10) at dosages of 300, 600, or 1200 mg/d. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The

subjects underwent evaluation with the Unified Parkinson Disease

Rating Scale (UPDRS) at the screening, baseline, and 1-, 4-,

8-, 12-, and 16-month visits. They were followed up for 16 months or

until disability requiring treatment with levodopa had developed. The

primary response variable was the change in the total score on the

UPDRS from baseline to the last visit. RESULTS: The adjusted mean

total UPDRS changes were .99 for the placebo group, .81 for the

300-mg/d group, .82 for the 600-mg/d group, and .69 for the 1200-mg/d

group. The P value for the primary analysis, a test for a linear trend

between the dosage and the mean change in the total UPDRS score,

was.09, which met our prespecified criteria for a positive trend for

the trial.A prespecified, secondary analysis was the comparison of

each treatment group with the placebo group, and the difference

between the 1200-mg/d and placebo groups was significant (P =.04).

CONCLUSIONS: Coenzyme Q(10) was safe and well tolerated at dosages of

up to 1200 mg/d. Less disability developed in subjects assigned to

coenzyme Q(10 ) than in those assigned to placebo, and the benefit

was greatest in subjects receiving the highest dosage. Coenzyme Q(10)

appears to slow the progressive deterioration of function in PD, but

these results need to be confirmed in a larger study.

PMID: 12374491 [PubMed - in process]