OVERVIEW

CoQ-10 is a conditionally essential anti-oxidant vitamin that is required for mitochondrial function.

Statin drugs suppress the body's ability to make CoQ-10, so supplementation is especially important for persons taking statin drugs.

Coenzyme Q-10 has been shown to inhibit the formation of α-synuclein fibrils and to destabilize preformed fibrils in a dose-dependent manner [Ono2007].

In a small trial, high dose CoQ-10 has been shown to slow the progression of Parkinson's disease by 40% [Shults2002], [Shults2004]. However, these high doses are extremely expensive.

REFERENCES

  • [Ono2007] Kenjiro Ono, Masahito Yamada. Vitamin A potently destabilizes preformed alpha-synuclein fibrils in vitro: implications for Lewy body diseases. Neurobiol Dis. Feb;25(2):446-54 (2007). PMID: 17169566PMID: 17169566
  • [Shults2002] Shults CW, Oakes D, Kieburtz K, et al. Effects of coenzyme Q-10 in early Parkinson disease: evidence of slowing of the functional decline. Arch Neurol Oct 2002;59(10): 1541-1550.
  • [Shults2004] Shults CW, Flint Beal M, Song D, and Fontaine D. Pilot trial of high dosages of coenzyme Q-10 in patients with Parkinson's disease. Exp Neurol Aug 2004;188(2): 491-494.