Everything you ever wanted to know about CoQ10

[Hebbie]

(or maybe MORE than you ever wanted to know, but I found the article informative! )

Unconventional Therapies - Coenzyme Q / Ubiquinone

The role of your cancer health professional is to create an environment of openness and trust, and to help in making informed decisions about alternative/complementary therapies. Collaboration will improve the safe integration of all therapies during your experience with cancer.

The "Summary" and "Professional Evaluation / Critique" sections of this Unconventional manual are cited directly from the medical literature, and are intended to help in the objective evaluation of alternative/complementary therapies.

Summary

There is insufficient evidence demonstrating that coenzyme Q (CoQ) is an effective treatment for cancer. There is some evidence of coenzyme Q (CoQ) being effective in treating some side effects of cancer treatment, e.g. heart (cardiac) toxicity from chemotherapy, yet may be harmful for patients receiving radiation therapy due to its anti-oxidant properties. (O'Brien)

Description / Source / Components

Coenzyme Q is also known as Ubiquinone.

"Co-Q10 (2,3 dimethyl-5 methyl-6-decaprenyl benzoquinone) is an endogenous antioxidant found in small amounts in meats and seafood. Although Co-Q10 is found in all human cells, its highest concentrations occur in the heart, liver, kidneys, and pancreas. It is found naturally in the organs of many mammalian species." (Fetrow)

"CoQ10 can be synthesized in vivo [in a living body]. Situations may arise, however, when the need for CoQ10 surpasses the body's ability to synthesize it. CoQ10 is well-absorbed by oral supplementation as evidenced by significant increases in serum CoQ10 levels after supplementation." (Anonymous)

"CoQ10, due to the involvement in ATP [cellular energy] synthesis, affects the function of all cells in the body, making it essential for the health of all human tissues and organs. CoQ10 particularly effects the cells that are the most metabolically active: heart, immune system, gingiva, and gastric mucosa." (Anonymous)

"A good source for Co-Q-10 supplements is the Vitaline Corporation." (Weil)

History

"Coenzyme Q10 was discovered in 1957 by Fred Crane, M.D., from the University of Wisconsin, who isolated it from beef hearts." The research was carried out by Dr. Karl Folkers. (Whitaker)

Dr. Folkers became interested when his next-door neighbour with terminal metastatic lung cancer started taking CoQ10 and had a complete remission. (Whitaker)

Proponent / Advocate Claims

It is believed by proponents that cancer patients lack CoQ10 in their blood. (Lockwood 1994)

Folkers reported several case histories of cancer patients with prolonged survival on therapy with CoQ10. (Folkers)

It is claimed by some that "the action of CoQ on the immune system is profound. It promotes bioenergetic processes in the human immune cells." (Bliznakov)

"More recent findings substantiate the view that supplementation with CoQ10 can cause complete regression of tumors in advanced breast cancer, including one patient with numerous metastases to the liver." (Diamond)

"Mechanisms in cancer include immune system enhancement and antioxidant activity." (Anonymous)

Cardiac toxicity of the anthracyclines may be ameliorated by using low doses or concomitant treatment with coenzyme Q 10. (Berkarda)

"Coenzyme Q-10 is a nontoxic natural substance that reduces the damage done to the heart by the chemotherapy agent Adriamycin and may increase its antitumor activity. Co-Q-10 also protects the liver from the toxic effects of various chemotherapy drugs. I recommend that people undergoing chemotherapy take 300mg [milligrams] of CO-Q-10 daily." (Weil)

"Treatment with ubiquinone (coenzyme Q 10) reversed lovastatin-induced myopathy [disease of a muscle] in one patient in whom tumor response was maintained. In 22 additional patients, prophylactic administration of ubiquinone prevented the development of rhabdomyolysis [disintegration or dissolution of muscle] without adversely affecting tumor growth.... Drug-associated rhabdomyolysis is treatable and preventable with oral ubiquinone supplements which do not appear to nullify the antitumor activity of lovastatin." (Thibault)

Professional Evaluation / Critique

There has been some evidence that Coenzyme Q has efficacy when used in combination with other cancer treatments to ameliorate harmful side effects of those treatments (refer to proponent claims/beliefs section). However, it should be noted that it has not been proven that CoQ is effective as a cancer treatment in itself.

"Groups of tumors that received Q10 and radiotherapy had a significantly lower specific growth delay (SGD) than the radiotherapy-only groups... We conclude that systemic Q10 reduces the response to single dose tumor irradiation in xenotransplanted human SCLS (small-cell lung cancer) tumors. The magnitude of this potentially adverse effect is dose-dependent. We feel that the present experimental data justify a warning against concurrent use of Q10 during radiotherapy." (Lund)

"It was found that coenzyme Q... significantly delayed growth arrest" (did not stop cancer cells from growing) in human mammary epithelial cells (HMEC), and two human breast cancer cell lines Hs578T and MDA231. (Larsson)

"It was found that addition of either coenzyme Q or dolichol induces a partial but significant stimulation of DNA synthesis in breast cancer cells" (actually stimulated cancer cell growth). (Larsson)

Lockwood et al. (1995) report the remission of breast cancer in three patients who were being treated with doses of Coenzyme Q10. I t should be noted that in all three cases the Q10 treatment was provided during the same time that the patients were undergoing conventional treatments (mastectomy, X-ray treatment, appropriate anti-cancer drugs). The remission of breast cancer in these patients cannot be attributed with any certainty to the Q10 treatment that was provided.

Toxicity / Risks

"CoQ produces no toxic effect in animal models." (Bliznakov)

Fetrow's list of adverse reactions to Co-Q10 includes anorexia, diarrhea, epigastric discomfort, ischemic tissue damage [tissue damage due to a deficiency in blood in a specific part of the body] (during intense exercise), and mild nausea. (Fetrow)

References

Anonymous. Coenzyme Q10. Alternative Medicine Review 1998;3:58-61.

O'Brien R. BC Cancer Agency verbal communication, 2000.

Berkarda B. The problems of chemotherapy in the treatment of malignant tumors. Clinical chemotherapy. Volume III: Antineoplastic chemotherapy. New York: Thieme-Stratton, 1984:555-557.

Bliznakov EG, Hunt GL. The miracle nutrient: coenzyme Q10. Toronto: Bantam Books, 1987.

Diamond WJ, et al. An alternative medicine definitive guide to cancer. Tiburon: Future Medicine Publishing, Inc., 1997:767.

Fetrow CW, Avila JR. Professional's handbook of complementary and alternative medicines. Springhouse, Pennsylvania: Springhouse Corporation 1999:178-80.

Folkers K, et al. Survival of cancer patients on therapy with coenzyme Q10. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 1993 Apr 15;192(1):241-245.

Larsson O. Effects of isoprenoids on growth of normal human mammary epithelial cells and breast cancer cells in vitro. Anticancer Research 1994;14:123-128.

Lockwood K, et al. Partial and complete regression of breast cancer in patients in relation to dosage of coenzyme Q10. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 1994 Mar 30;199(3):1504-1508.

Lockwood K, et al. Progress on therapy of breast cancer with vitamin Q10 and the regression of metastases. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 1995;212:172-177.

Lund EL, et al. Effect of radiation therapy on small-cell lung cancer is reduced by ubiquinone intake. Folia Microbiologica 1998;43:505-506.

Thibault A, et al. Lovastatin, an inhibitor of the mevalonate pathway, has activity against high-grade gliomas. Proc Annu Meet Am Soc Clin Oncol 1994;13:A490.

Weil A. Dr. Andrew Weil's self healing: creating natural health for your body and mind. (Newsletter) Jan 1998:6-7.

Whitaker J. Coenzyme Q10: new hope for cancer. Health & Healing 1994 July;4(7):1-2.

Revised February 2000

[Cary]

Hebbie,

Here is some additional information, some of it directly relates to lung cancer. It's interesting to note, that the levels needed for cancer are between 300mg-500mg/daily.

Cary

USE OF CoQ10 TO TREAT MALIGNANCIES

By Dr. James Howenstine, MD.

December 23, 2003

Biochemist, Dr. Karl Folkers Ph.D, was employed by Merck where he discovered

vitamin B12 and learned how to make a synthetic version of it that sold all

over the world ending pernicious anemia. He was considered for a Nobel Prize

but did not win this honor.

He had become very interested in CoQ10 which Merck could not pursue because

it was not patentable as a natural substance. Dr. Folkers had learned that

CoQ10 was able to slow the progression of muscular dystrophy. After leaving

Merck he took a position as professor at the University of Texas in about

1965.

CoQ10 is found in every cell in the body. Animal species have exhibited a

direct correlation between CoQ10 levels and longevity.[1] The use of statin

drugs produces significant falls in CoQ blood levels which may be the reason

for the rising incidence of heart failure as statin drugs are widely used in

the U.S. to lower cholesterol. Administration of CoQ10 improves energy

output by the mitochondria of the cell. This improved energy output from

CoQ10 therapy has proven to be quite valuable in treating neurologic

disorders[2] such as Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic

lateral sclerosis, post-polio syndrome, Alzheimer's Disease, and strokes.

While at the U. of Texas Dr. Folkers encouraged a cardiologist, Dr. Peter

Langsjoen, to use CoQ10 to treat congestive heart failure with wonderful

results. Dr. Langsjoen stated " The clinical experience with CoQ10 is

nothing short of dramatic. It is reasonable to believe that the entire field

of medicine should be reevaluated in light of this growing knowledge". Some

patients at the U. of Texas with heart failure received CoQ10 but this

therapy did not become adopted as a standard approach by conventional

physicians. Dr. Folkers followed the course of 6 patients, who had cancer,

who were taking CoQ10 for congestive heart failure until 1993. Four of them

had lung cancer and 2 had breast cancer. All 6 experienced remissions of

cancer thought to be due to CoQ10 therapy. Dr. Folkers recommended the use

of 500 mg. of CoQ daily in patients with malignancies.

Dr. Folkers began to raise money to pursue his dream of using CoQ10 to treat

malignancies. Folkers persuaded one of his financial backers, who had

developed small cell carconoma of the lung with widespread metastasis, to

try CoQ10 by pointing out that CoQ10 would do no harm and it might help. His

oncologist had advised him he had less than a year to live. He began to feel

better and had no sign of metastases one year later. Fifteen years after the

cancer diagnosis he remained well and free of metastases. The only therapy

he received was CoQ10.

In 1980 Dr. Folkers funded a trial of CoQ10 for breast cancer conducted by

Dr. Kund Lockwood in Denmark. Dr. Lockwood treated 2 patients with breast

cancer one with 300 mg.of CoQ10 daily and the other with 360 mg. daily. Both

recovered.

Dr. William Judy of Bradenton, Fl. received funding from Dr. Folkers to

treat prostate cancer with CoQ10. Cancer of the prostate is typically

hormone dependent at its onset and is effectively treated then by hormone

inhibition. However, after two to five years it often becomes independent of

hormone therapy and no amount of hormone inhibition at that stage is

beneficial.

Dr. Judy found 30 patients with hormone independent prostate cancer and

treated them with 500 mg. of Coenzyme Q10 daily. Fourteen of the 15 who had

no metastases to bone or lung proceeded to have their PSA values return to

normal. Of the 15 patients who did have metastases to bone and lung when

they started CoQ10 8 saw their PSA results return to normal suggesting

improvement.. Dr. Judy then treated 6 patients with prostate cancer and

elevated PSA values with CoQ10 and all 6 had their elevated PSA values

return to normal after 120 days of CoQ10 therapy (500 mg.) daily. .

Dr. Judy suggests a way to improve the absorption of CoQ10 capsules into the

blood stream. Put the capsules of CoQ10 in hot tea which melts them. CoQ10

needs fat to get improved absorption. Add a teaspoon of coconut oil

preferably but butter will also work. Drink the tea warm or hot.

Footnotes:

1 Lass A Comparisons of Coenxyme Q bound to mitochondrial membrane proteins

among different mammalian species. Free Radical Biology and Medicine 27

(1/2):220-26, 1999

2 Perlmutter David Brain Recovery.com pg 22, 55, 70-71, 91-2, 113-4, 144-5

© 2003 Dr. James Howenstine - All Rights Reserved

[-Cheryl-]

Heather and Cary,

Very interesting articles. Thanks for the information.

Cheryl

[Cary]

Hebbie and Cheryl,

Below is some information from www.consumerlab.com They test supplements to see if they contain what they're supposed to. A few brands had less than labeled or even no CoQ10; one had more than what was on the label. Many, however, contained what they were supposed to. They originally only posted the results of brands that passed, but have recently started to post the failed brands also. The site posts highlights of their studies. To get complete reports, you must subscribe. The list below is the complete list.

Cary

The following failed testing:

BioSan™ Organic CoQ10 Ubiquinone (60 mg CoQ10 per capsule, 1-2 per

day) Dist. by Nature's Distributors 60-120 mg

Ingredients NOT APPROVED No detectable CoQ10

New Chapter® Bio-Grown CoQ10™ (22 mg CoQ10 per capsule, 1 per day)

Dist. by New Chapter, Inc. 22 mg

Ingredients NOT APPROVED Only 71% of claimed CoQ10

Pro Health™ Coenzyme Q10 (25 mg CoQ10 per capsule, 2 per day) Dist.

by Pro Health, Inc. 50 mg

Ingredients NOT APPROVED 175% of claimed CoQ10

The following contained the labeled amount of CoQ10:

Amni® Chewable Co-Enzyme Q10 (100 mg CoQ10 per chewable tablet, 1 per

day) Mfd. for Advanced Medical Nutrition, Inc. 100 mg

Ingredients APPROVED

Bronson™ Co-Enzyme Q10 30 mg (30 mg CoQ10 per capsule, 1 per day)

Dist. by Bronson Laboratories 30 mg

Ingredients APPROVED

Country® Life Hypoallergenic Co-Q10 30 mg (30 mg CoQ10 per capsule, 1

per day) Dist. by Country Life 30 mg

Ingredients APPROVED

CVS® Pharmacy 100 mg Coenzyme Q10 (100 mg CoQ10 per softgel, 1 per

day)* Dist. by CVS Pharmacy, Inc. 100 mg

Ingredients APPROVED

Enhanced Life Sciences Co Q-10 (150 mg CoQ10 per capsule, 1 per day)

Dist. by Enhanced Life Sciences 150 mg

Ingredients APPROVED

Enzymatic Therapy Natural Medicines® Vitaline® Chewable CoQ10 100 mg

Dietary Supplement Chocolate Flavored (100 mg CoQ10 per chewable

tablet, 1-2 per day)* Dist. by Enzymatic Therapy, Inc. 100-200 mg

Ingredients APPROVED

Gary Null's Super Coenzyme Q10 (100 mg CoQ10 per tablet, 1-2 per day)

Dist. by Gary Null & Associates 100-200 mg

Ingredients APPROVED

Innovative Natural Products Liquid CoQ10 10 mg CoQ10 per 1mL, 5mL per

day) Dist. by Innovative Natural Products 50 mg

Ingredients APPROVED

Nature Made® Co Q10 (100 mg CoQ10 per softgel, 1per day)* Dist. by

Nature Made Nutritional Products 100 mg

Ingredients APPROVED

Nature's Bounty® Q-Sorb™ Co Q-10 30 mg (30 mg CoQ10 per softgel, 3

per day)* Mfd. by Nature's Bounty, Inc. 90 mg

Ingredients APPROVED

Nature's Bounty® Q-Sorb™ Co Q-10 50 mg (50 mg CoQ10 per softgel, 2-3

per day)* Mfd. by Nature's Bounty, Inc. 100-150 mg

Ingredients APPROVED

Nature's Bounty® Q-Sorb™ Co Q-10 75 mg (75 mg CoQ10 per softgel, 1

per day)* Mfd. by Nature's Bounty, Inc. 75 mg

Ingredients APPROVED

Nutrilite® Coenzyme Q10 Complex Dietary Supplement (30 mg CoQ10 per

softgel, 1-3 per day)* Dist. by Access Business Group International

LLC 30-90 mg

Ingredients APPROVED

Olay™ Vitamins Ultra coQ10 150 mg (150 mg CoQ10 per softgel, 1 per

day)* Dist. by Pharmavite LLC 150 mg

Ingredients APPROVED

Origin® Q-Sorb™ Co Q-10, 100 mg (100 mg CoQ10 per softgel, 1 per day)

* Dist. by Target Corporation 100 mg

Ingredients APPROVED

Puritan's Pride® Q-Sorb™ Coenzyme Q-10 120 mg (120 mg CoQ10 per

softgel, 1 per day)* Mfd. by Puritan's Pride, Inc. 120 mg

Ingredients APPROVED

Puritan's Pride® Q-Sorb™ Coenzyme Q-10 200 mg (200 mg CoQ10 per

softgel, 1 per day)* Mfd. by Puritan's Pride, Inc. 200 mg

Ingredients APPROVED

Puritan's Pride® Q-Sorb™ Coenzyme Q-10 75 mg (75 mg CoQ10 per

softgel, 1 per day)* Mfd. by Puritan's Pride, Inc. 75 mg

Ingredients APPROVED

Shaklee® Coenzyme Q10, Resveratrol & More, CoQHeart™ Dietary

Supplement (30 mg CoQ10 per softgel, 1 per day) Dist. by Shaklee

Corporation 30 mg

Ingredients APPROVED

Spring Valley® Q-Sorb™ Co Q-10, 150 mg (150 mg CoQ10 per softgel, 1

per day)* Mfd. by Nature's Bounty, Inc. 150 mg

Ingredients APPROVED

Sundown® Benefits CoQ-10, 75 mg (75 mg CoQ10 per softgel, 2 per day)*

Dist. by Rexall Sundown, Inc. 150 mg

Ingredients APPROVED

Sundown® CoQ-10 100mg (100 mg CoQ10 per softgel, 1 per day)* Dist. by

Rexall Sundown, Inc. 100 mg

Ingredients APPROVED

Sundown® CoQ-10 50mg (50 mg CoQ10 per softgel, 1-3 per day)* Dist. by

Rexall Sundown, Inc. 50-150 mg

Ingredients APPROVED

Synergy Plus™ Super Strength Natural Coenzyme Q-10 60 mg (60 mg CoQ10

per capsule, 1 per day) Mfd. by Synergy Plus 60 mg

Ingredients APPROVED

Tree of Life CoQ10 30 mg (30 mg CoQ10 per capsule, 1 per day) Dist.

by Tree of Life 30 mg

Ingredients APPROVED

Vitamin World® Q-Sorb™ Coenzyme Q-10 200 mg (200 mg CoQ10 per

softgel, 1 per day)* Mfd. by Vitamin World, Inc. 200 mg

Ingredients APPROVED

Vitamin World® Q-Sorb™ Coenzyme Q-10 30 mg (30 mg CoQ10 per softgel,

3 per day)* Mfd. by Vitamin World, Inc. 90 mg

Ingredients APPROVED

Vitamin World® Q-Sorb™ Coenzyme Q-10 50 mg (50 mg CoQ10 per softgel,

2-3 per day)* Mfd. by Vitamin World, Inc. 100-150 mg

Ingredients APPROVED

Whole Health Premium Supplements Pure Crystalline Pharmaceutical

Grade CoEnzyme Q10 Extra Strength Dietary Supplement 150 mg (150 mg

CoQ10 per capsule, 1-2 per day) Dist. by Whole Health Products 150-

300 mg

Ingredients APPROVED

[-Cheryl-]

Cary,

I had just gone out to buy some today.Too bad I didn't see your post first. I bought a brand at a small reputable health food store here in town. The brand of CoQ10 is by TwinLab and produced in Japan. I didn't see it on your list anywhere? I hope it is pure.

Thanks,

Chery

[Cary]

Cheryl,

I went and did a search at consumerlabs, Twinlabs has passed testing on other supplements, so twinlabs should be good. I wish when they conducted the testing they would include every brand name of supplement, but I guess it's cost prohibitive.

We used pharmaceutical grade supplements(only available through a doctor) to assure quality, but it was $700-$800 a month. Once we found out about consumerlabs though we started buying supplements that had passed their testing, the cost was then around $100-$200 a month.

Cary

[karen335]

Cary,

I just started taking Co Q-10 200 manufactured for distribution by Rexall, Inc. in Boca Raton, Florida. I didn't see these on your list either. They are 200mg softgels. Do you know anything about them? I hope they are pure. I started taking 2 per day = 400mg per day. Should I up the dose. Thanks for all of your help. A lot of us really look forward to and read your posts. Your articles are very informative. Please keep on posting.

Blessings and prayers for all...

Karen

[Cary]

Hi Karen,

I went and checked and found out that Rexall brands are actually included on the "approved" list above. The names the company goes by are Sundown, Rexall Sundown and Rexall. The link below talks about their production facility in Boca Raton FL.

I'm not sure if you should increase the dose or not, I know people that have taken 500mg in combination with other treatments/supplements and have had very good results. At the present time my father is off all supplements except for salmon oil, whey protein, and macrobiotic/whole foods diet. He original went off due to whole brain radiation, then he started Iressa shortly after that. Then by the time the next scans were done, he was NED and we didn't want to add or take anything away. I have "back-up" treatments/supplements in place, in case he needs them in the future. I like being prepared.LOL

Cary

link to the Rexall sundown homepage: http://www.rexallsundown.com/pages/facilities.aspx

Sundown® Benefits CoQ-10, 75 mg (75 mg CoQ10 per softgel, 2 per day)*

Dist. by Rexall Sundown, Inc. 150 mg

Ingredients APPROVED

Sundown® CoQ-10 100mg (100 mg CoQ10 per softgel, 1 per day)*

Dist. by Rexall Sundown, Inc. 100 mg

Ingredients APPROVED

Sundown® CoQ-10 50mg (50 mg CoQ10 per softgel, 1-3 per day)*

Dist. by Rexall Sundown, Inc. 50-150 mg

Ingredients APPROVED

[karen335]

Cary,

Thank you very much for your help. I looked at the website. I am taking 400mg of the CoQ 10 daily. It is really nice of you to take the time to research issues and get answers for us. I truly appreciate all that you do. I am sure your father is very proud of you too. You are deffinately taking very good care of your father. I am happy to read that he is doing very well and not going through chemo or dariation. I see that he is taking Iressa. Does he have any side effects and I see that he is NED. That is wonderful. May I ask what TM is and what it does? I am also trying to get my doctor to approve and get the insurance company to pay for the prescription for Celebrex. I have heard Celebrex halts the progression of tumors. Your response would be greatly appreciated. No chemo since

Oct. 27th, 2003. Last radiation was May 2003.

In my prayers and God Bless

Karen

[Alisa]

Dear Cary,

Thank you so much for all your helpful information and links. I always look forward to your posts. They help me a lot. Regarding CoQ10, I couldn't find my brand on the list. Have you heard of HPF LLC (High Performance Forumulas)?

Thanks again.

[Hebbie]

Thanks so much for the great info, Cary!

Of course, my brand (Solgar) is not on the list..... but I did notice that everyone seems to be taking much higher dosages than I have been (60mg). I may have to do some research and increase my dose!

[Alisa]

Karen, I could not get approval from insurance for Celebrex when my onc prescribed it for me, but when my primary care physician prescribed it (saying I needed it for osteoarthritis) my insurance company approved it. Apparently they won't approve it for cancer, but will for arthritis.

[Cary]

Hey everyone,

Brenes: I searched the consumerlabs site and it seems they have never tested HPF LLC (High Performance Formulas). I even went to the HPF website to see if they use various other names and I didn't see anything indicating that they do.

Karen: I PM'd you.

Everyone: Thank you for the kind words, I'm just glad I was able to help.

Cary

[karen335]

Cary,

Thank you so very much, I did get your PM. I really appreciate all the information that you sent to me. I will PM you also. I have some more questions that I think you will be able to answer about the TM. You are such a helpful and kind person and I am truly greatful...

Remembering your dad and family in my prayers,

Karen