Coenzyme Q₁₀: From bench to clinic in aging diseases, a translational review

ABSTRACT

Coenzyme Q₁₀ (CoQ₁₀) is a ubiquitous molecule present in all eukaryotic organisms whose principal role in the cell is related to its participation in the electron transport chain in the inner mitochondrial membrane. CoQ₁₀ plays a major role in the control of cell redox status, and both the amount and functionality of this molecule have been related to the regulation of reactive oxygen species generation. Numerous reports can be found discussing the implications of CoQ₁₀ supplementation in human studies and clinical trials related to aging. However, few reviews have made an updating through the translational point of view to integrate both basic and clinical aspects. The aim of this paper is to review our current knowledge from CoQ₁₀ implications at biochemical and physiological level, in order to unravel the molecular mechanisms involved in its application in clinical practice. Although the importance of CoQ₁₀ has been mainly attributed to its role as an agent for energy transduction in mitochondria, new functions for CoQ₁₀ have been described in the recent past years, including anti-inflammatory effects, gene expression regulation and lipid bilayer membranes stabilization, which explain its involvement in aging and age-related diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, renal failure and neurodegenerative diseases.

KEYWORDS:

• Coenzyme Q₁₀ supplementation
• Antioxidant
• Age-related diseases
• Oxidative stress
• Coenzyme Q₁₀ functions
• Mediterranean Diet

Acknowledgments

This work was supported in part by research grants from the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (AGL2004-07907, AGL2006-01979, and AGL2009-12270), Ministerio de Ciencia y Competitividad (AGL2012-39615 to J.L.-M.), Consejería de Innovación, Ciencia y Empresa, Junta de Andalucía (P06-CTS-01425 and PI0193/09 to J.L.-M.), Proyecto de Excelencia, Consejería de Economía, Innovación, Ciencia y Empleo (CVI-7450 to J.L.-M.). Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER). The CIBEROBN is an initiative of the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.