The antioxidant effect of ubiquinone and combined therapy on mitochondrial function in blood cells in non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy: A randomized, double-blind, phase IIa, placebo-controlled study

Figures & data

Table 1 Mitochondrial function

		Placebo (n = 20)			Ubiquinone (n = 20)			Combined antioxidant therapy (n = 20)
	Normal value	Baseline	Final	P WCX	Baseline	Final	P WCX	Baseline	Final	P WCX	P K–W
Erythrocyte membrane fluidity (Ie/Im)	0.42  ± 0.01	0.29 ± 0.01	0.26 ± 0.01	0.001	0.28 ± 0.01	0.34 ± 0.01	0.0001	0.30 ± 0.01	0.34 ± 0.01	0.007	0.0001
Platelets submitochondrial membrane fluidity (Ie/Im)	0.24 ± 0.01	0.14 ± 0.01	0.15 ± 0.01	0.0001	0.14 ± 0.01	0.22 ± 0.01	0.0001	0.13 ± 0.00	0.19 ± 0.01	0.0001	0.0001
Hydrolysis of Fo/F1-ATPase (nmol PO4)	184.50 ± 7.84	304.12 ± 22.83	405.50 ± 34.51	0.0001	312.41 ± 25.63	213.25 ± 14.19	0.001	371.28 ± 33.50	225.55 ± 14.48	0.0001	0.0001

Baseline fluidity of the mitochondrial membrane of erythrocytes was diminished. Afterward, fluidity significantly improved in groups treated with ubiquinone and combined therapy. Similar results were found when fluidity of the submitochondrial particles of platelets was evaluated, in both baseline and final outcomes, with a tendency to normalize in the groups treated with antioxidants. A significant increase from baseline values was found in hydrolytic activity of the F_oF₁-ATPase, which could indicate energy catabolism. End results showed that hydrolytic activity decreased significantly in the groups treated with antioxidants.

NS = not significant, nmol PO₄ = phosphate nanomoles, I_e/I_m = ratio monomer (I_m)/excimer (I_e), WCX = Wilcoxon test, K–W = Kruskall–Wallis, considering final values.