Coenzyme Q10 supplementation ameliorates inflammatory markers in patients with multiple sclerosis: a double blind, placebo, controlled randomized clinical trial

Abstract

Objectives

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated neurodegenerative disease of central nervous system and recent studies show that inflammatory processes are highly associated with neurodegeneration in the brain. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on inflammatory and anti-inflammatory markers in patients with MS.

Methods

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study was performed among 48 patients with relapsing–remitting MS. Subjects were randomly assigned to a placebo group (n = 24) or coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)-supplemented group (500 mg/day, n = 24). The intervention was administered for 12 weeks. Peripheral blood samples were collected at baseline and after 12-week intervention, to measure inflammatory (tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9) and anti-inflammatory (IL-4 and TGF-β) markers.

Results

Forty-five patients completed the study. After 12 weeks of intervention, the TNF-α levels (P = 0.003) decreased significantly in the CoQ10 group. Subjects in the CoQ10 group had significantly lower IL-6 levels (P = 0.037), compared to the placebo group. CoQ10 supplementation also resulted in decreased serum levels of MMP-9 as compared to the placebo group (P = 0.011). However, CoQ10 supplementation did not alter the IL-4 and TGF-β levels (P = 0.16 and P = 0.81, respectively).

Discussion

CoQ10 supplementation at a dosage of 500 mg appears to decrease the inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-6, and MMP-9) in patients with MS.

Keywords:

• Coenzyme Q10
• Cytokines
• Inflammation
• Multiple sclerosis
• Supplementation
• Antioxidants
• TNF-α
• IL-6
• MMP-9
• TGF-β
• Randomized placebo-controlled trial

Acknowledgements

None of the authors had any personal or financial conflict of interest. The present study was supported by a grant (No. 13295) from the Vice-Chancellor for Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran. The authors would like to thank the staff of Sina Hospital (Tehran, Iran) for their assistance in this project.