The Effect of CoQ₁₀ Supplementation on Quality of Life in Women with Breast Cancer Undergoing Tamoxifen Therapy: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Clinical Trial

Figures & data

Table 1 Anthropometric and Demographic Characteristics in Breast Cancer Patients in the Study

Variables	Placebo	CoQ10	P-value
	n=15	n=15
Age (years)	36.33±7.73	40.66±5.19	0.108
Height (cm)	158.26±2.40	158.53±6.02	0.969
Weight (kg)	64.33±8.46	65.26±8.43	0.901
Body-mass index (kg.m-2)	25.66±3.15	25.96±3.01	0.250*
Educational			0.689
Illiterate	2 (13.3%)	6 (40%)
Primary	11 (73.3%)	7 (46.7%)
Secondary	1 (6.7%)	1 (6.7%)
College/university	1 (6.7%)	1 (6.7%)
Marital status			0.857
Married	14 (93.3%)	13 (86.7%)
Unmarried	1 (6.7%)	2 (13.3%)
Cigarette/alcohol			1
No	14 (93.3%)	14 (93.3%)
Yes	1 (6.7%)	1 (6.7%)
Physical activity			1
Light	15 (100%)	14 (93.3%)
Moderate	0	1 (6.7%)
Vigorous	0	0

Notes: Anthropometric data given as mean ± SD and demographic data as n (%). Kruskal–Wallis test used for age, height, and weight, and χ² used for other variables. *Difference between treatment and placebo groups at follow-up and baseline visits using ANCOVA.

Table 2 Dietary Intake of Energy and Macronutrients in Breast Cancer Patients in the Study

Variables	Before	After	P-value*
	Mean ± SD	Mean ± SD
Energy (kcal)			0.946
Patient/placebo	2,044.46±355.90	2,058.46±341.95
Patient/CoQ10	2,026.93±351.12	2,034.33±354.05
Protein (g)			0.192
Patient/placebo	60.65±10±66	61.65±10.85
Patient/CoQ10	45.74±8.58	49.04±10.16
Carbohydrates (g)			0.121
Patient/placebo	279.70±46.52	282.24±48.86
Patient/CoQ10	296.77±54.23	296.60±51.60
Fat (g)			0.111
Patient/placebo	74.69±14.39	74.47±13.19
Patient/CoQ10	73.01±14.45	75.16±15.57

Notes: *Difference between treatment and placebo groups at follow-up and baseline visits using ANCOVA.

Table 3 Physical Activity Levels of Breast Cancer Patients at Baseline and End Point of Study

Variables		Before	After	P-value
		(Mean ± SD)	(Mean ± SD)
Work domain	Walking, MET-minutes/week at work			0.234
	Patient/placebo	92.40±243.84	215.60±450.55
	Patient/CoQ10	195.80±458.36	46.20±178.93
	Moderate MET-minutes/week at work			0.288
	Patient/placebo	192±506.68	856±2268.17
	Patient/CoQ10	474.66±1541.04	250.66±863.14
	Vigorous MET-minutes/week at work			0.958
	Patient/placebo	896±2364.53	1,133.33±4,334.20
	Patient/CoQ10	56±216.88	37.33±144.59
	Total work, MET-minutes/week			0.541
	Patient/placebo	1,180.40±3115.06	2,204.93±679.48
	Patient/CoQ10	726.46±1927.19	334.20±912.93
Active transportation domain*	Walking, MET-minutes/week for transport			0.305
	Patient/placebo	272.80±211.47	595.10±1204.16
	Patient/CoQ10	600.60±758.22	262.90±240.44
	Total transport, MET-minutes/week			0.305
	Patient/placebo	272.80±211.47	595.10±1204.16
	Patient/CoQ10	600.60±758.22	262.90±240.44
Domestic and garden (yard work) domain	Vigorous MET-minutes/week yard chores			0.758
	Patient/placebo	641.66±1616.08	170.50±257.80
	Patient/CoQ10	34.83±55.45	60.50±149.97
	Moderate MET-minutes/week yard chores			0.846
	Patient/placebo	600±1125.39	380±277.23
	Patient/CoQ10	209.33±187.13	220±168.69
	Moderate MET-minutes/week inside chores			0.060
	Patient/placebo	793±774.72	552±450.54
	Patient/CoQ10	658±664.77	744±437.13
	Total domestic and garden moderate MET-minutes/week			0.160
	Patient/placebo	2,034.66±3461.93	1,102.50±884.95
	Patient/CoQ10	902.16±807.45	1,024.50±604.86
Leisure-time domain	Walking MET-minutes/week leisure			0.190
	Patient/placebo	376.20±427.69	311.30±194.51
	Patient/CoQ10	227.70±234.52	267.30±269.62
	Moderate MET-minutes/week leisure			0.159
	Patient/placebo	93.3±170.82	37.33±83.44
	Patient/CoQ10	10.66±28.14	140±300.57
	Vigorous MET-minutes/week leisure			0.549
	Patient/placebo	56±149.51	85.33±155.55
	Patient/CoQ10	352±967.96	320±877.91
	Total leisure-time MET-minutes/week			0.249
	Patient/placebo	525.53±593.27	433.96±255.81
	Patient/CoQ10	590.36±1038.92	727.30±1068.82
Sitting domain	Sitting, total minutes/week			0.060
	Patient/placebo	1,457.33±1,180.59	1,541.53±1,127.93
	Patient/CoQ10	1,988±1,005.74	1,776±826.66
	Average sitting total minutes/day			0.060
	Patient/placebo	208.19±168.65	220.21±161.13
	Patient/CoQ10	284±143.67	253.71±118.09

Notes: P-values for difference between treatment and placebo groups at follow-up and baseline visits using ANCOVA. Metabolic equivalent: 1 MET = 1 kcal/kg/hour). *This section includes two areas of walking and cycling. Due to the negative response to participation in cycling, this area was removed in the data analysis.

Table 4 Effect of Coenzyme Q₁₀ Supplementation on QOL C30 in Breast Cancer Patients

Variables			Before	After	P-value*
			Mean ± SD	Mean ± SD
Domains	Global health status/QOL	Question 29			0.970
		Patient/placebo	5.66±0.89	5.86±0.99
		Patient/CoQ10	5.20±1.01	5.46±0.91
		Question 30			0.770
		Patient/placebo	5.93±0.70	6.13±1.12
		Patient/CoQ10	5.40±1.05	5.73±0.96
	Functional scales	Physical functioning (PF2)			0.029
		Patient/placebo	83.11±14.22	84±12.54
		Patient/CoQ10	78.66±15.97	72.88±14.13
		Role functioning (RF2)			0.309
		Patient/placebo	94.44±8.13	92.22±12.38
		Patient/CoQ10	80±19.10	86.66±18.03
		Emotional functioning (EF)			0.031
		Patient/placebo	83.88±13.53	90±13.80
		Patient/CoQ10	65.55±17.49	80±12.51
		Cognitive functioning (CF)			0.023
		Patient/placebo	87.77±14.72	94±12.06
		Patient/CoQ10	75.55±15.25	83.33±15.43
		Social functioning (SF)			0.796
		Patient/placebo	95.55±13.31	93.33±13.80
		Patient/CoQ10	91.11±20.76	94±10.28
	Symptom scales/items	Fatigue (FA)			0.149
		Patient/placebo	14.07±18.52	18.51±17.65
		Patient/CoQ10	28.88±19.15	28.14±20.08
		Nausea and vomiting (NV)			0.153
		Patient/placebo	16.66±43.18	0
		Patient/CoQ10	10±16.42	3.33±9.34
		Pain (PA)			0.787
		Patient/placebo	14.44±17.66	18.88±27.36
		Patient/CoQ10	34.44±23.95	21.11±18.32
		Dyspnea (DY)			0.065
		Patient/placebo	0	4.44±11.72
		Patient/CoQ10	8.88±15.25	20±30.34
		Insomnia (SL)			0.811
		Patient/placebo	13.33±27.60	17.77±30.51
		Patient/CoQ10	26.66±33.80	15.55±21.33
		Appetite loss (AP)			0. 010
		Patient/placebo	6.66±18.68	20±21.08
		Patient/CoQ10	15.55±17.21	4.44±11.72
		Constipation (CO)			>0.999
		Patient/placebo	22.22±24.12	2.22±8.60
		Patient/CoQ10	15.55±21.33	2.22±8.60
		Diarrhea (DI)			0.540
		Patient/placebo	4.44±11.72	4.44±11.72
		Patient/CoQ10	2.22±8.60	2.22±8.60
		Financial difficulties (FI)			<0.0001
		Patient/placebo	42.22±38.76	37.77±24.77
		Patient/CoQ10	66.66±35.63	80±27.60

Notes: *Difference between treatment and placebo groups at follow-up and baseline visits using ANCOVA. P<0.05 significant.

Table 5 Effect of Coenzyme Q₁₀ Supplementation on QOL Br23 in Breast Cancer Patients

Variables			Before	After	P-value*
			Mean ± SD	Mean ± SD
Domains	Functional scales	Body image (BRBI)			0.948
		Patient/placebo	76.66±22.31	71.11±27.43
		Patient/CoQ10	65±20.70	70.55±20.86
		Sexual functioning (BRSEF)			0.951
		Patient/placebo	32.22±7.62	72.22±13.60
		Patient/CoQ10	27.38±19.17	71.79±23.94
		Sexual enjoyment (BRSEE)			0.347
		Patient/placebo	44.44±20.57	22.22±24.12
		Patient/CoQ10	23.80±24.20	30.95±27.62
		Future perspective (BRFU)			0.183
		Patient/placebo	57.77±38.76	55.55±34.88
		Patient/CoQ10	62.22±27.79	68.88±19.78
	Symptom scales/items	Systemic therapy side effects (BRST)			0.320
		Patient/placebo	20.31±21.85	18.73±17.76
		Patient/CoQ10	27.61±10.21	24.12±12.53
		Breast symptoms (BRBS)			0.651
		Patient/placebo	13.33±17.19	13.33±21.77
		Patient/CoQ10	8.33±7.71	10.55±11.55
		Arm symptoms (BRAS)			0.022
		Patient/placebo	20±18.87	14.81±20.85
		Patient/CoQ10	18.874±18.24	34.07±26.38
		Upset by hair loss (BRHL)			0.232
		Patient/placebo	11.11±27.21	15.55±35.33
		Patient/CoQ10	8.88±15.25	4.44±11.72

Notes: *Difference between treatment and placebo groups at follow-up and baseline visits using ANCOVA. P<0.05 is significant.