CoQ10 may help blood sugar management in people with MetS

05-Dec-2016 - Last updated on 05-Dec-2016 at 15:05 GMT

Daily supplements of coenzyme Q10 may produce beneficial effects on insulin and blood sugar management in people with metabolic syndrome, says a new study.

CoQ10, a substance similar to a vitamin, is found in every cell in the body and is a key part of cells’ energy production machinery. Levels of CoQ10 have been shown to decline with age and in particular with statin use, which can account for some of the muscular pain and weakness that some users experience as a side effect of the drugs.

CoQ10 also functions as an antioxidant, and the new study reported that eight weeks of supplementation with 100 mg of CoQ10 was associated with improvements in plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) concentrations.

Writing in the PubMed-listed European Journal of Nutrition, researchers from Kashan University of Medical Sciences in Iran report that CoQ10 supplementation was also associated with significant improvements in serum insulin levels, insulin resistance (measured using the homeostatic model assessment: HOMA-IR), and beta-cell function (homeostatic model assessment-beta cell function: HOMA-B).

Study details

The study involved 60 people with metabolic syndrome randomly assigned to receive either CoQ10 supplementation or placebo for eight weeks. The people were aged between 40 and 85. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a condition characterized by central obesity, hypertension, and disturbed glucose and insulin metabolism. The syndrome has been linked to increased risks of both type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

Results showed that participants in the CoQ10 group experienced significant improvements in insulin levels, HOMA-IR, and HOMA-B, while there was also a trend to improved levels of glutathione and reduced levels of malondialdehyde, a reactive carbonyl compound that is a marker of oxidative stress.

On the other hand, no changes were observed for fasting blood sugar levels, cholesterol levels of markers of inflammation, reported the researchers.

“Overall, daily intake of 100 mg CoQ10 supplements among patients with MetS for 8 weeks had beneficial effects on serum insulin levels, HOMA-IR, HOMA-B and plasma TAC concentrations,” they concluded.

Source: European Journal of Nutrition
Volume 55, Number 8, Pages 2357-2364
“The effects of coenzyme Q10 administration on glucose homeostasis parameters, lipid profiles, biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress in patients with metabolic syndrome”
Authors: F. Raygan et al.