Writing in the journal Nutrients, Chinese researchers at Sun Yat-sen University also noted that previous animal and human studies show that CoQ10 deficiency is associated with many chronic diseases.
“Prior human studies limited to small-scale short-term randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have evaluated various high doses of CoQ10 supplementation on surrogate markers of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risks, such as blood pressure,” the researchers wrote. “However, there has been no prospective investigation of the relationship between long-term dietary CoQ10 intake and new-onset hypertension in the general population of adults.”
A notable antioxidant
Hypertension is an increasing problem globally, and the prevalence has doubled over the last three decades. Hypertension management is key to CVD risk and related deaths.
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), a substance that helps convert food into energy, is found in most cells in the body and is a notable antioxidant. CoQ10 can be supplemented or consumed from different kinds of foods.
“Its principal role in the cell is to participate in the electron transport chain in the inner mitochondrial membrane, acting as a cofactor in the synthesis of ATP,” the researchers explained. “CoQ10 protects both mitochondrial and extra-mitochondrial cellular membranes against oxidative stress.”
A CoQ10 deficiency is associated with several conditions, including hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia. This can be addressed through supplementation but “the widespread availability of CoQ10 supplements is hindered by their high cost, posing a challenge for general population access,” the researchers noted.
Study details
The study explored the relationship between dietary CoQ10 consumption and hypertension among the Chinese general population, examining data from 11,428 participants in the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS).
The study defined new-onset hypertension as a mean systolic blood pressure of 140 mmHg or over, mean diastolic blood pressure of 90 mmHg or over, or a participant being diagnosed by a physician or under antihypertensive therapy during follow-up.
Participant intake of dietary CoQ10 was determined through dietary recalls and by weighing food.
A moderate CoQ10 consumption (2.71 mg to 6.39 mg per day) was linked to a lower risk of new-onset hypertension.
“As the intake of dietary CoQ10 increased, the risk of new-onset hypertension gradually decreased,” the researchers wrote. “When the intake exceeded approximately 4 mg per day, the risk of new-onset hypertension showed a slight upward trend before reaching a plateau. Long-term appropriate intake of dietary CoQ10 may help maintain the stability and persistence of serum CoQ10, potentially lowering the risk of new-onset hypertension.”
The study also analyzed 26 RCTs with durations of 1 to 24 months, reporting that CoQ10 supplementation significantly decreased systolic blood pressure. The doses in these trials (100 mg to 120 mg per day) were much higher than typically consumed by the Chinese population through diet.
As for animal-derived CoQ10, higher levels (exceeding 1.5 mg per day) significantly increased the risk of new-onset hypertension. Participants consuming more than 15 g of red meat daily (which contains 16.1 mg/kg to 36.5 mg/kg of CoQ10) reaches this threshold. The average daily red meat intake is 55.1 g for Chinese adults.
The study indicates that healthier food choices, such as consuming CoQ10-rich foods, including olive oil, seafood, broccoli and soybeans, will reduce new-onset hypertension.
The researchers wrote that “the primary strength of this study is that it addresses a critical knowledge gap regarding what intake of food source CoQ10 is required to achieve maximum benefit in the prevention of new-onset hypertension through extensive adjustments of covariables based on a prospective cohort design.”
Source: Nutrients
doi: doi.org/10.3390/nu16152478
“Associations between Long-Term Dietary Coenzyme Q10 Intake and New-Onset Hypertension in Adults: Insights from a Nationwide Prospective Cohort Study”
Authors: Dan Zhao et al.