Mario A. Gonzalez wrote:
>
> The following is an article on COQ10 and Parkinson's. It may be a bit
> lengthy.
>
> Coenzyme Q10
> It's in Your Thoughts
>
> A new study is demonstrating potent neuro-protective benefits attributable
> to coenzyme Q10. With studies employing CoQ10 supplementation, the brain's
> mitochondrial energy expenditure increases, and dopamine-producing sections
> of the brain are protected. Survival time is even extended in cases of Lou
> Gehrig's disease.
>
> Because heart cells have a high energy demand, initial clinical studies
> investigated the effect of coenzyme Q10 on cardiac mitochondrial function.
> Scientists are now looking at the effects of CoQ10 on another organ whose
> cells also require a high level of energy metabolism-the brain.
>
> About 95% of cellular energy is produced from structures in the cells called
> mitochondria. The mitochondria have been described as the cells' "energy
> powerhouse," and the diseases of aging are increasingly being referred to as
> "mitochondrial disorders."
>
> When coenzyme Q10 is taken orally, it is incorporated into the mitochondria
> of cells throughout the body where it facilitates and regulates the
> oxidation of fats and sugars into energy. One of the areas in which
> mitochondrial energy by CoQ10 is enhanced is the brain, offering attendant
> neuro-protective benefits.
>
> Here are the highlights from a study just published in the Proceedings of
> the National Academy of Sciences (1998; 95)
>
> When coenzyme Q10 was administered to middle-age and old-age rats, the level
> of CoQ10 increased by 10% to 40% in the cerebral cortex region of the brain.
> This increase was sufficient to restore levels of CoQ10 to those seen in
> young animals.
> After only two months of CoQ10 supplementation, mitochondrial energy
> expenditure in the brain increased by 29%, compared with the group not
> getting CoQ10. The human equivalent dose of CoQ10 to achieve these results
> is 100 to 200 mg a day.
> When a neuro-toxin was administered, CoQ10 helped protect against damage to
> the striatal region of the brain where dopamine is produced.
> When CoQ10 was administered to rats genetically bred to develop amyotrophic
> lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease), a significant increase in
> survival time was observed.
> The scientists concluded, "CoQ10 can exert neuro-protective effects that
> might be useful in the treatment of neuro-degenerative diseases."
>
> This new study showed that short-term supplementation with moderate amounts
> of CoQ10 produced profound anti-aging effects in the brain. Previous studies
> have shown that CoQ10 may protect the brain via several mechanisms,
> including reduction in free radical generation and protection against
> glutamate-inducted excitotoxicity. The study documented that orally
> supplemented CoQ10 specifically enhanced metabolic energy levels of brain
> cells. While this effect in the brain has been previously postulated, this
> new study provides hard evidence.
>
> Based on the types of brain cell injury that CoQ10 protected against, the
> scientists suggested that it may be useful in the prevention or treatment of
> Huntington's disease and ALS. It was noted that while vitamin E delays the
> onset of ALS in mice, it does not increase survival time. CoQ10 was
> suggested as a more effective treatment strategy than vitamin E for
> neuro-degenerative disease because survival time was increased in mice
> treated with CoQ10.
>
> In keeping with CoQ10's observed anti-aging and neuro-protective benefits, a
> report published in the Annals of Neurology (August 1997) identified a new
> mechanism showing that CoQ10 might be effective in the prevention and
> treatment of Parkinson's disease.
>
> This study showed that the brain cells of Parkinson's patients have a
> specific impairment that causes the disruption of healthy mitochondrial
> function. It is known that mitochondrial disorder causes cells in the
> substantia nigra region of the brain to malfunction and die, thus creating a
> shortage of dopamine.
>
> An interesting finding was that CoQ10 levels in Parkinson's patients were
> 35% lower than age-matched controls. This deficit of CoQ10 caused a
> significant reduction in the activity of enzyme complexes that are critical
> to the mitochondrial function of the brain cells affected by Parkinson's
> disease.
>
> The ramifications of this study are significant. Parkinson's disease is
> becoming more prevalent as the human life span increases, and the new study
> confirms previous studies that Parkinson's disease may be related to CoQ10
> deficiency. The scientists concluded, "The causes of Parkinson's disease are
> unknown, [but] evidence suggests that mitochondrial dysfunction and oxygen
> free radicals may be involved in its pathogenesis. The dual function of
> CoQ10 as a constituent of the mitochondrial electron transport chain and a
> potent antioxidant suggest that it has the potential to slow the progression
> of Parkinson's disease."
>
> CoQ10 levels decrease with age. In fact, aged humans have only 50% of the
> CoQ10 that young adults have. Depletion is caused by reduced synthesis of
> CoQ10 in the body, along with increased oxidation of CoQ10 in the
> mitochondria. The inevitable conclusion might be that, if a CoQ10 deficit
> results in the inactivation of enzymes needed for mitochondrial energy
> production, supplementation with CoQ10 may preserve mitochondrial function.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Angela Beemer <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Thursday, November 25, 1999 9:09 AM
> Subject: Co-enzyme Q-10
>
> > Linda J Herman wrote:
> > >
> > > Paul,
> > >         Your letter said it all - why this list is so important for many
> of us,
> > > and why we overlook the occassional feuds, and stay subscribed.
> > > You said:
> > >
> > > "I have found that the knowledge gained from reading the meaningful
> items
> > > on
> > > the list has made me confident enough to be proactive (rather than
> > > reactive)
> > > in my treatment."
> > >
> > > Can you tell us where you found the information on the Co-Q 10 trial?
> > > Thanks,
> > > Linda Herman
> > I am a brand newbie.  My dad who is 76 has PD.  Lately he has very
> > limited success taking Sinemet.  His doctor tried him on Pramipexole
> > (Marapax) a couple of weeks ago.  My father's symptoms worsened.  He had
> > far less mobility and severe hallucinations among other things.  While
> > driving a few weeks ago, I heard the end of a radio program about
> > promising new studies with Co-enzyme Q-10 and PD.  Does anyone know
> > where I can find information about these studies.  My Dad's current
> > medications don't seem to be working well.
> >
> > Angela
> >
Thanks to all who responded.  I'll keep you posted (pun intended).
Angela