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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