CoQ10 May Enhance Vitamin E's Anti-inflammatory Effects

SAN ANTONIO, Texas--Scientists explored the effects of a high-fat, high-cholesterol (HFHC) diet on vascular responses in baboons and the potential response-attenuating effects of vitamin E and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplementation. The researchers used a longitudinal design by subjecting 21 baboons to sequential dietary challenges. After a three-month maintenance on a baseline diet (low in fat and cholesterol), the baboons were fed the HFHC diet for seven weeks.

Subsequent supplementation of the HFHC diet with the antioxidant vitamin E (250, 500 or 1000 IU/kg) for two weeks reduced serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations. Additional supplementation with CoQ10 (2 g/kg diet) further reduced serum CRP to approximately 30 percent of baseline.

The researchers concluded dietary supplementation with vitamin E alone reduces baseline inflammatory status indicated by CRP concentration in healthy adult baboons; however, cosupplementation with CoQ10 significantly enhances this anti-inflammatory effect of vitamin E.

The study was published in the September issue of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (80, 3:649-55, 2004) (www.ajcn.org).