Low Q10 Associated with Poor Heart Health

Byron's Comments:

Low Q10 predisposes to handicapped heart function.

Study Title:

Coenzyme Q10, rosuvastatin, and clinical outcomes in heart failure: a pre-specified substudy of CORONA (controlled rosuvastatin multinational study in heart failure).

Study Abstract:

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine whether coenzyme Q10 is an independent predictor of prognosis in heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Blood and tissue concentrations of the essential cofactor coenzyme Q10 are decreased by statins, and this could be harmful in patients with heart failure.

METHODS: We measured serum coenzyme Q10 in 1,191 patients with ischemic systolic heart failure enrolled in CORONA (Controlled Rosuvastatin Multinational Study in Heart Failure) and related this to clinical outcomes.

RESULTS: Patients with lower coenzyme Q10 concentrations were older and had more advanced heart failure. Mortality was significantly higher among patients in the lowest compared to the highest coenzyme Q₁₀ tertile in a univariate analysis (hazard ratio: 1.50, 95% confidence interval: 1.04 to 2.6, p = 0.03) but not in a multivariable analysis. Coenzyme Q10 was not an independent predictor of any other clinical outcome. Rosuvastatin reduced coenzyme Q10 but there was no interaction between coenzyme Q₁₀ and the effect of rosuvastatin.

CONCLUSIONS: Coenzyme Q10 is not an independent prognostic variable in heart failure. Rosuvastatin reduced coenzyme Q10, but even in patients with a low baseline coenzyme Q10, rosuvastatin treatment was not associated with a significantly worse outcome.

Study Information:

McMurray JJ, Dunselman P, Wedel H, Cleland JG, Lindberg M, Hjalmarson A, Kjekshus J, Waagstein F, Apetrei E, Barrios V, Böhm M, Kamenský G, Komajda M, Mareev V, Wikstrand J; CORONA Study Group. Coenzyme Q10, rosuvastatin, and clinical outcomes in heart failure: a pre-specified substudy of CORONA (controlled rosuvastatin multinational study in heart failure). J Am Coll Cardiol 2010 October 5;56(15):1205-6.
BHF Glasgow Cardiovascular Research Centre, University of Glasgow, 126 University Place, Glasgow, United Kingdom