Combined Selenium and Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation Prevents Telomere Attrition in Elderly Subjects

by | Oct 12, 2022 | Aging, Cardiovascular Health, CoQ10 (Coenzyme Q10), Selenium

Written by Taylor Woosley, Staff Writer. Analyzing individual changes in LTL from inclusion to 42 months shows a significant difference in change of LTL observed in the active treatment group vs. the placebo group (delta LTL, +0.019 vs. -0.129, p=0.02). 

elderly womanCardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most common cause of death worldwide, accounting for 31% of all deaths globally1. Aging-related cellular and molecular processes including low-grade chronic inflammation are major plays in the pathogenesis of CVD2. The complex physiological signal transduction networks that respond to inflammatory and/or oxidative stress (ROS) challenges are major factors that promote senescence characteristics and aging, which play a key role in the development of cardiovascular pathologies3. Telomeres, double-stranded repeats of G-rich tandem DNA sequences, protect crucial genetic information in the cell from being lost during cell division4. Chronic exposure to inflammation, oxidative stress, and age accelerate telomere shortening and has been linked to many chronic diseases5.

Coenzyme Q10 and selenium (Se) are effective antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents that have shown potential clinical implications in chronic diseases6. They are both needed to obtain normal cellular function7. Selenium and Coenzyme Q10 may prevent telomere shortening by anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory pathways8.

Opstad et al. conducted a sub-study of a previous prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, single-centre trial to explore the impact of long-term combined Se and coenzyme Q10 supplementation on leukocyte telomere length (LTL) in elderly subjects low in Se, with focus on LTL’s potential impact on cardiovascular mortality. Subjects (n=118) were included in the study if they were aged >69 years. Participants were divided into two groups: the active supplement of a combination of 200 µg Se/day of organic Se yeast tablets and 200 mg/day of coenzyme Q10 capsules (n=67) or a placebo tablet of baker’s yeast (n=51) for 4 years.

Blood samples were taken at study inclusion and at 42 months. DNA was obtained manually by the QIAamp DNA Blood Mini Kit, with DNA purity and quantity being tested on the NanoDrop, ND-1000. Collected DNA was used to measure LTL by singleplex quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). During participants examination at inclusion, a physical exam and assessment of New York Heart Association functional class (NYHA class), as well as an electrocardiogram (ECG) and Doppler echocardiography were performed. CV mortality was recorded for all subjects for a period of 6 years following completion of the study.

A Student’s unpaired two-sided t test was utilized for continuous variable and the chi-square test was used for analysis of one discrete variable. A Kaplan-Meier curve was generated in which the first quartile of telomere shortening was included as reference against the three upper quartiles, regarding CV mortality within 10 years after inclusion. Significant findings of the 48-month study are as follows:

  • A significant difference in change of LTL was observed when analyzing the individual changes in LTL from inclusion to 42 months in the active treatment group vs. the placeo group (delta LTL, +0.019 vs. -0.129, p = 0.02). Further validation of the obtained results by use of repeated measures of variance shows that the difference persisted (p < 0.001).
  • A multivariable model was applied as a second step of validation and significantly longer LTLs could be demonstrated in the active treatment group also after adjusting for sex, age, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, and LTL at inclusion (p = 0.03).
  • Stratified by sex, a statistically significant change in LTL after 42 months was observed in both males (p = 0.04) and females (p = 0.006).
  • In the total population, LTL measured at 42 months was significantly longer in survivors than in the CV mortality group (mean [SD] LTL, 0.941 [0.279] vs. 0791 [0.190], p = 0.01).

Results of the study show that combined supplementation of Se and coenzyme Q10 for 42 months prevented telomere attrition in elderly subjects low in Se. Subjects with shorter LTL measured at 42 months experienced higher rates of CV mortality compared with survivors followed up to 6 years after study completion. Further research should continue to explore the beneficial role Se and coenzyme Q10 have on telomere preservation. Study limitations include obtaining blood samples for DNA analysis at 42 months instead of at the study follow-up at 48 months.

Source: Opstad, Trine Baur, Jan Alexander, Jan O. Aaseth, Anders Larsson, Ingebjørg Seljeflot, and Urban Alehagen. “Selenium and Coenzyme Q10 Intervention Prevents Telomere Attrition, with Association to Reduced Cardiovascular Mortality—Sub-Study of a Randomized Clinical Trial.” Nutrients 14, no. 16 (2022): 3346.

© 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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Posted October 12, 2022.

Taylor Woosley studied biology at Purdue University before becoming a 2016 graduate of Columbia College Chicago with a major in Writing. She currently resides in Glen Ellyn, IL.

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