Written by Chrystal Moulton, Staff Writer. An eight-week supplementation with ubiquinol significantly increased flow mediated dilation of the brachial artery in healthy individuals with mild-to-moderate dyslipidemia.
Endothelial dysfunction can lead to vascular changes which contribute to the development of atherosclerosis 1,2. Previous studies have demonstrated a strong association between endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular disease 3. One contributing factor in the onset of endothelial dysfunction; however, dyslipidemia, which is characterized by changes in the serum LDL-C, HDL-C, and triglycerides all of which exert a negative impact on vascular function and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) 4. Studies have also shown a significant correlation with dyslipidemia, endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerosis and the onset of cardiovascular disease 3,4. Therefore, a natural bioactive component that best address these risk factors leading to CVD is needed. Ubiquinol, a reduced form of CoQ10, has demonstrated antioxidant effects within the vasculature 5 and promotes an anti-inflammatory response 6. With this evidence, researchers in the current study investigated the effects of ubiquinol on changes in endothelial function in subjects with mild to moderate dyslipidemia 7.
In a double-blind placebo control trial, 51 subjects with moderate untreated dyslipidemia were randomized to receive either 100mg ubiquinol, 200mg ubiquinol, or placebo for 8 weeks.
Upon screening, participants were eligible if their plasma LDL-C was between 130-200mg/dL, flow mediated dilation (FMD) was between 2.5-6% [measured at the brachial artery], and BMI was between 18.5-29.9 kg/m2. Participants were male and post-menopausal women between 35-65years old. Ubiquinol was provided by Kaneka (Kaneka QH ™). Subjects took one capsule in the morning and evening for 8weeks with food. At weeks 4 (T1) and 8 (T2), participants were evaluated for changes in flow mediated dilation (FMD), serum NO, ratio of oxidized to total plasm CoQ10, and lipoprotein susceptibility to oxidation. Participants also reported any adverse reactions at week 4 (T1) and week 8 (T2). The primary goal of the study was to observe any change in flow mediated dilation at week 8, indicating changes in endothelium-dependent vasodilation. Secondary outcomes were changes in serum NO, oxidized CoQ10 to total plasma CoQ10, FMD at T1, as well as susceptibility of lipoprotein oxidation.
Primary outcome indicating change in endothelium-dependent vasodilation measured by change in FMD at week 8 (T2) showed a significant increase in FMD for both treatments compared to placebo (200mg/d, FMD= +1.28% ± 0.90%; 100mg/d, FMD= +1.34% ± 1.44%; placebo -0.41% ± 1.51%; F=9.145; p<0.001). Regarding secondary outcomes, no significant changes in FMD were observed at week 4. Significant dose-dependent increase in plasma CoQ10 was observed at both week 4 (F=36.551, p<0.001) and week 8 (F=46.516, p<0.001) [r=0.80, F= 171.0, p<0.0001]. At week 4 and 8, significant dose-dependent decrease in oxidized CoQ10 to total plasma CoQ10 was also observed (F= 11.023, p<0.001 and F= 10.087, p<0.001, respectively). Significant increase in serum NO was observed in both treatment groups compared to placebo at week 8 (200mg/die = +9.3 ± 16 µm, 100mg/die = + 5.9 ± 11.9 µm, placebo = -4.9 ± 13.4 µm; p= 0.016). A significant positive correlation was observed between the changes in % FMD and changes in serum NO metabolites (µm) from baseline to T2 (r=0.36, F-6.802, p= 0.012). No significant change in plasma oxidized LDL was observed among the treatment groups from baseline to T2. In vitro assay of LDL susceptibility to oxidation demonstrated a significant increase in lag time in 200mg treatment group only from baseline to T2 (+16.0 ± 24.8 min, p= 0.017).
Results from this study showed 8-week supplementation with ubiquinol improved endothelium-dependent dilation measured by changes in FMD, which positively correlated with changes in both serum NO and improvements in oxidized CoQ10. Protective effect against LDL oxidation was observed for higher supplement dose of 200mg/d. Further studies would assess the long-term effects of prolonged supplementation with ubiquinol.
Source: Sabbatinelli, Jacopo, Patrick Orlando, Roberta Galeazzi, Sonia Silvestri, Ilenia Cirilli, Fabio Marcheggiani, Phiwayinkosi V. Dludla et al. “Ubiquinol Ameliorates Endothelial Dysfunction in Subjects with Mild-to-Moderate Dyslipidemia: A Randomized Clinical Trial.” Nutrients 12, no. 4 (2020): 1098.
© 2020 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 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
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Posted July 14, 2020.
Chrystal Moulton BA, PMP, is a 2008 graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago. She graduated with a bachelor’s in psychology with a focus on premedical studies and is a licensed project manager. She currently resides in Indianapolis, IN.
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