Written by James C. Morton Jr., Staff Writer. In a randomized placebo-controlled, single-blinded, parallel, clinical research study, Coenzyme Q10 significantly decreases oxidative stress (17.6%) and inflammation factors (42.5%) compared to baseline and placebo group. 

Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer found in men and women after the age of 50 (1). It is characterized by long-term damage and scarring of the liver tissue due to chronic inflammation, high levels of oxidative stress, alcohol abuse, autoimmune disease, virus infection, or iron overload (2). It is commonly associated with cirrhosis, hepatitis, and alcohol and is also the 3rd leading cause of death worldwide and the 9th leading cause of death (38,170 a year) in the United States. The latest estimated healthcare cost for hepatocellular carcinoma is $30 to $80 billion per year, which breaks down to $62,000 per patient a year (3).

The most popular treatment approach for hepatocellular carcinoma patients consists of surgery, chemotherapy, and liver transplant. It is a direct and invasive protocol to eliminate and prevent the spread of the liver cancer (4). Unfortunately, these treatments are very costly, and a transplant can take some time while the patient waits for a suitable donor.

Fortunately, a 2016 study (5) reveals that Coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinone) reduces factors that can lead to hepatocellular carcinoma. The study involved 41 patients (29 men, 12 women) aged 51 to 72 with hepatocellular carcinoma. They were given either 300 milligrams of Coenzyme Q10 (150mg twice a day) or a placebo after surgery for 12 weeks. At weeks 0, 4, 8, and 12 of the study, oxidative stress and inflammatory factors were measured. Biological antioxidant enzyme activity that helps eliminate reactive oxygen species and free radicals was also measured (6).

After 12 weeks, researchers noted the following (p<0.05 & p<0.01 = significant):

CoQ10 GroupPlacebo Group
CoQ10 Levels (µM)
(benefit = increase)
81.6% Increase (from 0.27 to 1.47)
p<0.01, Significant
15.8% Increase (from 0.32 to 0.38)
p = 0.09, Not Significant
Oxidative Stress (MDA, µM)
(benefit = decrease)
17.6% Decrease (from 1.48 to 1.22)
p = 0.04, Significant
2.8% Increase (from 1.37 to 1.41)
p = .011, Not Significant
Antioxidant Enzyme Activity:
Superoxide dismutase (SOD)
Glutathione peroxidase (Gpx)
Catalase (CAT)
(benefit = increase)
34.7% Increase (from 13.9 to 21.3)
18.1% Increase (from 15.9 to 19.4)
18.3% Increase (from 14.7 to 18.0)
All p<0.01, Significant

1.16% Increase (from 16.9 to 17.1)
16.4% Decrease (from 15.2 to 12.7)
7.3% Decrease (from 16.4 to 15.2)
All p-values higher than 0.05,
Not Significant
Inflammatory Markers (mg/L):
C-reactive protein (hs-CRP)
Interleukin-6 (IL-6)
(benefit = decrease)
38.0% Decrease (from 4.20 to 2.60)
47.2% Decrease (from 3.10 to 1.60)
All p<0.01, Significant
39.5% Decrease (from 3.50 to 2.10)
24.7% Decrease (from 3.76 to 2.83)
All p<0.01, Significant

In addition, vitamin E level changes were significant (p<0.01), but tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-Alpha) was not. Researchers noted that the CoQ10 group showed significant improvement at 4 and 8 weeks, although data was not provided. There were no adverse events, complaints, or clinically significant changes during the study.

When suggesting how Coenzyme Q10 benefits those with hepatocellular carcinoma, the researchers pointed to Coenzyme Q10’s strong antioxidant (7, 8) anti-inflammatory (9, 10) properties, and the ability to inhibit the inflammatory cascade of NF-kB that’s activated by reactive oxygen spices (11, 12, 13). They went on to conclude that Coenzyme Q10 protects against cardiotoxicity or liver toxicity during cancer treatment (14). Researchers also stated the limitations consist of the study’s small size, and the duration of only 12 weeks of intervention. They suggested that Coenzyme Q10 could be used as a complementary treatment for patients with cancer, and that longer and larger studies should be done in the future. 

Source: Lie H, Huang Y, Cheng S, Huang Y, Lin P. Effects of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on antioxidant capacity and  inflammation in hepatocellular carcinoma patients after surgery: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Nutrition Journal 2016 Oct;15:85. doi: 10.1186/s12937-016-0205-6. Epub 2016 Oct 6.

©  The Author(s). 2016

Posted November 10, 2016.

References:

  1. “Hepatocellular Carcinoma” posted on Johns Hopkins Medicine website.
  2. “Liver Cancer – Hepatocellular Carcinoma” posted on U. S. National Library of Medicine website.
  3. ”Mortality Statistic Liver Cancer” posted on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  4. “Treatment for Hepatocellular Carcinoma” posted on Medical WebMD website.
  5. Lie H, Huang Y, Cheng S, Huang Y, Lin P. Effects of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on antioxidant capacity and       inflammation in hepatocellular carcinoma patients after surgery: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Nutrition       Journal 2016 Oct;15:85. doi: 10.1186/s12937-016-0205-6. Epub 2016 Oct 6.
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  13. Zhang YP, Eber A, Yuan Y, Yang Z, Rodriguez Y, Levitt RC, Takacs P, Candiotti KA. Prophylactic and antinociceptive         effects of coenzyme Q10 on diabetic neuropathic pain in a mouse model of type 1 diabetes. Anesthesiology.       2013;118:945–54.
  14. Roffe L, Schmidt K, Ernst E. Efficacy of coenzyme Q10 for improved tolerability of cancer treatments: a systematic       review. J Clin Oncol. 2004;22: 4418–24.