Coenzyme Q<sub>10</sub> Treatment Monitoring in Different Human Biological Samples
Abraham J. Paredes-Fuentes,
Raquel Montero,
Anna Codina,
Cristina Jou,
Guerau Fernández,
Joan Maynou,
Carlos Santos-Ocaña,
Joan Riera,
Plácido Navas,
Franchek Drobnic,
Rafael Artuch
Affiliations
Abraham J. Paredes-Fuentes
Clinical Biochemistry Department, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Passeig Sant Joan de Déu, 2, 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
Raquel Montero
Clinical Biochemistry Department, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Passeig Sant Joan de Déu, 2, 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
Anna Codina
Pathology Department, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Passeig Sant Joan de Déu, 2, 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
Cristina Jou
Pathology Department, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Passeig Sant Joan de Déu, 2, 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
Guerau Fernández
Molecular Genetics Department, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Passeig Sant Joan de Déu, 2, 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
Joan Maynou
Molecular Genetics Department, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Passeig Sant Joan de Déu, 2, 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
Carlos Santos-Ocaña
CIBER de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Calle Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
Joan Riera
Sport Nutrition and Physiology Department, Olympic Training Center, CAR-GIRSANE, Avinguda de l’Alcalde Barnils, 3, 08173 Sant Cugat del Vallés, Barcelona, Spain
Plácido Navas
CIBER de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Calle Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
Franchek Drobnic
Sport Nutrition and Physiology Department, Olympic Training Center, CAR-GIRSANE, Avinguda de l’Alcalde Barnils, 3, 08173 Sant Cugat del Vallés, Barcelona, Spain
Rafael Artuch
Clinical Biochemistry Department, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Passeig Sant Joan de Déu, 2, 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ) treatment monitoring is a matter of debate since CoQ distribution from plasma to blood cells and tissues is not fully understood. We aimed to analyze the CoQ levels in a wide set of human biological samples (plasma, blood mononuclear cells (BMCs), platelets, urinary cells, and skeletal muscle) from a group of 11 healthy male runners before and after CoQ supplementation. The CoQ content in the different samples was analyzed by HPLC coupled to electrochemical detection. No significant differences were observed in the CoQ levels measured in the BMCs, platelets, and urine after the one-month treatment period. Plasma CoQ (expressed in absolute values and values relative to total cholesterol) significantly increased after CoQ supplementation (p = 0.003 in both cases), and the increase in CoQ in muscle approached significance (p = 0.074). CoQ levels were increased in the plasma of all supplemented subjects, and muscle CoQ levels were increased in 8 out of 10 supplemented subjects. In conclusion, the analysis of CoQ in plasma samples seems to be the best surrogate biomarker for CoQ treatment monitoring. Moreover, oral CoQ administration was effective for increasing muscle CoQ concentrations in most subjects.
