Coenzyme Q<sub>10</sub> and Cardiovascular Diseases
Francisco M. Gutierrez-Mariscal,
Silvia de la Cruz-Ares,
Jose D. Torres-Peña,
Juan F. Alcalá-Diaz,
Elena M. Yubero-Serrano,
José López-Miranda
Affiliations
Francisco M. Gutierrez-Mariscal
Lipids and Atherosclerosis Unit, Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Medicina Interna, Maimonides Institute for Biomedical Research in Córdoba (IMIBIC), Reina Sofia University Hospital, University of Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
Silvia de la Cruz-Ares
Lipids and Atherosclerosis Unit, Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Medicina Interna, Maimonides Institute for Biomedical Research in Córdoba (IMIBIC), Reina Sofia University Hospital, University of Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
Jose D. Torres-Peña
Lipids and Atherosclerosis Unit, Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Medicina Interna, Maimonides Institute for Biomedical Research in Córdoba (IMIBIC), Reina Sofia University Hospital, University of Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
Juan F. Alcalá-Diaz
Lipids and Atherosclerosis Unit, Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Medicina Interna, Maimonides Institute for Biomedical Research in Córdoba (IMIBIC), Reina Sofia University Hospital, University of Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
Elena M. Yubero-Serrano
Lipids and Atherosclerosis Unit, Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Medicina Interna, Maimonides Institute for Biomedical Research in Córdoba (IMIBIC), Reina Sofia University Hospital, University of Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
José López-Miranda
Lipids and Atherosclerosis Unit, Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Medicina Interna, Maimonides Institute for Biomedical Research in Córdoba (IMIBIC), Reina Sofia University Hospital, University of Córdoba, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), which plays a key role in the electron transport chain by providing an adequate, efficient supply of energy, has another relevant function as an antioxidant, acting in mitochondria, other cell compartments, and plasma lipoproteins. CoQ10 deficiency is present in chronic and age-related diseases. In particular, in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), there is a reduced bioavailability of CoQ10 since statins, one of the most common lipid-lowering drugs, inhibit the common pathway shared by CoQ10 endogenous biosynthesis and cholesterol biosynthesis. Different clinical trials have analyzed the effect of CoQ10 supplementation as a treatment to ameliorate these deficiencies in the context of CVDs. In this review, we focus on recent advances in CoQ10 supplementation and the clinical implications in the reduction of cardiovascular risk factors (such as lipid and lipoprotein levels, blood pressure, or endothelial function) as well as in a therapeutic approach for the reduction of the clinical complications of CVD.
