title: [Coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinone) in the treatment of heart failure. Are any positive effects documented?].
abstract: Coenzyme Q10 is an endogenous substance which has a well established role as electron carrier in the mitochondrial synthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). In addition, coenzyme Q10 also has antioxidant and membrane stabilizing properties. Based on biopsy samples from patients undergoing cardiac surgery and blood samples from patients with congestive heart failure, the existence of a relative Q10 deficiency in patients with cardiac failure has been suggested. A total number of eight double blind, placebo controlled studies in patients with heart failure have been published. Most of these studies include a small number of patients, and various methodological problems have been attributed to these. The results, judged as improvement in ejection fraction or work capacity, are inconsistent. In one large study, coenzyme Q10 was found to have a positive effect on morbidity, and in another on quality of life. However, although some of the results appear to be promising, more studies are needed, including studies designed with mortality as a primary end point, before the effect of the substance in patients with heart failure can be established.
authors.affiliation: Avdelningen för klinisk farmakologi, Norrlands Universitetssjukhus, Umeå.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Spigset
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003067:Coenzymes; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D014451:Ubiquinone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D003067:Coenzymes; D014451:Ubiquinone; C024989:coenzyme Q10
vernacular_title: Koenzym Q10 (ubikinon) i behandlingen av hjertesvikt. Er det påvist noen positiv effekt?