title: Effects of coenzyme Q10 in early Parkinson disease: evidence of slowing of the functional decline.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Parkinson disease (PD) is a degenerative neurological disorder for which no treatment has been shown to slow the progression.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether a range of dosages of coenzyme Q10 is safe and well tolerated and could slow the functional decline in PD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multicenter, randomized, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, double-blind, dosage-ranging trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic movement disorders clinics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty subjects with early PD who did not require treatment for their disability.
  
  
  METHODS
  Random assignment to placebo or coenzyme Q10 at dosages of 300, 600, or 1200 mg/d.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subjects underwent evaluation with the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) at the screening, baseline, and 1-, 4-, 8-, 12-, and 16-month visits. They were followed up for 16 months or until disability requiring treatment with levodopa had developed. The primary response variable was the change in the total score on the UPDRS from baseline to the last visit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The adjusted mean total UPDRS changes were +11.99 for the placebo group, +8.81 for the 300-mg/d group, +10.82 for the 600-mg/d group, and +6.69 for the 1200-mg/d group. The P value for the primary analysis, a test for a linear trend between the dosage and the mean change in the total UPDRS score, was.09, which met our prespecified criteria for a positive trend for the trial. A prespecified, secondary analysis was the comparison of each treatment group with the placebo group, and the difference between the 1200-mg/d and placebo groups was significant (P =.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Coenzyme Q10 was safe and well tolerated at dosages of up to 1200 mg/d. Less disability developed in subjects assigned to coenzyme Q10 than in those assigned to placebo, and the benefit was greatest in subjects receiving the highest dosage. Coenzyme Q10 appears to slow the progressive deterioration of function in PD, but these results need to be confirmed in a larger study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Mail Code 0662, University of California-San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA 92093-0662, USA. cshults@ucsd.edu
authors.forename: Clifford W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Shults
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Oakes
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kieburtz
authors.forename: M Flint
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Beal
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.forename: Sandy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Plumb
authors.forename: Jorge L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Juncos
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nutt
authors.forename: Ira
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Shoulson
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: Katie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kompoliti
authors.forename: Joel S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Perlmutter
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reich
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stern
authors.forename: Ray L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Watts
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kurlan
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Molho
authors.forename: Madaline
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lew
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003067:Coenzymes; D019610:Cytoprotection; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D018450:Disease Progression; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014451:Ubiquinone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D003067:Coenzymes; D014451:Ubiquinone; C024989:coenzyme Q10