title: CoQ10 and endothelial function in Asians from Korea compared to Asians born in the United States and US born Caucasians.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The vascular endothelium is the interface between the blood and vascular smooth muscle in arteries. It is easily damaged by oxidative stress. Recent studies show that Asians are more susceptible than Caucasians to impairment of endothelial function. This study examined endothelial function in US-born Caucasians, Asians from Korea, and US-born Asians (almost all Korean decent) and examined the effect of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) on endothelial function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty Caucasians and 30 Asians participated (<35 years old, males and females). Endothelial function was assessed by the skin blood flow response to local heat using a thermode for 6 minutes at 44°C and by vascular occlusion for 4 minutes followed by release and measurement of skin blood flow for 2 minutes. In the US-born subjects, the experiments were repeated after 2-week administration of CoQ10 or a placebo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When applying 6 minutes of local heat at 44°C, the skin blood flows were significantly higher in Caucasians than both Asian groups Asians. Likewise after vascular occlusion, the blood flow response was greater in Caucasians compared to Asians. Asians born in Asia had the lowest response of the 3 groups of subjects. Administering CoQ10 for 2 weeks eliminated much of the difference between the groups, whereas there was no difference with a placebo.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that Asians either born in Asia or the US may have lower endothelial function than Caucasians. This may be explained, in part, by genetic variations causing increased oxidative stress from westernized diets in Asians. Co enzyme Q10 administration narrows the difference between the groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA, USA. jpetrofsky@llu.edu
authors.forename: Jerrold Scott
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Petrofsky
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laymon
authors.forename: Haneul
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yim
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Harnandez
authors.forename: Donny
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dequine
authors.forename: Lindsay
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Thorsen
authors.forename: Kennith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lovell
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Andrade
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D003710:Demography; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects; D012881:Skin Temperature / Q000187:drug effects; D014451:Ubiquinone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D014481:United States; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014451:Ubiquinone; C024989:coenzyme Q10