Carrasco J et al, 2013: The protective role of coenzyme Q10 in renal injury associated with extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy: a randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trial
Carrasco J, Anglada FJ, Campos JP, Muntané J, Requena MJ, Padillo J
Department of Urology, Reina Sofia University Hospital, Cordoba, Spain
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in the prevention of renal injury in patients with lithiasis undergoing extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL).
PATIENTS AND METHODS: Prospective, randomized, double blind, placebo controlled clinical trial of 100 patients with renal lithiasis who were treated with ESWL. The patients were distributed randomly into two groups receiving either placebo or CoQ10 (200 mg/day), a powerful antioxidant with vasoactive properties, orally administered during the week prior to ESWL and one week after. Renal dysfunction markers, vasoactive hormones, oxidative stress, plasma levels of several interleukins and vascular resistance index (VRI) using Doppler ultrasound were evaluated the week prior to the ESWL, 2 hours prior to the ESWL and at 2 hours, 24 hours and 7 days post-ESWL.
RESULTS: A significant increase in glomerular filtration (p = 0.013), as well as a decrease in the albumin/creatinine ratio and β2-microglobulin level (p = 0.02) was observed after one week of treatment in the CoQ10 group. These changes were maintained at the post-ESWL follow-up. The administration of CoQ10 was associated with improvement in vasoactive hormone parameters, vascular resistance index and interleukin levels. These improvements were maintained until the end of the follow-up period. Unlike with the other parameters, the administration of CoQ10 was not associated with significant changes in the oxidative stress parameters.
CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicated that CoQ10 administration improves renal function, vasoactive and inflammation parameter values, allowing for preconditioning prior to the tissue insult caused by ESWL.
BJU Int. 2013 Oct 7. doi: 10.1111/bju.12485. [Epub ahead of print]. PMID:24119199[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]. FREE ARTICLE
Comments 1
CoQ10?
If you don´t know look it up in Wikipedia (Link to Wikipedia) It "is present in most eukaryotic cells, primarily in the mitochondria. It is a component of the electron transport chain and participates in aerobic cellular respiration, generating energy in the form of ATP. Ninety-five percent of the human body's energy is generated this way... Therefore, those organs with the highest energy requirements—such as the heart, liver and kidney—have the highest CoQ10 concentrations."
In the present study the exclusion criteria were "acute or chronic pathology that could alter the markers being studied (previous renal failure, hypertension, diabetes, cardiac pathology)," Patients had normal kidney function and blood pressure.
I did not find an explanation why - before SWL - after one week of drug administration
•a significant increase in GFR values, a decrease in the albumin/creatinine ratio and β2-microglobulin
•a rapid reduction of hormone levels, related to the renin-angiotensin axis and
•a significant reduction in IL-6
were observed in the CoQ10 group compared with the baseline values.
What is the meaning of an improvement of normal values?
CoQ10 is sold as an OCT drug to treat hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, migraine headaches, cancer, cardiac arrest, periodontal disease, radiation injury, Parkinson's disease, and is also used as an anti-aging agent, in cosmetics ...
CoQ10 has not been approved by the FDA to treat any disease. This article will surely contribute to its dazzling attraction.
A footnote accompanies the article in the BJUI: "These results are protected by a patent at the Spanish Office of Patents and Trademarks (Reference: P201131992)." If your Spanish is good enough you can read the details of the patent here;
http://invenes.oepm.es/InvenesWeb/detalle?p=1&referencia=P201131992
Peter Alken