Can coenzyme Q10 improve vascular function and blood pressure? Potential for effective therapeutic reduction in vascular oxidative stress

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ) is an endogenously synthesised compound that acts as an electron carrier in the mitochondrial electron transport chain. The presence of adequate tissue concentrations of CoQ may be important in limiting oxidative and nitrosative damage in vivo. Oxidative and nitrosative stress are likely to be elevated in conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. In these conditions elevated oxidative and nitrosative stress within the arterial wall may contribute to increased blood pressure and vascular dysfunction. The major focus of this review is the potential of CoQ to improve vascular function and lower blood pressure. Although there is substantial indirect support for the putative mechanism of effect of CoQ on the vascular system, to date there is little direct support for an effect of CoQ on in vivo markers of oxidative or nitrosative stress. The limited data available from studies in animal models and from human intervention studies are generally consistent with a benefit of CoQ on vascular function and blood pressure. The observed effects of CoQ on these endpoints are potentially important therapeutically. However, before any firm clinical recommendations can be made about CoQ supplementation, further intervention studies in humans are needed to investigate the effects of CoQ on vascular function, blood pressure and cardiovascular outcomes. The particularly relevant groups of patients for these studies are those with insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and the metabolic syndrome.