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European Heart Journal Advance Access originally published online on August 1, 2006
European Heart Journal 2006 27(22):2675-2681; doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehl158
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© The European Society of Cardiology 2006. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Coenzyme Q10 and exercise training in chronic heart failure

Romualdo Belardinelli1,*, Andi Muçaj1, Francesca Lacalaprice1, Maridia Solenghi1, Giovanna Seddaiu2, Federica Principi3, Luca Tiano3 and Gian Paolo Littarru3

1 Lancisi Heart Institute, Via Conca, 71 Torrette di Ancona, Italy
2 Department of Environmental Studies and Crop Production, University of Ancona, Ancona, Italy
3 Institute of Biochemistry, University of Ancona, Ancona, Italy

Received 24 March 2005; revised 15 June 2006; accepted 6 July 2006; online publish-ahead-of-print 1 August 2006.

* Corresponding author. Tel: +39 (0) 71 596 5344; fax: +39 (0) 71 36819. E-mail address: r.belardinelli{at}fastnet.it


   Abstract
Top
 Abstract
Introduction
 Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Aims There is evidence that plasma coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) levels decrease in patients with advanced chronic heart failure (CHF). However, it is not known whether oral CoQ10 supplementation may improve cardiocirculatory efficiency and endothelial function in patients with CHF.

Methods and results We studied 23 patients in NYHA class II and III (20 men, three women, mean age 59±9 years) with stable CHF secondary to ischaemic heart disease [ejection fraction 37±7%], using a double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over design. Patients were assigned to each of the following treatments: oral CoQ10 (100 mg tid), CoQ10 plus supervised exercise training (ET) (60% of peak VO2, five times a week), placebo, and placebo plus ET. Each phase lasted 4 weeks. Both peak VO2 and endothelium-dependent dilation of the brachial artery (EDDBA) improved significantly after CoQ10 and after ET as compared with placebo. CoQ10 main effect was: peak VO2+9%, EDDBA +38%, systolic wall thickening score index (SWTI) –12%; ET produced comparable effects. CoQ10 supplementation resulted in a four-fold increase in plasma CoQ10 level, whereas the combination with ET further increased it. No side effects were reported with CoQ10.

Conclusions Oral CoQ10 improves functional capacity, endothelial function, and LV contractility in CHF without any side effects. The combination of CoQ10 and ET resulted in higher plasma CoQ10 levels and more pronounced effects on all the abovementioned parameters. However, significant synergistic effect of CoQ10 with ET was observed only for peak SWTI suggesting that ET amplifies the already described effect of CoQ10 on contractility of dysfunctional myocardium.

Key Words: Coenzyme Q10 • Chronic heart failure • Endothelium-dependent relaxation • Peak oxygen uptake • LV contractility


   Introduction
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), first isolated from beef heart mitochondria,1 is an essential component of the mitochondrial respiratory chain, and also has antioxidant properties.2 However, its role in chronic heart failure (CHF) is not well defined. The rationale for CoQ10 supplementation in CHF lies in at least two factors. One is the well-known role of CoQ10 in myocardial bioenergetics, and the second is its antioxidant property. CoQ10, an obligatory component of the mitochondrial electron transport chain, is essential for ATP generation. Its bioenergetic effect is believed to be of fundamental importance, particularly in cells with high metabolic demand such as cardiac myocytes. Previous reports have shown that CoQ10 concentration is decreased in myocardial tissue3 in CHF, and the greater its deficiency, the more severe is the cardiocirculatory impairment.4 Plasma CoQ10 levels are also decreased in severe cardiocirculatory dysfunction5 as well as in conditions of high oxidative stress, such as diabetes and liver disease.6 Moreover, it has been hypothesized that an improvement in LV function may be obtained by raising plasma CoQ10 availability. However, in advanced heart failure and ischaemic heart disease, oral CoQ10 supplementation, at doses close to 100 mg/die, improved left ventricular (LV) systolic function in some studies,7–14 but not in others.15,16 A possible explanation may be that CoQ10 exerts biological effects when it reaches at least three times the normal plasma range, and that oral doses used in previous studies were too low.17 Other explanations for these contrasting results may be concomitant medications, such as statins,18 and/or the choice of insufficiently accurate techniques.

Another important abnormality in CHF is endothelial dysfunction, which contributes to functional impairment. In CHF, endothelial dysfunction may depend either on reduced nitric oxide synthesis, or increased nitric oxide inactivation, or both. Increased oxidative stress has been shown to augment the inactivation of nitric oxide to peroxynitrite; it may not only reduce nitric oxide and prostacyclin availability, but it is also responsible for the progression of atherosclerotic lesions. In recent years, many studies have demonstrated that exercise training (ET) improves the endothelium-dependent relaxation of coronary as well as peripheral arteries in CHF, and that this benefit is associated with enhanced functional capacity.19

Exercise increases shear stress, which induces endothelial-nitric oxide synthase (e-NOS) expression in coronary arteries, and increased oxidative capacity in skeletal muscle cells.20 Mainly on the basis of its antioxidant properties, CoQ10 might interact with free radicals and play a role in reinforcing the effect of NO-dependent vascular reactivity in coronary as well as peripheral vessels. Coupled with ET, CoQ10 may contribute in improving endothelial dysfunction and myocardial function in CHF.

The objective of the present study was to determine whether, in patients with stable moderate CHF, oral CoQ10 supplementation given alone or in combination with ET may be more efficient in ameliorating endothelial dysfunction and functional impairment than standard therapy with or without ET. Moreover, we tested the hypothesis that, by raising plasma levels of CoQ10 after oral administration of doses three times higher than those used in the past, both LV contractility of dysfunctional myocardium and LV systolic function may be enhanced.


   Methods
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Methods
Results
 Discussion
 References
 
We studied 23 patients with CHF secondary to ischaemic heart disease (Table 1). All patients had documented coronary artery disease (CAD) and performed a coronary angiography in the last 6 months. Inclusion criteria were NYHA II and III CHF clinically stable in the previous 3 months, i.e. no need to change medications in the last 3 months and no hospitalizations for acute heart failure, and ability to exercise. Exclusion criteria were a recent acute coronary syndrome and/or coronary interventions of revascularization (PCI, CABG), renal insufficiency (serum creatinine >2.5 mg/dL), liver abnormalities, uncontrolled hypertension, habitual use of antioxidants (vitamin C, E, A, or CoQ10), orthopaedic, and/or neurological limitations. None of our patients regularly assumed multivitamin/mineral tablets or relevant amount of foods particularly rich in antioxidants.


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  		Table 1 Population study

 
Study design
The protocol was approved by the Local Ethical Committee. After a run-in period of 1 week, during which patients signed an informed written consent, were visited by a cardiologist and underwent a familiarization cardiopulmonary exercise test. Over a number of 29 recruited patients, six were found ineligible and the 23 eligible ones started a combination of four consecutive treatments (each one lasting 4 weeks), according to a double-blind, placebo-controlled factorial study with a cross-over design: oral CoQ10 supplementation (100 mg tid, Q-absorb-100- Jarrow Formulas, Los Angeles, CA, USA), CoQ10 plus ET, placebo (tid), and placebo plus ET. Patients were randomized into three groups undergoing three different treatment sequential schemes each one including at least seven patients.

  • Group 1: CoQ, CoQ+ET, Placebo, ET
  • Group 2: CoQ+ET, Placebo, ET, CoQ
  • Group 3: Placebo, ET, CoQ, CoQ+ET

Sample size was determined for {alpha}=0.05, ß=0.2, and taking into account the main endpoints of the study i.e. the effects of CoQ10 and ET on VO2max, ejection fraction (EF), and EDD. For this purpose, we assumed an SD of 1.5/4.5/1.5 and a smallest worthwhile change of 1–1.5/3–4/1–1.5, respectively. The study entry was considered as baseline. At study entry and at the end of each phase, all patients underwent a symptom-limited cardiopulmonary ET, a study of the vasomotor reactivity of the brachial artery, a blood chemistry assessment and a low-dose dobutamine stress echocardiographic (DSE) study. Medications were not changed throughout the study period. Nine out of 23 patients had been on statins, which they discontinued 1 month before starting the present study.

Cardiopulmonary ET
After a familiarization test, a symptom-limited cardiopulmonary exercise test was performed on an electronically braked cycle ergometer using a ramp increase in work rate. Expired gases and volumes were analysed, breath-by-breath, with a metabolic cart (Sensormedics 2900 Z, Yorba Linda, CA, USA). Heart rate and blood pressure were measured every minute during increasing work rate exercise and recovery. A 12-lead ECG was recorded every minute. The exercise test was stopped when one or more of the following criteria were present: predicted heart rate, fatigue, dyspnoea, excessive systemic blood pressure increase (≥230/130 mmHg), ≥2 mm ST depression in at least two adjacent leads, and/or angina. The anaerobic threshold was measured by the V-slope method.20 Peak oxygen uptake was the average oxygen uptake during the last 15 s of exercise.

Dobutamine stress echocardiography
Under continuous ECG monitoring, dobutamine was infused into a peripheral antecubital vein at an incremental regimen of 5 µg/kg/min every 3 min until a maximum of 20 µg/kg/min. In fact, we focused on the contractile response of viable myocardium which can be determined with doses equal or below 20 µg/kg/min. Moreover, we wanted to avoid myocardial ischaemia that is habitually induced by higher doses of dobutamine. Echocardiographic studies were performed with the patients supine in the left lateral position. Two-dimensional echo images were continuously acquired from the parasternal long-axis, short-axis, and apical six-chamber views using a wide-angle mechanical scanner (2.5 MHz, Challenge, ESAOTE, Italy).

Measurements
A 16-segment model was used for LV contractility analysis. Each segment was visually graded using a semi-quantitative scoring system, where 1=normal, 2=hypokinetic, 3=akinetic, and 4=dyskinetic. Systolic wall thickening score index (SWTI) was calculated at rest and at each stage of dobutamine infusion.21 A 20% reduction in systolic wall thickening represents the 95% CI, discriminating a significant difference between normal and abnormal contractile response to low-dose dobutamine by two-dimensional echocardiography in our laboratory.

Data analysis
All studies were analysed with an off-line system equipped with digital processing (Panasonic AG 7700). Representative cycles of rest and peak dobutamine dose images in comparable views were digitized and positioned side-by-side on a quad-screen format. The echocardiographic images were evaluated in a blinded manner by two independent, experienced observers who adopted the same assessment criteria. Disagreement between the two observers occurred in 7% of studies. Differences in interpretation were resolved by a third independent cardiologist. In any of the following examinations, an improvement in the contractile response to dobutamine, compared with the initial study, was considered a reduction in SWTI by ≥1 at peak infusion and/or a ≥20% reduction in systolic wall thickening in at least two adjacent segments.

Brachial artery vasomotor function
All studies were performed in a room with constant temperature (23°C), barometric pressure (760 millibar), and humidity (50%). Patients were evaluated in the morning in fasting condition. After 5 min of relaxation in supine position, a 7.5 MHz ultrasound probe was positioned over the dominant arm to detect good quality brachial artery images (ESAOTE Challenge, Florence, Italy). Acquisition started after fixation of the probe in a stereotaxic arm in order to avoid artefacts due to operator movements. Images were taken at baseline for 30 s, 90 s after cuff release (flow-mediated response), and 30 s after 0.3 mg sublingual nitroglycerin [endothelium-independent (EID) response] according to recommendations recently published.22 Flow-mediated dilation was evaluated after release of a paediatric sphygmomanometer inflated at 240 mmHg for 4.5 min at the wrist. We considered a normal response as a 7% or greater increase in diameter from resting values (2 SD of the difference between repeated measurements in our research and in other laboratories).23,24 EID evaluation was based on the percent change in diameter from baseline 5 min after nitroglycerin. Normal response for EIDBA was >10% increase in diameter from resting values.23,24 Images were processed for analysis after digital conversion and evaluated by two independent experienced operators unaware of the clinical picture and blinded to each other's interpretation. Intraobserver and interobserver variability were assessed in 250 consecutive subjects with a variety of conditions, and results were acceptable and in agreement with those of other laboratories (1.2±0.8% and 1.9±0.9%, respectively).23,24

Exercise training
A supervised ET program was performed at the hospital's gym, three times a week for 8 weeks, as previously described.25 Exercise intensity was chosen at 60% of peak VO2. Each session lasted about 1 h, beginning with stretching exercise for 15 min, followed by 40 min of cycling on an electronically braked cycle ergometer (Ergometrics 800 S). Blood pressure and heart rate were measured at rest, at the end of cycling, and after 5 min of loadless recovery. Patients were recommended to avoid exercise at home during the study period.

Blood chemistry
CoQ10 and Vitamin E assays
CoQ10 was determined by HPLC using a direct extraction method, recently described.4 Normal values for plasma CoQ10, in the Italian region where the study was conducted were 0.78±0.2 µg/mL, and are in agreement with findings by other authors.26 So far, no influence of aging on this range has been found. For the vitamin E assay conditions were similar except for the column (Supelcosil LC-18, 7, 5x0, 46 cm, 3 µm id), mobile phase (100% methanol, flux 1.5 mL/min) and UV detection (292 nm).

Plasma lipids were measured using conventional enzymatic methods (Boheringer Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany) on a Hitachi 917 biochemical analyzer (Hitachi, Tokyo, Japan).

Statistical analysis
Data were analysed with SAS (SAS Institute, 2000) as a factorial study with a cross-over design by analysis of covariance taking into account the repeated nature of the experiment. In particular, a PROC MIXED procedure and a factorial MODEL with CoQ10, ET, period and all interaction effects within a repeated statement in SAS System was carried out. The sphericity assumption was verified using the Mauchly's criterion for all variables.

The main effects of the factors and the interactions between factors were assessed by statistical models as above, and if significant, means comparison was performed by analysis of contrasts.

Regression analysis was also performed and a correlation coefficient was expressed. Statistical significance was considered at P<0.05. Data is presented as mean±SD.


   Results
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Methods
 Results
Discussion
 References
 
Of 23 patients enrolled, 21 completed the protocol. One patient dropped out after 2 months for reasons related to work, another one had an orthopaedic injury that limited his ability to exercise. There were no side effects attributed to CoQ10 or untoward events during training sessions in patients who completed the protocol. The Mauchly's sphericity test on orthogonal components was significant only for EID and EDD (P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively). None of the variables showed a significant effect of period by treatment (CoQ10, ET) interactions. Mean data±SD for cardiopulmonary test, blood chemistry, and functional indexes are reported in Tables 2–4.


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  		Table 2 Cardiopulmonary exercise testing

 

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  		Table 4 Vasomotor reactivity, EF and SWTI

 
Factorial analysis—CoQ10 main effect
As shown in Table 5, CoQ10 supplementation resulted in a four-fold increase in plasma CoQ10 level (from 0.82±0.5 µg/mL to 3.64±1.8 µg/mL, P<0.0001). Moreover, CoQ10 treatment significantly decreased plasma levels of uric acid (–3%, P<0.0001) and increased HDL (+3%, P=0.0588) whereas total cholesterol, LDL-C, triglycerides, and vitamin E levels did not change significantly.


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  		Table 5 Factorial analysis—CoQ10 main effect

 
CoQ10 supplementation significantly affected peak VO2 (+9%, P=0.0001) as reported in Table 5. Similarly resting LVEF significantly increased from study entry in CoQ10-treated subjects (+10%, P=0.0023). LVEF improved significantly also at peak dobutamine (+18%, P<0.0001) in relation to a decrease in LV end-systolic volume index (from 57±7 mL/m2 to 45 mL/m2, P<0.01).

SWTI had similar improvements as EF both at rest and at peak dobutamine (–9% and –12%, respectively; P<0.0001). These improvements were related to changes in regional contractility. Of 195 segments with resting wall motion abnormalities, 125 demonstrated improved contractility (P<0.01 vs. initial), and these changes were evident during the first 5 min of dobutamine infusion.

Improvement in the contractile response was more evident among initially akinetic (+33%) and hypokinetic (+25%) segments when compared with dyskinetic ones (+6%). Improvement in SWTI was correlated with changes in plasma CoQ10 levels (r=–0.52, P<0.01).

The endothelium-dependent relaxation improved significantly in CoQ10-treated subjects (+38%, P=0.0021), whereas EID was not significantly affected by CoQ10 supplementation. Improvement in the endothelium-dependent relaxation after CoQ10 supplementation was correlated with the increase in CoQ10 levels (r=0.61, P<0.01). Patients with plasma CoQ10 levels above 2.4 µg/mL showed the highest improvement in endothelium-dependent dilation of brachial artery (EDDBA) (Figure 1A) and SWTI at peak dobutamine (Figure 1B) (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively).


Figure 1581
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  		Figure 1 (A) Endothelium-dependent relaxation after CoQ10 supplementation. After CoQ10 supplementation, the average improvement in endothelium-dependent relaxation (dotted line) was six times greater in patients with plasma CoQ10 level >2.4 µg/mL (n=14, group B), when compared with those with plasma CoQ10 level <2.4 µg/mL (n=7, group A) (60.4 vs. 13.3%, *P<0.0001). (B) SWTI at peak dobutamine infusion after CoQ10 supplementation. In patients with plasma CoQ10 >2.4 µg/mL (n=14, group B) the average decrease in SWTI (dotted line) was statistically significant when compared with patients with plasma CoQ10 level <2.4 µg/mL (n=7, group A). *P<0.04 vs. A.

 
Factorial analysis—ET main effect
As shown in Table 6, ET increased CoQ10 plasma levels even if not significantly (P=0.0652). This is clearly related to a higher increase in CoQ10 levels when CoQ10 intake was associated with ET, as also indicated by the ET*CoQ10 interaction effect described in the next paragraph.


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  		Table 6 Factorial analysis—ET main effect

 
Moreover, ET significantly effected plasma lipid profile. In particular, ET was able to significantly reduce total cholesterol levels (–7%, P=0.0122), LDL-C (–12%, P=0.0017), and uric acid (–2%, P<0.0001). HDL-C, triglycerides, and vitamin E levels did not change significantly.

ET produced significant improvements in cardiopulmonary indexes, as highlighted by a significant increase in peak VO2 (+11%, P<0.0001). Similarly, resting LVEF raised significantly in subjects undergoing ET (+10%, P=0.0007). LVEF improved significantly also at peak dobutamine (+18% from study entry, P<0.0001). SWTI showed similar improvements as EF both at rest and at peak dobutamine (–7% and –12%, respectively; P<0.0001). The endothelium-dependent relaxation improved significantly from study entry in subjects undergoing ET (+46%, P=0.0018). Similarly, EID was significantly affected by ET, although to a lower extent (+14%, P=0.0465).

Factorial analysis—ET CoQ10 interaction effect
Factorial analysis indicated a significant interaction effect of CoQ10 and ET in some haematic and functional indexes (Table 7).


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  		Table 7 Factorial analysis CoQ10*ET effect

 
A significant interaction of CoQ10 and ET in reducing peak systolic wall thickening (P=0.00192), as well as plasma uric acid levels (P<0.0001) was observed. This might be interpreted as a synergistic effect of both factors in the ability of absorbing CoQ10. Moreover, no other significant interactions were evident for all the remaining functional parameters. However, for some parameters we cannot exclude a significant interaction of the two factors, as limited sample size might introduce a type II error in the analysis. In particular, even if not significant (P=0.0603), higher levels of plasma CoQ10 in patients supplemented with CoQ10 while undergoing ET were observed.


   Discussion
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Methods
 Results
 Discussion
References
 
The results of the present study demonstrate that, in patients with NYHA class II and III CHF secondary to ischaemic heart disease, oral CoQ10 supplementation significantly improved the endothelium-dependent relaxation of the brachial artery, LV contractility, peak VO2, and the main parameters investigated through the cardiopulmonary test. The combination of CoQ10 supplementation with ET determined more marked improvements than CoQ10 or ET alone. Changes in the endothelium-dependent relaxation after CoQ10 alone or in combination with ET were correlated with changes in plasma CoQ10 levels.

Plasma CoQ10 concentration depends on several factors, including the metabolic demand of various tissues; plasma levels of 0.6–1.0 µg/mL is considered as normal.26 In the present study, plasma levels of CoQ10 at study entry were within the normal range (0.82±0.5 µg/mL). Supplementation with CoQ10 300 mg/day, lead to a four-fold increase in plasma levels, which correlated with improved LV function. Previous studies provided conflicting results about the level that CoQ10 should reach in plasma in order to elicit benefits in heart failure patients. Langsjoen17 postulated a threshold of 2.5 µg/mL, above which marked effects can be observed.

This level cannot be reached with low oral doses, and this ‘threshold hypothesis’ helps to explain why results obtained with 100 mg/day dosages, in advanced heart failure, were not univocal regarding the effects on LV function. In the present study, the oral dose of CoQ10 was three times higher and raised plasma CoQ10 levels well above the postulated threshold (3.25±1.5 µg/mL). In the light of our results doses of 200–300 mg/day should therefore be preferred. During the trial, none of the patients received statins. Acting as HMGCoA reductase inhibitors, these drugs lower the production of mevalonate, a critical precursor for both cholesterol and CoQ10 synthesis. Extensive work has established the impact of statin treatment on blood and tissue levels of CoQ10.27–29 Even though the effect of statin treatment on tissue levels of CoQ10 is still debated,29,30 there is no doubt that statins have a dose-related lowering effect on plasma CoQ10.27 As the aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between CoQ10 treatment, CoQ10 plasma levels, and endothelial and cardiac function, we chose to exclude patients on statin treatment, in order to avoid a possible bias. On the basis of the known pleiotropic effects of statins, we cannot exclude that the addition of statins to our therapeutic schemes could have generated even better results.

A second important element is the antioxidant activity of CoQ10.2 Antioxidant properties are related to a direct antioxidant effect of ubiquinol and to the capability of regenerating Vitamin E from tocopheryl radical.31,32 Moreover, CoQ10 might improve nitric oxide bioactivity by decreasing superoxide generation and by interacting with superoxide generation and free radicals.33 In conditions of high oxidative stress, such as CHF and the presence of multiple coronary risk factors, the rate of inactivation of nitric oxide to peroxynitrite by superoxide anions may be reduced by CoQ10, which can also protect against nitrosative damage.34 CoQ10 may also influence vascular function indirectly via inhibition of oxidative damage to LDL.35 Moreover, CoQ10 supplementation improved endothelial function in dyslipidaemic patients with type II diabetes, and this improvement was associated with higher plasma CoQ10 levels (from 1.3 to 4.8 mmol/L).36 In the present study, we found similar results. The endothelium-dependent relaxation improvement was correlated with changes in plasma CoQ10 concentration.

Even though the improvements in the functional parameters were more pronounced when the patients underwent both CoQ10 supplementation and ET, factorial analysis showed a clear synergistic effect of CoQ10 only for peak SWTI suggesting that ET amplifies the already described effect of CoQ10 on contractility of dysfunctional myocardium. Moreover, plasma level of CoQ10 itself resulted synergistically affected by CoQ10 and ET. ET might therefore increase bioavailability of CoQ10.

Finally, the high plasma levels of CoQ10 were not associated with side effects. Both the improved ATP production and the antioxidant properties may be involved in explaining these benefits. We found a significant improvement in LV contractility in dysfunctional segments located in non-infarcted areas served by stenotic arteries, where hibernation and/or chronic stunning is likely to occur. The upregulation of contractile function after CoQ10 suggests that chronic post-ischaemic stunned cells improve or normalize their metabolism and function.37 This effect translates into mechanical efficiency and contributes to reduce LV dysfunction. It is noteworthy that this effect was obtained without any change in heart rate, differently from traditional inotropic substances. There is evidence that exercise, by increasing shear stress, stimulates e-NOS expression and nitric oxide synthesis. In turn, CoQ10 might reduce nitric oxide inactivation through the previously cited action of superoxide scavenging. Moreover, CoQ10 supplementation was found to upregulate guanylyl cyclase, the receptor for nitric oxide, in human skeletal muscle.38 Furthermore, the improvement in LV contractility after ET has been related to enhanced coronary collateralization, which is modulated by nitric oxide.39,40

We did not use pharmacological compounds, acetylcholine and N-monomethyl-L-arginine, to study the effects of CoQ10 alone or in combination with ET on the endothelial function. However, it has been recently demonstrated that the method we used is sufficiently accurate to monitor vasomotor reactivity of conduit arteries,22 even though, we cannot extrapolate the results observed in the brachial artery to smaller arteries or microcirculation, because mediators involved in vasomotor reactivity are different.24 Low-dose dobutamine was used to detect changes in myocardial contractility after ET in humans with ischaemic cardiomyopathy, showing good agreement with thallium imaging.21

In conclusion, in patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy and CHF in NYHA functional class II and III, oral supplementation with CoQ10 at doses that increase plasma CoQ10 levels four-fold from study entry was safe and determined significant improvements in EDDBA, LV contractility, and functional capacity. The addition of ET to oral CoQ10 led to further elevation in plasma CoQ10 levels, and was associated with more marked improvements in all the above cited parameters. These potential benefits were not accompanied by side effects.

Conflict of interest: none declared.


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  		Table 3 Blood chemistry

 


   References
Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 

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