A-Z of nutritional supplements: dietary supplements, sports nutrition foods and ergogenic aids for health and performance--part 10

Coenzyme Q10: Clinical Applications beyond Cardiovascular Diseases

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is an essential cofactor in oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), present in mitochondria and cell membranes in reduced and oxidized forms. Acting as an energy transfer molecule, it occurs in particularly high levels in the liver, heart, and kidneys. CoQ10 is also an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent able to prevent the damage induced by free radicals and the activation of inflammatory signaling pathways. In this context, several studies have shown the possible inverse correlation between the blood levels of CoQ10 and some disease conditions. Interestingly, beyond cardiovascular diseases, CoQ10 is involved also in neuronal and muscular degenerative diseases, in migraine and in cancer; therefore, the supplementation with CoQ10 could represent a viable option to prevent these and in some cases might be used as an adjuvant to conventional treatments. This review is aimed to summarize the clinical applications regarding the use of CoQ10 in migraine, neurodegenerative diseases (including Parkinson and Alzheimer diseases), cancer, or degenerative muscle disorders (such as multiple sclerosis and chronic fatigue syndrome), analyzing its effect on patients' health and quality of life.

[Nutritional supplements in sports - sense, nonsense or hazard?]

The excessive sale of dietary supplements (DSs) has become a global multi-billion market as more and more people turn to DSs for a healthy lifestyle or for aesthetic reasons. DSs are also increasingly popular among athletes; 50-85% of recreational and 35-100% of competitive athletes report taking DSs, the latter more regularly. Unless pathological deficiencies are detected, the intake of DSs for recreational athletes is not recommended. While it may be advisable for competitive athletes to supplement their diet with certain macronutrients (proteins and carbohydrates), many micronutrients (vitamins, minerals) as well as allegedly performance enhancing DSs may only show minimal impact under specific conditions and for certain sports. However, most products lack proof of their effectiveness. In some cases, DSs may even have negative effects and reduce performance. Furthermore, competitive athletes should be aware of the fact that DSs may lead to positive doping tests, as they bear the risk of being contaminated with banned substances, or components may be banned substances themselves. Every single case of taking DSs should therefore be critically assessed and discussed with experts prior to use. DSs cannot replace a balanced diet and hard practice.