HEMOSTATIC CHANGES AFTER DIETARY COENZYME-Q10 SUPPLEMENTATION IN SWINE

Improved cardiovascular morbidity and mortality have been observed in several clinical studies of dietary supplementation with coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). We elucidated the effect of CoQ10 on certain hemostatic param eters that may influence the progression of heart disease. Twelve York shire swine were randomized to receive diet supplementation with eithe r CoQ10 or placebo for 20 days. Blood samples were obtained at baselin e and at the end of the feeding period. At the end of the protocol, th ere were no significant differences in hemostatic parameters in the pl acebo group. A significant increase in total serum CoQ10 level (from 0 .39 +/- 0.06 to 0.96 +/- 0.04 mu g/ml, p < 0.001) was noted after the feeding period in the CoQ10-supplemented group. We observed significan t inhibition of ADP-induced platelet aggregation (-9.9%) and a decreas e in plasma fibronectin (-20.2%), thromboxane B-2 (TXB(2), -20.6%), pr ostacyclin (-23.2%), and endothelin-1 (ET-1, -17.9%) level. There were no changes in the plasma concentrations of the natural antithrombotic s [antithrombin-III (AT-III), protein S, and protein C] after CoQ10 su pplementation. CoQ10 supple mentation in a dose of 200 mg daily is ass ociated with mild antiaggregatory changes in the hemostatic profile. C linical beneficial effects of CoQ10 may be related in part to a dimini shed incidence of thrombotic complications.