Similar therapeutic serum levels attained with emulsified and oil-based preparations of coenzyme Q(10)

Studies of the therapeutic efficacy of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) have been confo unded by the variable bioavailability of numerous CoQ10 preparations. The a ims of the present study were to determine the early serum levels attained by two different preparations of CoQ10, a soybean oil-based preparation and a complex micelle emulsion and to assess whether these preparations of ora l CoQ10 influence plasma lipid profiles. Twelve healthy individuals receive d 300 mg CoQ10 daily of either preparation for 7 days in a double-blind cro ss-over design with a 21-day washout period. Blood samples to determine ser um levels of CoQ10 and lipids were taken at baseline, after 24 h and 7 days . Both preparations induced significant increases in serum CoQ10 levels at 24 h and 7 days. These were for soy oil: baseline 0.27 +/-0.03 mol/L, 24 h 0.50 +/-0.04 mol/L (180%) and 7 days 0.80 +/-0.05 mol/L (291%), mean +/- SE M; for emulsion: baseline 0.29 +/-0.03 mol/L, 24 h 0.45 +/-0.03 mol/L (150% ) and 7 days 0.79 +/-0.06 mol/L (270%). There were no significant differenc es between CoQ10 levels for the two preparations at either time point. Ther e was no change in any of the serum lipids following the 7 days treatment. We conclude that administration of either a soy oil suspension or a complex emulsion of CoQ10 increases serum levels to the therapeutic range within I week.