Coenzyme Q10 is a fat soluble antioxidant and is a popular supplement used to reduce oxidative stress.
Liver cancer is the second leaving cause of cancer deaths worldwide and is often closely linked to the viruses Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C.
High levels of oxidative stress and inflammation play a key role in the progression of liver cancer, also known as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after surgery.
Under typical circumstances our bodies can defend against oxidative stress (i.e. free radicals) with enzymes that our body makes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase or glutathione peroxidase. 
For different reasons these enzyme systems that would typically protect against free radicals may not be operating at their peak ability.
A recent study published in the Nutrition Journal reported the results of a study using Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in patient with hepatocellular carcinoma following surgery.
Ultimately the purpose of this study was to help answer the question, “should patients take coenzyme Q10 following liver surgery to treat hepatocellular carcinoma?”
Here are the study details:
– Design – This was a randomized placebo controlled study.
– 41 patients diagnosed with primary liver cancer (Hepatocellular carcinoma) were evaluated
– Subjects consumed either placebo or Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) at 300 mg per day after surgery for 12 weeks.
– At the end of the study plasma Coenzyme Q10, Vitamin E an oxidative stress, antioxidant enzyme activity, and inflammatory markers were measured.
Here are the results:
– Oxidative stress was significantly decreased (p = 0.04)
– Inflammatory markers including CRP (C-reactive protein) and IL-6 (interleukin 6) were decreased significantly (p < 0.01)
– Improvements in superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase were improved.
Take away message:
Regulating inflammation following hepatocellular carcinoma surgery is critical to promote healing. This study demonstrated that 300 mg/day of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) decreased oxidative stress and inflammation markers. Coenzyme Q10 is a fat soluble vitamin and is best absorbed when taken in the form a soft gelatin capsule. Future studies will hopefully provide more information about the potential of coenzyme Q10 on reducing markers of inflammation following hepatocellular carcinoma surgery.
Reference:
Effects of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on antioxidant capacity and inflammation in hepatocellular carcinoma patients after surgery: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Liu HT, Huang YC, Cheng SB, Huang YT, Lin PT. Nutrition Journal. 2016; Volume 15 (Issue 1): Pages 85.
His research on plant medicine has led to more than 45 publications and abstracts.This research has been presented at international meetings in the USA, France, Turkey, Peru, Israel, Austria, and Italy.
Categories: Clinical Trials, Infection, Inflammation, Liver, Virus